While continuing to wait for my stinkin' foot to heal I'll do a scale build:
an old Estes #1976 Jupiter C.

The kit is sealed but the balsa is hosed--that's OK, I'm doing the fins in basswood. Basswood "draw scrapes" much nicer than balsa. The main BT is perfectly round at one end and only slightly ovalized at the other and it has no dents or creases. Good thing too, this 2.04 OD tube is one of the few sizes I DON'T have on hand.

Most importantly, the cone, tub, and Explorer I satellite are intact. Moldin' Oldies has replacements--but the satellite doesn't separate from the tub's top cone. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Before I separate them from the card, I'll make a spare set of centering rings for the odd size BT. I mark the dead center of the kit's rings and use that to set up the OLFA.

And voila! Two spare rings are cut from .050" fiber stock. The engine hook clearance hole is made with the largest die of a leather punch. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

If you plan to display it next to a Mercury Redstone kit, you might want to do something different with the fins. The MR isn't exactly to scale, but the JC's control surfaces are waaaaay oversized in comparison.

__________________
I love sanding.

Those tubes are available from Semroc as ST-20. I think that Totally Tubular has it in stock as well.

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'Til next time,

Mike Toelle

NAR 31692 L1

SAM 0373

Thanks! I'll add one to my next Semroc order. And now the engine mount is assembled with epoxy. I've upgraded it with a #100 Kevlar leader and a new, 1/4", elastic fabric shock cord. The kit's supplied shock cord had (3) things wrong with it: it was too short, it was only 1/8" inch wide, and it was fossilized rubber. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Now the hard(ish) part begins.
I'll use one of the kit's balsa fin halves as a pattern to make (8) blanks from 3/32" basswood. I've selected my best sheet of Midwest basswood for this. Cutting the fin blanks will keep me busy for a while and "The Vixen" has the tourniquet ready. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

I went through one of my boxes of stuff and had an epiphany: I already have the BT and the Moldin' Oldies hardware to do another Jupiter--except I'll have to replicate the discharge vents. I'll probably fabricate them from Plastruct sheeting.

Last evening under the watchful eye of my wife (a.k.a. "The Bleeding Stopper") I cut out the (16) fin blanks from the sheet of Midwest 3/32" basswood and sorted them into 8 sets. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

I spread a molecularly(?) thin layer of Elmer's white onto the mating surfaces of the fin halves. Since the blanks are hand cut, no two are exactly alike, so I register the root edges together on a line of my work surface and then square the halves with a small aluminum angle. The (8) assemblies are clamped with clothespins and will remain this way until the glue is set. Possibly tonight.
....and then the shaping and scraping can begin! The local ER has been notified. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Nice build.

I got one from a PMC for $10.00 opened. Not perfect, but doable.

__________________
If it flies, I can crash it!

Send me your address again. I gave the pull out covers, fill valves and antennae for both the MR and jC. Well same for both. The only real difference is the antennae location. Also Semroc has scale LC fin sets, if you don't ant to bleed again.

__________________
Gravity is a harsh mistress
SAM 002
NAR 91005
"The complexity of living is eminently favored to the simplicity of not."