TLP HAWK MIM23A

[sodmeister]

Well folks ,this is the last of my TLP builds for the season.

It`s the HAWK MIM23-A

El Phantasmo is doing a build also ,his is the 23B ,the main difference being the aft steering fins.


Cheers

Paul T

[sodmeister]

Here are the templates and parts.

Paul T

[gdjsky01]

[judo]

I'm in.

So I can see how mine should have been done.

[sodmeister]

Don`t worry ,this will be the last of this nonsense until next Xmas ,cause I`m getting weary ......

All work and no play ,makes Paul T a dull boy


Paul (redrum) T

Fit damn it...fit !

[sodmeister]

Nosecone extension and tailcone being formed.


Paul T

[sodmeister]

Here`s the little hat all formed and glued ,but no finishing epoxy as yet.

Paul T

[Stymye]

[sodmeister]

For a change ,you`ll see very little text ,cause a picture is worth a 1000 words...and change


Paul T

[sodmeister]

Nosecone

Paul T

[sodmeister]

Tip cut off ,so that after NC extension is glued on ,Gorilla Glue Polyurathane (expands into a foam in moisture) can be poured in through other end.

NC sanded where extension will be glued on for better adhesion ,and washed down with alcohol.

***NOTE*** I always wash my NCs styrene ,poly or FG in soap then alcohol to remove mold release agents ,cause you don`t want to scrub that stuff into the plastic/FG and get bad paint adhesion....right ! Then wipe down again after sanding.

Paul T

[judo]

Tip cut off ,so that after NC extension is glued on ,Gorilla Glue Polyurathane (expands into a foam in moisture) can be poured in through other end.

NC sanded where extension will be glued on for better adhesion ,and washed down with alcohol.

***NOTE*** I always wash my NCs styrene ,poly or FG in soap then alcohol to remove mold release agents ,cause you don`t want to scrub that stuff into the plastic/FG and get bad paint adhesion....right ! Then wipe down again after sanding.

Paul T

OK, that's what I'm going to do to my ALARM nose. The JB Weld just wasn't working all that well for me.

And I need to track down some finishing epoxy. My 30 min is almost gone, too.

[sodmeister]

OK, that's what I'm going to do to my ALARM nose. The JB Weld just wasn't working all that well for me.

And I need to track down some finishing epoxy. My 30 min is almost gone, too.

I love the 20 min. finishing epoxy for these type of builds.The Gorilla Glue is also great ,really stickes well to most plastics.


Paul t

[sodmeister]

Sorry for the lack of promised pictures folks ,but i have a new Samsung 22" widescreen LED monitor that i just bought now ,so pics are here !


These are the outer fin pieces I made to join the main wing to the steering fin.Made of Basswood ,sanded and ready for some sealer.


Paul T

[sodmeister]

These are the conduit extensions that fit on the tailcone.



Paul t

[sodmeister]

I have all the body bands on as well as the various hatches.It`s easier to get these in place now ,before the fins go on ,and get them soaked in CA and sanded smooth.


Paul T

[sodmeister]

The nosecone is finished completely.The last step was to coat all the bondo filler with superthin CA and sanded with 400 grit.You can see the Gorilla glue in the nosecone extension ,all foamed up and plenty solid.


Paul T

[sodmeister]

The conduits were sealed after the details were drilled and sanded ,and epoxied onto the bodytube.I used Tamiya tape to hold them in place and clamped down ,as they are quite long.The conduit extensions that go onto the tail cone will be glued on last.


Paul T

[sodmeister]

Here the my fin holding jigs I made using foam blocks and bamboo skewers.They hold the large fins in position while the glue sets ,just moving them in or out until the fins are perpendicular to the BT and then waiting until the epoxy sets up.


Paul T

[bradycros]

Here the my fin holding jigs I made using foam blocks and bamboo skewers.They hold the large fins in position while the glue sets ,just moving them in or out until the fins are perpendicular to the BT and then waiting until the epoxy sets up.


Paul T

I don't care what people say, I like your fin holding jigs.

With the rocket in the cradle, and the cradle pushed up the edge of the table with the rear of the rocket hanging out in space, a plumb bob could be suspended from the ceiling.

The string would be stright up & down. Slide the rear of the rocket up close to the string and align the fins, one at a time, to the string. That would get you as closes to 180 degrees as your ever gonna get.

And your fin holding jigs will keep everything in alignment as the epoxy cures, eh.

[sodmeister]

I don't care what people say, I like your fin holding jigs.

With the rocket in the cradle, and the cradle pushed up the edge of the table with the rear of the rocket hanging out in space, a plumb bob could be suspended from the ceiling.

The string would be stright up & down. Slide the rear of the rocket up close to the string and align the fins, one at a time, to the string. That would get you as closes to 180 degrees as your ever gonna get.

And your fin holding jigs will keep everything in alignment as the epoxy cures, eh.

You know......you do have good ideas once in awhile don`t you

I`ll give that a try next time ,and the thing is ,my ceiling would work great for that !

Hmmmmm ,why didn`t i think of that ? Silly monkey !


Paul T

[sodmeister]

Another set of fins on and setting up.This part goes pretty fast ,and it better ,with this ,the ARCAS and two other smaller projects (cluster 3x 24mm scratch and an Equinox kit) and my launch tower ,old Slim (my nickname) is a busy boy

Man ,this new monitor kicks ass !


Cheers


Paul T

[sodmeister]

Ready for the big fins.

Paul T

[sodmeister]

The last and final fin is on and ready for fillets.

Salut !

Paul T

[sodmeister]

Let`s watch,and not describe ,that`s what`s pictures are for ...


Paul T

[sodmeister]

..........

[sodmeister]

The conduit extensions are on and the aft fins are being glued on using my fin jig to keep things all ligned up and straight.I added some pivots to the fins using thin basswood and shaped.

Paul T

[sodmeister]

The area that accepts the "hat" gets a 120 grit scrub ,so the finish epoxy can "key" into the grooves.

Fin.Epox. was then heavily brushed into the hat until it turns translucent and soaked ,then exrta is added and the whole thing plopped onto the nosecone and eyeballed ......hey ,it works

The NC is placed upright so the epoxy runs down ,and any extra that seeps out is wiped away with alcohol and let to cure for a couple of days.

Tail cone next and pretty much same process as per coating with Fin.Epox. so no text (keep in mind, I`m a two finger keyboard diddler ,so this is a time waster )

If it`s important ,I`ll mention it !


Right

Paul T

[sodmeister]

I used my own heavier card stock for the tailcone ,that`s jst me of course.

For some reason, the aft end of the TC must extend 1/8" past the the centering ring ,whatever.

And as usual, I use my own motor tube ,aluminum lined (but sure if it helps ,but it is heavier stock...and I found a BUNCH of 24mm motor tube in my stash ,all 2 feet long and heavy wall.....BONUS ,cause i have a "fun" build in the wings (3x24mm cluster long thing ,a la mean machine type )

Paul T

[sodmeister]

This is the 2 part fin template to make the fins.It is indeed a large fin ,but I have an idea to make it look better

Paul T