"Hybrid" capsule for LJII
 

A few weeks ago I mentioned I was going to do a thread on a Semroc 1/70 LJII with a "hybridized" capsule and LES. I've done this once before and it was quite successful, so I can probably do this again and post a decent thread.

Since this build will represent round A-001 with the BP-12 spacecraft--and not an operational Apollo spacecraft--I'm combining the balsa and paper wrapped capsule of the Semroc LJII kit with the plastic LES scaffold, nozzles, skirt, small cone, and the paper BT of the Apogee Apollo capsule kit.

The two main components are assembled. To join the two assemblies I'll insert (4) small Plastruct tubes into the balsa NC to accept the leg tips of the LES scaffold. TBC

Whats up with the skull?

Unrelated project. "Yorick" had a couple of teeth come out and they had to be glued back in. Alas, poor Yorick.

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest"

Hamlet Act 5, Scene 1

OK. All the adhesives I have on so far are cured. I've taken the bottom template from the Semroc Apollo capsule kit and used it to determine if the hole circle of the Apogee LES scaffold is close in pattern--which it is. Next I take the same template and draw a hole circle on the raw balsa of the nose cone. It took a few tries to get it true. A white eraser stick cleans it up nicely between tries. TBC

Your approach is much better than the "sand all the incredible detail off the Apogee BPC" which I undertook.

I thought about doing that, and I'd wondered if anyone had done it. How did it turn out? I bet it produced enough white powder to make the DEA suspicious.

It is a bit of a pain but the bennie is that the upper cover and leg attachment are alreay in place. You have to carve off the external ribs and handhold covers, then you get to have the fun afternoon with the hatch cover. Once that is done the sanding is all 150 down to 600 grit dry then wet. In the truth and beauty category your method better replicates the BP models in that the capsule skin was flush with the base of the LES cone. With the sanded down version you have a bloody great drop off immediately below since the detail was flush with the upper cover to represent the spacecraft...

Your solution is probably better in the short run plus you've got a leftover BPC to play with later and beg a set of legs and LES nose from Apogee.

I took a break from working on the capsule and LES by working on the built-up fins. I'm probably not the only one that does this but after glue on the fins was dry, I covered the raw balsa edges --except for the root edge--with scrap fin card stock. Hence, there's NO wood at all on the model that has to be sealed and finished.

BTW, Happy Father's Day to the dads out there! I hope your kids give you a Big Daddy kit.
I got a Father's Day card from the cat. She must be a resourceful cat to be able to write legibly without the advantage of opposable thumbs. ;)

OK, I'm back from Charleston, SC now and I'm back to the LJII. I've bevel-cut 4 short pieces of .095" OD Plastruct tube and inserted them into the hole circle of the balsa portion of the BP spacecraft to serve as the mounting points for the LES. I've caused quite a bit of trauma to the soft balsa by aligning the inserted tubes to match the leg positions of the LES scaffold and I'll repair that with FNF (Hey, it IS good for something after all! Who knew? ;) ) TBC