#2157 Estes SV fins in basswood
 

I shortened the thread title.

Without bleeding this time, I've cut (4) blanks from 1/8" basswood using the fin pattern from the #2001 SV.

Another mod. I'm going to try is to strengthen the bottoms of the skirts by glueing cardstock "crescents" to the inside bottoms--also similar to the #2001 assemblage. TBC

The key for me was reading, and rereading, and finally understanding that the fairing edge needs to be carefully trimmed to the curve of the main BT in order to fit. I rasied cain and abel with Estes about how poor the fit of the fairings was on the last release and then the penny dropped about how two curved objects must meet in space - it will not be a straight line.

You may remember this sordidly OTT attempt to resolve self induced flimsiness to "make" the fairings fit against the curved S1-C. Amazing how much work one can make for yourself by not reading and understanding.

If you are open to suggestion I would also think about using the Sirius 1/100th replacement BPS with all the right detail, the Excelsior CS decal, and replacing the half round wooden dowel with some appropriately sized plastruct replacement.

Hi John. I'm ALWAYS open to suggestions, what do you think I am--an infantile Prima Donna?! WELL? Why are you taking so long to answer? You had to think about it, didn't you!
Stop rolling your eyes!

But seriously, I've wanted to try the fairing/fin set from Sirius, but I'd always thought they were completely solid and probably too heavy. Is that what's in the first photo? I will be using Gordy's SM wrap decal. I've already laid the halfround wood onto the conduits--but they'll be fine once I feather the seams in with Squadron White.

No... no ballet here.

The fin set is indeed a solid casting. It is a little heavier; so given the lack of push on the Saturn V built straight it is possibly best avoided as a solution. The BCP is entirely worth the weight penalty, and I would go with the "aluminum" decal for the SM as opposed to the chrome version. I think the latter is too shiny for my taste.

Sirius Rocketry/Moldin' Oldies finally cast some more SV fin/skirt assemblies to sell, so I've ditch the basswood fins and taken the plunge. They should be here later this week and I'll continue the SV build thread if there's continued interest.

:confused: It's a build thread. There's always interest.

Good point.

I'm certainly interested.

I have a set of these, but have yet to use them. I bought mine before Sirius took over Moldin' Oldies. I was only concerned they were a tad on the heavy side...
I imagine the only really good way to attach them will be with epoxy, which is fine with me.
So I, too, am interested in your build!

Allen

Actually, I'll thinking about doing a "duplex" mount: surface mount them with epoxy PLUS use small self-tapping screws from the inside of the BT.

Hey, the build already weighs a ton--what's another couple of grams going to hurt? :rolleyes:

Sirius says my stuff has shipped. I'm wetting myself with excitement. ;)