I had to pay MSRP for the kit, but I get to start it on this rainy weekend.

The balsa sheets are nice and flat, and the lazer cuts are good. I'm using SS ruler and aluminum angle stock as "fences" to control a straight root edge of the pieced-together fins. The assemblies are curing on a perfectly flat, wax paper covered Corian slab to keep them flat. Almost identical to fin assembly techniques for the Interceptor E. TBC

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__________________
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 with the adhesives of the balsa assemblies dry, I've marked the main BT and mounted the wings, top fin, and small bottom fin to the main BT. I'll resist touching this until tomorrow--and then lay the epoxy fillets. TBC

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__________________
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

Looks great Jeff!
Mine just got here today from AC. I think this one's going to have to have the fins filled first, then installed on mine. I do not want to try all that sanding with those pieces already installed! (Although Tim might; I know how he 'loves' it )
I'll keep following!

Allen

I ordered mine and can't wait to start on it. You are right about the wood, the new kits have awesome wood. I am out of town for a couple of weeks and picked up a Estes Vector kit and started building it in my Cabin. The hobby store did not have Aerogloss sealer so I am just using Auto primer to fill the balsa and it is working great. I built the kit, then sprayed on a couple of coats of primer and sanded smooth. I will add one more coat then sand smooth and add the top coats. If this works, it may be a new fast way for me to finish all these new kits. I don't think this method would work so well on the old vintage kits I have since the wood is softer and appears to have deeper grain.

Will you be able to apply fillets over the primer and still have them adhere? And yes, the balsa in the new Estes kits is very nice, but something I've noticed is that some of the sheets are made from butt-spliced smaller sheets. Even the tiny balsa sheet in the last Mini HoJo I did was made that way. The last time I saw a kit with spliced balsa sheets was in the last Holverson Designs Swinger (BG) I built--but those sheets were 8" wide.

__________________
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

I build the model first adding the fillets, then I sprayed the primer.

Jeff,
I sand the root edge down to bare wood 1/16 inch up each side of the fin (removing most of the sealer) to give a good surface for the epoxy to adhere. If I need stronger joints, I'll make little pin holes along the BT where the two surfaces meet; makes nice epoxy 'rivets' and still fillet with epoxy.

Allen

OK, I'm back from my job in San Diego aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard and back to the Xarconian. The ship was crawling with chicks!!--I barely made it out alive!

I've used the miter cut patterns and contour cut and split the side intake tubes. The intake tubes are an odd size--larger than BT50 and very heavily walled.

After splitting, I then used (the beloved) mahogany sanding block to dress the cut edges for a good fit on the airframe. I may scrape a slight bevel into the cut edges of the intakes. We'll see. TBC

p.s. What an AWESOME design!!

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__________________
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

The glueing edges on the intakes are finished. Now before I attach them to the airframe, I've "mopped" the front and rear inside kraft paper surfaces with thin CA to prevent "fuzzillation". TBC

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__________________
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

The intake tubes are now attached to the airframe with white Elmer's and braced with tape. TBC

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