Estes Saturn 1B: Build Tips and Advice Thread

[Jimmy]

Jimmy, you can even see the white panels on the CSM here in this pic too.

Wow that’s a great photo of Apollo 7 lifting off. Today I spent some time thinking about solutions for an AS205 decal. It’s a long shot but I have an old friend who does graphic design work. We live far apart now but maybe if I scan and send him the decal sheet he might be able to do something. I really want to go Apollo 7 with this kit.

 

[Saluki]

I drew these up some time ago. Maybe they might be helpful.

 

[Jimmy]

I drew these up some time ago. Maybe they might be helpful.

They just might be! Thanks! Is this something that I can print onto decal paper?

 

[markschnell]

I drew these up some time ago. Maybe they might be helpful.

Wow, those are great. Do you possibly have any for the other non-plastic sections? I'd want the other parts to match the excellent detail you have here.

 

[Saluki]

Here is the only other drawn I have that can be used for the service module.
I did these drawings back in 2014 to clone a 1/100 Saturn 1b. The build thread is here.
https://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=13716&highlight=1/100+Saturn+wraps

 

[Jimmy]

Just printed these off. Thanks Saluki! I think this will work. I’m going for the Apollo 7 fellas!

 

[Saluki]

Hope they work out for you.

 

[Jimmy]

Painted the escape tower and command module separately to ensure good coverage on all surfaces. The posts of the escape tower fit snugly into the holes of the command module so I will decline gluing them together. I like having the option of removal before flight. For me the launch escape system has always been an interesting aspect of the Apollo and earlier Mercury spacecraft. When it comes to these models one thing I cannot stand is a crooked escape tower. My OC really comes out.

Next I used frog tape to mask the antenna before painting with the 3/0 brush. Tunnels were easy to paint. That’s it for now.

 

[Jimmy]

Applied primer to the upper stage tube and LEM shroud. Started the core assembly. The inside diameter of the bottom centering ring had to be sanded to fit the core tube. Glue was applied for a small fillet at the top of the joint. The large and small tunnels were glued on afterward with some plastic cement like the instructions say. A note about the large tunnel. The recess on the bottom side isn’t long enough to clear the upper wrap. I had to trim away some material to get a flush fit.

 

[Jimmy]

The decision has been made. No going back now. Four fuel tubes have been painted gloss black and four gloss white. While I was at it I painted the upper stage and LEM shroud gloss white. Hcmbanjo said that he wasn’t sure if the white background on the vertical United States decals would be opaque enough against the black tubes. I took a closer look at the decal sheet to see if there was some extra material to use for testing but I didn’t see anything useable. I hope they look ok once in place. Also I made up some SA-205 labels from Saluki’s print up that he did awhile ago. All I need really is the 6 to be a 5. Man I hope this can be pulled off.

 

[Jimmy]

First fuel tube glued to the core. Best to let this dry overnight before the rest follow suit. In the meantime the lower tube and fairing were primed and spray painted gloss white. Then I masked the command module to paint the umbilical silver. Frog tape...good stuff. If anyone might be wondering I am using Krylon Shortcuts spray paint. They are smaller cans for minor projects. They are about five bucks apiece at a hobby store chain called Michaels. The stuff isn’t too bad for casual model builders.

 

[SanRocketMan]

The decision has been made. No going back now. Four fuel tubes have been painted gloss black and four gloss white. While I was at it I painted the upper stage and LEM shroud gloss white. Hcmbanjo said that he wasn’t sure if the white background on the vertical United States decals would be opaque enough against the black tubes. I took a closer look at the decal sheet to see if there was some extra material to use for testing but I didn’t see anything useable. I hope they look ok once in place. Also I made up some SA-205 labels from Saluki’s print up that he did awhile ago. All I need really is the 6 to be a 5. Man I hope this can be pulled off.

I'm doing the same to my ESTES 007251 Saturn 1B = Gotta Love SA-205 / Apollo 7 launched October 22, 1968 !

