Mars Snooper Mayhem

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les

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Time for another triple build:
Semroc Mars Snooper
Hawks Hobby Super Mars Snooper
Q Model Mars Snooper II

This will probably be as much "fun" as when I built the 3 Tridents. https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/wifes-away-i-get-to-play-rocket-builds.63651/

Each of those had 9 nose cones - The Mars Snoopers have only 7 (plus a transition). Both have 5 tubes, although the Trident ones are longer.

Here are the kits:

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And the open bags:
Hawk's Hobby
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Semroc
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And Q Model
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Started with the Semroc motor mount - marked the tube and started gluing the rings and coupler on

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I did run into an issue that the top ring includes the Kevlar cord, but there was very little tube left - I notched the ring to provide a space for the cord
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Sigh - time for F&F. I used the pod tubes to help support the cones while sanding
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I have the Hawk's Hobbies Super Mars Snooper kit. Been considering taking a crack at it and I think I'll bump it up in the queue.
 
Been sanding the F&F - lots of sanding. Decided to do a bit of building for relief

Semroc - marked and glued up pods
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but then added more F&F for the joints

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I tried something new this time. I thinned the F&F more than usual, then using a foam brush painted the fins while they were still attached. Sanded the entire surface when dry. Worked ok, but made separating the fins a pain as the F&F sort of "glued" them in. For the Hawk's Hobby and Q Model, I still foam brushed the F&F but the pieces were bigger and easier to handle.

I also started separating parts to keep them getting mixed up between the kits.
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I heard a rumor that they are upscaling the orbital transport. Should be out some time this summer. Again, only a rumor but from a pretty good source.
An upscale Orbital Transport would be even better! I’ve wanted to order the regular Semroc version but it has been out of stock for a while now.
 
An upscale Orbital Transport would be even better! I’ve wanted to order the regular Semroc version but it has been out of stock for a while now.
We are waiting on body tubes to come in. That's why the Orbital Transport is OOS.
 
Just a minor whine....
So far in this thread, 29.5% of the posts have been mine related to the build of Mars Snoopers.
23.5% have been others about Mars Snoopers (and I included post 11 in this category but its topic was a bit nebulous)
And 47% have been about other rockets besides Mars Snoopers. Can we kinda keep on track for this thread??? Sorry

Been doing a lot of sanding of the F&F. But we rocketeers love sanding, right? This is just one session worth....

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Hawk - built up the motor mount. Very similar to the Semroc, just larger pieces. As a recap, re-posting the Semroc mount (with the green tube).

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Q - installed the bulkhead into the transition. The screweye is not fully engaged - I needed it to remove the bulkhead after doing a dry fit

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Sincere apologies. Thanks for doing this build thread! The Q-modeling and Hawks Hobby are primo kits.
No problem....

Q - start the motor mount. Make a slit for the engine hook, install 2 thrust rings. Just an FYI, the motor tube is foil lined.
There is a sleeve that goes over the hook and the rear ring gets glued to the sleeve. But the cut didn't look right, so I squared it up (you can see the issue below). The instructions warn the fit is tight, I had to sand both the sleeve and tube to get it to fit over the hook.

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Q Model uses a unique system for TTW fins.
Start with one "gog wheel" ring.

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Then a second ring with pieces in between that have slots for the fin tabs
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And then spacers for support between these to help lock everything together
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The completed mount
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They used the same system on their Vega
I also have their USS Andromeda, but I haven't opened that one yet
 
They used the same system on their Vega
I also have their USS Andromeda, but I haven't opened that one yet
All the kits use an interlocking fin brace/engine mount design.
I'm looking to clone the 2.66X upscale Viper, but that's in the future.
WAY in the future.
 
I also apologize. Didn't mean to take over the thread.
Again - no issue....

Shrouds - all three kits have shrouds, so I'm not going to show everyone

I like to use the "super shroud" approach (I forget where I first learned it). Basically, one doubles up the shrouds. I made 2 copies of each shroud on card stock and cut both out. Some of the shrouds have a hole for the launch lug. I would use one as a template to relocate the hole on the second one.
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To form each shroud, I use a nose cone to wrap the shroud to preform it. I find using a cone that is naturally tapered is better than a round cylinder, like a tube or broom handle

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I then glued the shrouds together. Sometimes I use the overlap tab, and other times I cut a separate tab. For these, I just used the overlap. Depending on the size, I used different clamping to hold the shrouds until the glue dried.

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Once I had the two shrouds, I would insert one into the other, using wood glue. For the shrouds with the lug hole, I would line up the holes. Since I offset the holes, it also offsets the tabs where the shrouds glued together.

One then needs to trim the shrouds a bit. Used a combo of x-acto and sanding for this. The lug hole also needs a bit of cleanup.

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