Semroc Saturn 1B Building Thread
 

Everyone,

I thought I'd setup a thread for everyone who would like to share pictures while building their Saturn 1B's.

I'm still working on the fabulous Mars Lander and when done will start on the Saturn 1B.

I'm also hoping to read about building tips in this thread :)

So lets see them coming :)

Don't be shy guys ;)

I'll start and post the contents :D

The Saturn 1B tanks have to be painted before assembling. Unfortunately, the November weather isn't good for painting and I don't have an indoor paint booth. I'll have to build stuff that can be painted after assembly and put the Saturn on the back burner for now. I have started the Little Joe II, so I might go ahead and build the Saturn's capsule while my experience from the Little Joe II is still fresh.

That and the fins are a good winter project. I'm going to try and get the motor/stuffer tube assembly built as well.

Sean

I haven't opened mine yet, but curious why this would be so. It seems like with careful masking, they could be painted after partial, or even full assembly.

They can, and that's how the original as well as SEMROC's instructions suggest. However,
I'm thinking since I have to wait to paint the model anyway, it' easier to fill and paint the tubes before assembly. (And apparently others think that way too.)
I think the RMR archives has a builders tip sheet written by Bob Craddock when he built a Estes 1B clone, but I haven't been able to find it online. I'll try to find my hard copy and post it here.

Sean

And here it is....

< http://groups.google.com/group/rec....78fce998333bb31 >

Sean

The 1/100 scale Estes Saturn 1B I built long ago had you paint the tubes before assembly, masking areas that are glued so as to have the glue hold the original surface and not the paint. The instructions actually had you paint five separate sub-assemblies (capsule and tower, LEM body, second stage body, fuel tube unit and aft body/fin unit) prior to final build up. I noticed these plans (#2048) aren't posted in the plans section so I guess I need to get them scanned for Scott :rolleyes:

It can be painted whatever way a person wanted to do it, but it will be much easier to prepare and paint the tubes seperately.

Looking at the pic of the SEMROC Saturn 1-B parts, it looks very similar to the Estes 1/70
version. Brings back wonderful memories...