Universal Build of The Saturn V

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Matt_The_RocketMan

Matt_The_RocketMan

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I will mention to all of you that this rocket takes a lot of patience and attention to detail.

If you do not follow those simple rules you may end up with a Saturn V CATO.

I hope this walk through will makes some sense.
 
Oh yeah please do prepare yourself with all the proper supplies gold, silver, white and black acrylic paint will do. The gold and silver for the LEM.

upload_2019-5-19_10-0-8.jpeg
 
Getting the multiple paint brush sizes and ect. helps a bunch with the fine details. Use primer spray paint before you start the details , 1 or 2 coats are most likely enough , I recommend buying the 25% more for the prime coat due to how large the rocket is
 
Just finishing one now....there is a "Fix" for the interstage wrap......cut and rotate slightly. I didn't see this until my rocket was already glued together.
https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2019/02/mistake-in-estes-1969-saturn-v-inter.html
I glued the fins to the lower wrap with plastic cement, and made epoxy fillets, then glued the shrouds on afterwards.
I trimmed the interstage connectors almost flush.
On the interstage tunnel connectors, cut those out....helps the wrap curve to the body tube.
Use the DECALS to double check the spacing on the interstage wrap location.....the build instructions are a bit vague.
Expect to make some mistakes on the first build...... :)
 
Red7Fifty said:
Just finishing one now....there is a "Fix" for the interstage wrap......cut and rotate slightly. I didn't see this until my rocket was already glued together.
https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2019/02/mistake-in-estes-1969-saturn-v-inter.html
I glued the fins to the lower wrap with plastic cement, and made epoxy fillets, then glued the shrouds on afterwards.
I trimmed the interstage connectors almost flush.
On the interstage tunnel connectors, cut those out....helps the wrap curve to the body tube.
Use the DECALS to double check the spacing on the interstage wrap location.....the build instructions are a bit vague.
Expect to make some mistakes on the first build...... :)
Click to expand...
thanks for the feed back !
 
Lastly I would recommend that you are to have a book to "levelly" distribute weight for drying the piece overnight... works with both wood glue and non wood glue
 
This was my 2nd Saturn V....the first one was an earlier version, around 1983.....that one came out like crap...but hey, I was 10.
2nd build, much better....I don't know if I'll build a 3rd to get it right.......who knows. I have an extra kit stashed away.
Painting the corrugations.....PITA....paint bleed everywhere. I used Tamiya masking tape, but the corrugations are no match.....I scraped off the bleed with an knife tip.....other people will paint over the bleed. I find the scraping easier.
 
Red7Fifty said:
This was my 2nd Saturn V....the first one was an earlier version, around 1983.....that one came out like crap...but hey, I was 10.
2nd build, much better....I don't know if I'll build a 3rd to get it right.......who knows. I have an extra kit stashed away.
Painting the corrugations.....PITA....paint bleed everywhere. I used Tamiya masking tape, but the corrugations are no match.....I scraped off the bleed with an knife tip.....other people will paint over the bleed. I find the scraping easier.
Click to expand...
Can you elaborate on what you mean by the painting the corrugations? Would painting them prior to putting them on a better idea? I would like to prep the next stage of building just on information + experience...I would assume painting the models before application would be a smarter thing to do, this would allow you to have more control + precision as to where the paint job goes on... no bleeding?
 
I would do all your gluing, sanding, filling, etc first.....because....you would paint a white base on everything, then paint the black and silver areas.
 
When fitting the fin fairings, trim, sand, trim, sand, trim.....I ended up trimming a lot more than the instructions call for. You'll figure it out.
Skip along to aprox 45 min.....Liquid Mask, to avoid the creep problem with masking the corrugations.
 
For your entertainment, skip along towards the finale at the end. lol
Good Effort (though)
 
I still have some detail work to clean up on the paint, then decals and a satin clear coat.
The Saturn V is a kit you probably want to buy 2 of......one to mess up on building, and the learning curve (lawn dart), and the 2nd kit to build right...and repair the crashed 1st attempt. Maybe, buying 3 kits isn't such a bad idea. lol :)
 

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