 

[Jimmy]

I'm doing the same to my ESTES 007251 Saturn 1B = Gotta Love SA-205 / Apollo 7 launched October 22, 1968 !

What did they call the crew? Wally, Walter and what’s his name?

 

[Jimmy]

Upper stage masked and sprayed again with gloss white to fill in any potential gaps in the masking tape borders. I thought about tracing with a sharpie but my hand isn’t always steady. Tape is always straighter than any line that I can draw. All fuel tubes glued to the core. I should add that the roll pattern is slightly different for the Apollo 7 1B.

 

[Jimmy]

Moment of truth. Frog tape peeled away. I think it turned out pretty good. The black horizontal band needs to be narrowed to 17/32” but with some tight masking around some small wrap details that can be done. Other than that there was a little speckling on one of the ullage motors and vector control jet but they will be easy to touch up.

 

[Jimmy]

As I’m finishing the paint job on the upper stage a thought occurred to me. The booster section of this kit seems somewhat fragile in construction. Would two parachutes be a good idea? Or does that introduce the risk of tangled deployment? My intention is to avoid the oscillation characteristic of single parachute descent. Would an additional parachute eliminate that type of movement? How would I rig that? Advice anyone?

 

[SanRocketMan]

Now I have Engine Options for my ESTES 007251 Saturn 1B SA-205/Apollo 7 build.

 

[SanRocketMan]

The ESTES 007251 instructions weren't really thought out too well in my opinion. I am not going by the way they want you to set the eight tanks to the center engine tube. Here is how I am assembling and adhere all of them to the tube. They will automatically be in line this way. Give it a look. Any comments?

 

[SanRocketMan]

The ESTES 007251 instructions weren't really thought out too well in my opinion. I am not going by the way they want you to set the eight tanks to the center engine tube. Here is how I am assembling and adhere all of them to the tube. They will automatically be in line this way. Give it a look. Any comments?

The Business End of the Saturn 1B

 

[SanRocketMan]

The ESTES 007251 instructions weren't really thought out too well in my opinion. I am not going by the way they want you to set the eight tanks to the center engine tube. Here is how I am assembling and adhere all of them to the tube. They will automatically be in line this way. Give it a look. Any comments?

= GLUED

 

[Jimmy]

The ESTES 007251 instructions weren't really thought out too well in my opinion. I am not going by the way they want you to set the eight tanks to the center engine tube. Here is how I am assembling and adhere all of them to the tube. They will automatically be in line this way. Give it a look. Any comments?

Why didn’t I think of that? I agree, the directions aren't the clearest. When I was a kid the directions had more explanatory text and seemed to be more detailed.

 

[Jimmy]

= GLUED

Coming along nicely.

 

[SanRocketMan]

Why didn’t I think of that? I agree, the directions aren't the clearest. When I was a kid the directions had more explanatory text and seemed to be more detailed.

Jimmy, I will agree with you again on the dumbed down instructions. Bad sequencing. No explanation. No terminology. Just not as accurate and explanatory as they used to be. Who is writing these for ESTES? Certainly not Vern.

 

[SanRocketMan]

= GLUED

NOTE TO SELF: Should have painted the black portions beforehand. Now its going to be a little harder taping off.

 

[BSNW]

THE SCALE PEOPLE WILL GASP.....THE BABES WILL CRY...ALL WILL ASK WHY WHY WHY????

Well, let us call this a learning experience. I am glad I eventually purchased 3 of these kits. I have been officially "spanked". I still say this kit is an easy build but the finishing is indeed master level.....for me. All the black I had to do free hand with flat black acrylic. The "extended" sections of black are due to "mistakes" between drinks of beer (kidding). Lets just say this is scale in my reality pal!! (YES....I still need to paint the display nozzles).

Then I got to thinking.....I guess if I had a museum quality Saturn 1B....I (personally) would most likely NOT enjoy the launch.

One is dreaming if they think this thing wont break something on the first or second flight. The fin attachments say it all. And to me, what fun is it launching without that beautiful escape tower?......I mean COME ON!

