Trident Build Thread

[Zetoyoc]

I have loved this design since I first saw an upscale version of it somewhere. I have two kits based on this design. The one I chose to start with is Semroc's Version.



I have a few other kits including the Fliskits Grissom. They all intimidate me a bit with all the pieces and the vent ports integral to successful recovery. The Semroc version was chosen first due largely to the fact that the ports are pre cut! and the tubes are bigger.

Pre cut ports!



The Parts there are a lot of them.



Close up of the excellent looking guide



and all the great balsa



Did I mention that there are a lot of parts.

-Z

[Zetoyoc]

The nose cones got taped to protect the shoulder and covered with fill n finish.

The fins too. The fins were a bit bendy with the grain going almost with the root. I don't want to paper them but may try soaking in CA after the FnF. It's an experiment.



The tubes look great right out of the package. BUt I figured I would kick myself if i didn't fill the tiny seams anyway. I was going to do it after the build but realized with the three tubes parallel it will be very hard to sand later. So more FnF.

While drying I assembled the motor mount. Lots of rings on this thing.



Finally after sanding and sanding an sanding, Did I mention there are a lot of parts? ,I found I have too many tubes. I was a bit confused for a time since i am at the part of the instructions having me place eye screws in cones and mounting to long tubes. It turns out I sanded two tubes i didn't need but were included in the kit. there should be 6 skinny ones and two fat ones long and short. I had 7 and 3 I didn't even notice but they are in my first pics in the previous post. I had to use that to be sure I didn't somehow "borrow" tubes from another kit.

one word of caution when sanding the tubes. Especially the skinny ones. I had to be careful not to damage the ports while sanding. I found the sand paper would catch if not careful.



Nap time.

-Z

[Micromeister]

Have loved this desing since the 70's!
Truely on of the Classics. and a truely fun flying model. Like it so much I down scaled it to for Micro Maxx. a perfect demo model regardless of scale

Hope you have as much fun building and flying your semroc version as I have the several i've had over the years.

[Boosterdude]

Great, I got that kit for Xmas. Looking forward to the build.

[JPVegh]

Oooooh!!! A Trident build! Sexxxy!!!

[gdjsky01]

[Zetoyoc]

not much time today (it's game day) BUt I thought I'd get organized and ready for construction.

First. Organization. With this many tubes and cones and whatnots. I had to make sure I fully understood where each piece went. (I found extra tubes that way )

Early in the Build you are asked to glue nose cones in tubes. There are 5 different shape cones belonging to two different diameters. And the tubes are directional. the Ports have to be facing the right way. I looked a few times at the instructions and still nearly put the pointiest cone on the top. That just seemed natural. but no.



Be sure to tie a good knot with the shock cord to the eye ring that gets glued way down inside the main body tube. you don't want that coming out. you'll never get it back in there.



you also glue the squatty nose cone on the secondary body tube/motor mount. Do not glue the third nose cone in. You do need at least one to let the parachute out

[Zetoyoc]

The vent tubes.

These need to be coupled together and attention needs to be kept on the port alignment.



I quickly found that drawing lines down the edge of a vent along the tube worked great, but I needed to be sure to have three lefts and three rights. so that when I reversed one to mate them together the ports lined up correctly.






I could have ran the line down the center of the port but figured it would have a greater chance of error for me.

Now the couplers. I first glued in the coupler to all the lefts/ or rights ( i don't remember which it was ) This would make sure i didn;t try to put together two lefts and never get the ports lined up before the glue grabbed.



Normally I would used elmers and spin/twist the tubes together quickly before it grabbed and i would be stuck so to speak. I did the same thing but practiced a few times without glue to make sure i could twist into the correct aligned position and not get stuck. also I used a flat surface to roll them on to be sure of a straight tube.



Ta Da.

[sodmeister]

Jesse ,I`m glad you`re doing this build ,as I`ve always wanted to get one and see how it goes together.Now I`ll know......man that`s a cool looking rocket.

Great build...I love it !!!!!


Paul T

[Marc_G]

I have GOT to get me one of these!