I just compared the "written" (on CD/video) directions to the Piatowski drawings, and thought the Piatowski were what were in the instructions to build from. Turns out they are not, and there are a set of MUCH BETTER photo-like drawings of each of the main modules shown from position I through IIII for painting, detailing, etc. I have zipped up those and sent them to Roy (can't do the FTP thing from work, still have power/cable issues at home). If anyone wants these sooner, email me at chanstevens at gmail dot com and I'll shoot a copy directly (about 750k). These are excellent renderings, and while they don't do the hard work of masking and painting for you, they at least make figuring out what/where to mask go much more smoothly.

--Chan Stevens

They are up now.

http://www.soarrocketry.org/saturn

I used 3M-90 on the skirt, almost wished I hadn't. The adhesive came out the nozzle looking more like "silly string" than a spray...

I used yellow glue on the LJ-II wraps, and lost much of the embossing details when the moisture soaked into the paper; I didn't want to have that happen this time. After getting the wraps onto the skirt, I sealed the joint edges with thin CA, so they shouldn't come back up.

SOme general guidelines I've used over the years on glues that pertain to this project in particular:

Paper/cardstock shrouds--white glue only. Yellow is too brittle/shrinks. Thin layer only, and by thin I mean try to wipe it all off with your finger (multiple passes). What's left is just enough to grip it. I've also tried rubber cement, very forgiving, but tends not to work well on stiffer materials.

Paper wraps (like this Saturn)--the wipe-it-all-off white glue approach tends not to work, as most dries before you can get it aligned and applied. 3M spray adhesive, if done very carefully to the entire back of the wrap can work well, but zero chance to realign/tweak. I'm sort of on the fence--if I'm cocky, I'll go with 3M, otherwise I use the white glue, but have to apply in smaller sections as I go along.

Styrene wraps (other Saturns)--tape the end of the wrap in place first, then wick thin CA along the seams. Not all CA's are equal (see my extensive comment on EMRR's Apogee Saturn V review where I tested something like 5 different brands).

Plastic detail parts (command module)--forget CA's and go straight to the brush-on liquid plastic model cement. It's thin--like water. Apply very sparingly to each surface. I've found that this stuff is pretty strong and absolutely invisible. If you look at my towers, you'd think I employed nanobots to weld them.

About the only place I'll use yellow glue is on wood to wood joints that I'm in a bit of a hurry for, such as some of the fiberboard details. Built-up fins? White glue is the only way to go--no shrink, forgiving while you tug the skins into proper position.

--Chan Stevens

Actually, I've had pretty good luck with the 3M-77 spray adhesive. Just make sure you're lined up on the vertical line and it goes on and WON'T come off. Don't even need to CA the seams. :D

NOTICE - ATTENTION - HEY YOU!!!!

;) At the request of Carl, I am creating a separate forum just for the Saturn 1b build. This forum is private and will include SVDT members and non-SVDT members. Please remember not to mention, reference, infer, or acknowledge the existence of SVDT and this private folder.

You will be able to see the new forum as a sub to the Semroc forum as soon as you're added.

Buzz

Since we have added about 10 or so builders to the Saturn 1B build that were not SVDT members and those that are building the Saturns are under a separate NDA as a part of the build, this discussion will be moved so all the builders can see these critical discussions.

If anyone has the time to cull comments/tips/etc from this thread and re-post them to the new thread for all the builders, it would be greatly appreciated!

For the remaining SVDT members, this is much of a mystery now, but when it is all revealed in the near future, you will understand why we had to do it this way.

Actually, it's under the Work Bench forum and is called Saturn 1B Celebration. ;)

Correct. When I first set it up a SVDT member could see it fine, but hte non-svdt test user could not. Rather than monkey with the Semroc forum permissions I just moved it out.

I believe I have all of the permission issues fixed for the S1B forum.

Buzz, when you have time could you copy the messages from this thread that started with the build over to the 1B forum?

Chan wrote:
"Paper wraps (like this Saturn)--...3M spray adhesive, if done very carefully to the entire back of the wrap can work well, but zero chance to realign/tweak."

Actually, there is a way to remove these if you get it wrong (this may have been covered before so if it has please forgive me).

There's a product called Bestine that can be bought at art supply stores. Fill a bottle with an applicator in it and soak the edges of the wrap. The wrap will release with almost no pressure. It's a little tricky to get the hang of but it can be done. The secret is to use a lot of the liquid and not peel faster than the liquid works. After the wrap dries (Bestine evaporates VERY quickly) you can clean, respray and reapply. Bestine doesn't dissolve spray adhesive on contact but it renders it...well...not sticky. Once you remove the wrap you can lay it on a cloth and use a cotton ball (or wipes) soaked in Bestine to remove the old adhesive.

rraeford

This just came to our attention. Please do not glue the capsule on the service module. If it is glued on, it will not fit in the boxes we have ordered.

Sheryl