So...I am being realistic and replacing some realities with my own on this kit....its my prerogative. Anyway, I like to launch, and I like my rockets to launch and fly....like rockets......straight and fast. This kit is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L....but is NOT made for the rigors of launch day....face it.

My point is that on my next try on this kit I will no doubt apply what I have learned from all the great posts on this thread. But personally, I am not going to kill myself on the details because I plan to launch them as much as I can and I know my detail work will go in the can if it lands....lets say.....on the runway at Indy Rockets in Muncie, In for example.....can you just picture that? Oh the agony!

For now this first try is called....GOOD ENOUGH FOR FUN!! I hope to launch the crap out of it and try all kinds of motors until it goes out in a blaze of glory or blows up on the pad. BTW: I am taking votes on its first motor....the F12 (safe) or an E18W (funner)....let me know your vote.

Either way this "10 footer" (looks great from 10 feet away on the pad) is my first try. I hope it launches better than that blasted Saturn 5 kit. Saw yet another one corkscrew its way into GLORY and its afterlife at a launch just last weekend! Poor thing made it about 8 feet and went all crazy....

Estes.....This is a fine kit!! Well done!! LOVE it. Photos are below.

BTW....JIMMY I am learning a TON FROM YOU!!! WELL DONE!!

 

[BSNW]

What follows is not for the faint of heart. The scale judges may want to leave the room. I bring you....Good Enough For Fun!....Try #1 (notice there are no close-ups HA HA!!).

 

[kuririn]

Looks fine Andrew.

 

[BSNW]

Looks fine Andrew.

Thanks! I will have Big Fun launching it until it meets its demise or I pass it on to another (big) kid.

I really do like it. I had fun building it and painting it... and that is the whole point of all this anyway.

Have a good day!
Andrew

 

[Jimmy]

Andrew...after reading your novel I was prepared for the worst. I think your kit looks good! If you can answer ‘yes’ to the question of “Did I do my best?” then be proud of it.

 

[Jimmy]

THE SCALE PEOPLE WILL GASP.....THE BABES WILL CRY...ALL WILL ASK WHY WHY WHY????

Well, let us call this a learning experience. I am glad I eventually purchased 3 of these kits. I have been officially "spanked". I still say this kit is an easy build but the finishing is indeed master level.....for me. All the black I had to do free hand with flat black acrylic. The "extended" sections of black are due to "mistakes" between drinks of beer (kidding). Lets just say this is scale in my reality pal!! (YES....I still need to paint the display nozzles).

Then I got to thinking.....I guess if I had a museum quality Saturn 1B....I (personally) would most likely NOT enjoy the launch.

One is dreaming if they think this thing wont break something on the first or second flight. The fin attachments say it all. And to me, what fun is it launching without that beautiful escape tower?......I mean COME ON!

So...I am being realistic and replacing some realities with my own on this kit....its my prerogative. Anyway, I like to launch, and I like my rockets to launch and fly....like rockets......straight and fast. This kit is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L....but is NOT made for the rigors of launch day....face it.

My point is that on my next try on this kit I will no doubt apply what I have learned from all the great posts on this thread. But personally, I am not going to kill myself on the details because I plan to launch them as much as I can and I know my detail work will go in the can if it lands....lets say.....on the runway at Indy Rockets in Muncie, In for example.....can you just picture that? Oh the agony!

For now this first try is called....GOOD ENOUGH FOR FUN!! I hope to launch the crap out of it and try all kinds of motors until it goes out in a blaze of glory or blows up on the pad. BTW: I am taking votes on its first motor....the F12 (safe) or an E18W (funner)....let me know your vote.

Either way this "10 footer" (looks great from 10 feet away on the pad) is my first try. I hope it launches better than that blasted Saturn 5 kit. Saw yet another one corkscrew its way into GLORY and its afterlife at a launch just last weekend! Poor thing made it about 8 feet and went all crazy....

Estes.....This is a fine kit!! Well done!! LOVE it. Photos are below.

BTW....JIMMY I am learning a TON FROM YOU!!! WELL DONE!!

Glad to be helpful in anyway.