I finished the Cub Scout Akela-1 bashed from a Viking. I don't particularly like the paint job on it. I'm building at least one more with real Centuri parts, including nosecones that came from Akela-1 kits. I'll fix the paint problem on thim. I'll consider this rocket the boilerplate model. Notice that the body tube is painted blue and white. I painted exactly half the body length blue. Unfortunately, with the fins on the white section, it makes the blue section look a lot longer. After adding the decal at the color transition, the effect worsened. With the next model, I'll measure from the top of the fins and divide the blue and white in half from that point.



The Lil' Herc is a Semroc kit. I decided to paint it in the early 70's Centuri catalog scheme. I took the little washers that are supposed to be glued to the outside of the fins and cut a slot into the fins so the washers could be buried and unseen. I used metallic blue paint which looked great outside in the sun on my test board, but it looks bland inside and on the digital camera.



Up next is the X-24 Bug. I printed the shroud, fins, and canopy two or three years ago, but for some reason I never finished it. I don't even remember where the nosecone I used came from. Unfortunately, the canopy got crunched a bit, but I didn't feel like printing another one. I smoothed it out the best I could and finished the bug.

Nice finishes, Tim.

Do you have the parts list for the original Akela-1? One presumes ST-7 instead of BT-20 (obviously); did the original version use a balsa NC or was it plastic from the start?

What are the SEMROC equivalent components now?

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Craig McGraw

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The one in the pic is an Estes Viking, which isn't an exact copy. The original used series 7 tubing, which is very thick and strong compared to the tubes we can get today. The nosecone was a PNC-76 plastic cone.

Phred gave me the body tube length of 9", which is a bit longer than the Viking's. He's got everything scanned for YORP but it hasn't been put on the website yet. The only other thing I wasn't sure about was launch lug length. Phred came through again with 2.25".

I'm building a couple more with real Centuri tubes and original PNC-76 cones from my old Akela-1 kits that will have the dimensions provided by Phred. I have a couple of the original fins which are a hair different from the Viking. I've traced them to balsa for the next couple of Akela's. The balsa doesn't bend easily like the fiber fins, and I don't have enough of the originals anyway. When I finish one with the Centuri parts, I'll take a side by side pic and post it.

Right now, I'm debating on whether or not to paint the nosecone. It will look a lot nicer painted, but the old PNC-76 cones are molded red and it would probably be more authentic to leave them naked. Of course, if I really wanted authenticity, I'd let my kids build them to give them a realistic ratty looking finish. I think I'll stick with a catalog finish instead.

And, I love what I see in the background in the first two pics!!

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

If you are referring to the Saturns, the finished one is an old Centuri kit that I built when I was a kid. The naked one is the first Estes reissue. The white box that most of the models are sitting on is the latest Estes Saturn V reissue that combines elements of the Centuri and Estes kits.

What about the Saturn 1-B & Apollo Little Joe - II on the lower part of that shelf?

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

The Saturn 1B is a Centuri kit that I tackled before building the Centuri Saturn V. The Little Joe II is an Estes model that was released sometime in the 80's, IIRC.

Wish I could get the 1/100 Apollo Little Joe - II. I had the Centuri model for many years
(1971 - early 1980's) but don't remember what happened to it; probably got lost during one
of my moves. It's a great subsitution for flying instead of the Centuri 1/45 scaled Apollo
Little Joe - II kit, which I have (1971 - Present) and still flies today!

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

http://www.nasarocketclub.com/gallery/album25/FH000019

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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

I'd love to have the 1/45 LJ II! I guess I'll have to make do with the Semroc 1/70 kit when it comes out.