MichaelRapp
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2014
- Messages
- 279
- Reaction score
- 38
Well, I decided to have my first build thread.
This actually isn't my first rocket. I built several E2X rockets six years ago and I built a Big Bertha, but I was so disappointed in my build quality that I dropped out of the hobby. So I'm getting back into it and trying to really learn the techniques.
What helped me get back into things is that I ran across ApogeeRocket's video build tutorial on their Avion rocket, a simple skill level one build. This is what I needed over half-a-decade ago: someone to walk me through my first build, showing me the fundamentals such "simple" things as glueing, sanding, and painting. Tim also goes beyond the instructions included with the kit and details some other enhancements such as using wood filler on the fins.
Well, even with the videos, I messed up the motor mount. I tied the kevlar shock cord to its nearest centering ring rather than the motor mount itself. No problem, I ordered some replacement parts knowing that I'd probably make a mistake or two at this.
Some things I've learned thus far:
-- A little wood glue goes a long way. I was playing with some scrap balsa and gluing some pieces perpendicular to one another and noticed that if I just put a little coating (but not too little) the wood set far more quickly than if there was a big glob of wood glue. It was also less messy to clean up.
-- Balsa is soft. When I went to sand the edges of the fins to remove the little bumps left by the laser die cut, I inadvertently rounded the edges of the corners somewhat. It does not take much pressure or many strokes to remove a great deal of balsa on 220 grit sandpaper.
While I wait for the replacement motor mount parts to arrive, in the next day or so I'll attempt to apply wood filler to the fins. One they're dry, I'll sand them as Tim does in the videos. Although, he seems to sand them fairly aggressively....I'll hold back a bit....perhaps I just got a piece of really soft balsa or wood filler is thicker than I am anticipating it to be.
This actually isn't my first rocket. I built several E2X rockets six years ago and I built a Big Bertha, but I was so disappointed in my build quality that I dropped out of the hobby. So I'm getting back into it and trying to really learn the techniques.
What helped me get back into things is that I ran across ApogeeRocket's video build tutorial on their Avion rocket, a simple skill level one build. This is what I needed over half-a-decade ago: someone to walk me through my first build, showing me the fundamentals such "simple" things as glueing, sanding, and painting. Tim also goes beyond the instructions included with the kit and details some other enhancements such as using wood filler on the fins.
Well, even with the videos, I messed up the motor mount. I tied the kevlar shock cord to its nearest centering ring rather than the motor mount itself. No problem, I ordered some replacement parts knowing that I'd probably make a mistake or two at this.
Some things I've learned thus far:
-- A little wood glue goes a long way. I was playing with some scrap balsa and gluing some pieces perpendicular to one another and noticed that if I just put a little coating (but not too little) the wood set far more quickly than if there was a big glob of wood glue. It was also less messy to clean up.
-- Balsa is soft. When I went to sand the edges of the fins to remove the little bumps left by the laser die cut, I inadvertently rounded the edges of the corners somewhat. It does not take much pressure or many strokes to remove a great deal of balsa on 220 grit sandpaper.
While I wait for the replacement motor mount parts to arrive, in the next day or so I'll attempt to apply wood filler to the fins. One they're dry, I'll sand them as Tim does in the videos. Although, he seems to sand them fairly aggressively....I'll hold back a bit....perhaps I just got a piece of really soft balsa or wood filler is thicker than I am anticipating it to be.