Oh, my. That looks like a LOT of work. Dang.

__________________
NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM

It is. But VERY satisfying.

__________________
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

It looks like you did a fine job in building the orbiter. It was hard to show this in the instructions but the solid balsa nose piece should be nicely rounded on all sides and top view as well. You can of course leave it the way it is as well.



John Boren

Thanks John! The nose piece will get more rounded as the progressive coats of sealer get applied and sanded down.

__________________
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 for some technique and some repurposing.

Yeah, Yeah, I know what you're thinking: "That Know-It-All Jeff and his incessant 'now for some technique' B.S."

But really--this one is actually useful.

Every Quest X-20 Space Plane kit came with a heavy walled kraft paper tube that was included for the purpose of shaping the aeroshroud and for rubbing the seam after joining over the adhesive strip. I've built a few X-20's and I've always kept the tube.

The tube's ID is just a BCH larger than the OD of the faux SRB tubes of the Shuttle. After marking the SRB tubes I slide the cardstock assemblies onto the pair of tubes and then use the factory end of the X-20 kit tube to register the cardstock assemblies for gluing.

I then use 30 minute epoxy and let the resin seep down into the joints. The result is perfect alignment and a permanent bond.

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
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

Voila!

The SRB's and the joiners are just resting on the BT80 and not glued onto it. I actually won't be gluing the SRB's onto the BT80 until after painting.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
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

Looking REALLY good, Jeffy !

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Thanks.

I have a question about launch lugs--or the lack of them.

Are the holes in parts #HH the only launch lugs or is something missing?

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
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

Yes, those holes do in fact take the place of launch lugs.



John Boren

Got it.

__________________
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