Crossbow SST Build

[Hawkweber]

This was my second rocket build. After doing my first "Photon Probe" I discovered that I wasn't happy with the wood grain on the balsa fins. This model was done to hone my skills on filling the balsa and getting a smooth finish as well as really nice/smooth fin fillets (where the fins meet the body). Also working on my airbrushing skills. This was a Level 2 build. In the process of working on Level 3 build (Estes Lynx) to further hone skills before tackling the larger Mercury Redstone rocket and then on to 50th Anniversary Saturn V.

Here is my first use of CWF to fill the balsa and sanded.

Primed.

Sanded.

Noticed spots that needed more filling as well as the tube spirals.

 

[Hawkweber]

Motor Mount.


Rear Fins.


Rudder and Strake.

Front fins.

Lower Fins.

 

[Hawkweber]

"Lasers" added.

First fillet added to front side fin.
Final priming.

Close-up of primed fillets. (Pretty happy with how they came out).
Painted (airbrushed) with gloss white.

 

[Hawkweber]

And final build photos - Decals applied and clear-coated with Future.

 

[8thPaladin]

Nice!

 

[Mugs914]

Very nice work! Future is my gloss clear of choice too. did you brush or spray the Future?

 

[Nytrunner]

Great work!

Curious on your decision to fillet/glue after priming

 

[neil_w]

Very clean work for a second build, impressive!

[removed irrelevant bit]

 

[Hawkweber]

Nice!

Thanks!

 

[Hawkweber]

Very nice work! Future is my gloss clear of choice too. did you brush or spray the Future?

I airbrushed it on, just like the paint.

 

[Hawkweber]

Great work!

Curious on your decision to fillet/glue after priming

Not sure exactly what you mean about "after priming". Or are you referring to the close-up picture of the fillet after full priming? That photo is just showing how smooth the fillet work was, not that I did the fillet then.

 

[Hawkweber]

Very clean work for a second build, impressive!

Thank you! I used to do plastic models and balsa planes eons ago. So, once I got into doing rockets I wanted to not only fly them but also do them as builder's kits - something that would look nice on a shelf as well. Yeah, it would totally suck if there is a cato, but I would just curse a little bit (ok, maybe a lot), and then move on.

 

[neil_w]

Yeah, it would totally suck if there is a cato, but I would just curse a little bit (ok, maybe a lot), and then move on.

If you would only curse a little than you're a better man than I. Of course, I haven't had a destructive CATO yet... (YEAH I SAID IT COME AT ME ROCKET GODS)

 

[BABAR]

Nice job!

 

[Hawkweber]

Nice job!

Thank you!

 

[timorley]

Looks great!

 

[Hawkweber]

Looks great!

Thanks!