Build thread: Semroc Nike Tomahawk!
 

My erockets parts order came in and I have all the stuff I need to make the Semroc Nike Tomahawk #KD-7. I didn't order any recovery laundry because I have plenty on hand already.

This is gonna be FUN!

TBC

$5.79 may seem like a lot of loot for a laser cut basswood sheet of parts this small, but since I don't have to cut these little stinking parts by hand (which I don't have the hands or the eyes to do) then I consider it a bargain!

The Vixen has brought me a Black and Tan. Yummy!

Good night. TBC

Well, that Black and Tan went down fast--so did the second one. :o I have a second wind to do a little more tonight.

I've assembled the engine mount and made a couple of modifications to it. I glued a ring around the engine hook rather than taping it and I added a thrust ring. I ALWAYS add a thrust ring to mounts that don't have one. From my seemingly massive supply, I've attached a 100 lb. Kevlar leader and a 1/4" x 48" elastic fabric shock cord to the mount. All joints are filletted with epoxy.

The BNC of the sustainer and the Nike transition are quite rough so I secured them into scap pieces of BT and then enrobed them generously with diluted wood filler.

That's all for tonight--this time I mean it. Good night.

TBC

This round is eye-catching!

That is a nice photo. However, not sure that the dude digging the latrine right next to the launch pad has got the right idea....

Earl

Um, yeah. Anyway, I've assembled the (4) Nike fin armatures and then taped them onto a scrap piece of balsa so I can put a drop of epoxy at each joint. I want to strengthen them now. Once they've been enrobed in the card stock it will be too late.

I've also mounted the (4) fins onto the Tomahawk sustainer and I'll fillet them with very subtle, "strength only" fillets.

TBC

Thanks for this build thread, Mr. Jeep - I'll be using it as a guide when I build mine later this month.

I reinforced the ribs on my Nike Tomahawk fins with Titebond after assembling them with CA.
Used very light "strength only" fillets on the Tomahawk fins as well.

Now to wrap the Nike fins.

The printed card stock for the Nike fins was erroneously glossy on both sides, so before slitting the fins from the sheet I burnished the printed side of the cardstock with #00 steel wool--just to make sure I don't have an adhesion problem. I then slit them from the sheet with a new #11 blade and use the tip of a cuticle pusher and my steel ruler to make the folds. To make the fold of the leading edge EXTRA tight I rub the fold down with my nylon burnishing tool (that I've never actually used for burnishing.)

With the basswood armature strong enough to handle it, I flat-sand the (4) planes of the armature on my Corian board covered with 220 grit.

Now to lay the armature of the first fin. I've decided to use Aleene's Super Tacky glue for the initial placement of the armature's center rib. This will ensure I don't have wrinkles or puckers on the outside of the fin's chord. I'll register the armature's root edge to the same edge of the cardstock so I'll only have to correct the outer edge.

TBC

Hey!

What happen to the Silver Comet?