The binge-build models have now been processed through the big fill n' sand step.
OWWWF ! MY FINGERS HURT !!
I have even built up really thick callouses on my fingertips!
Oh...wait...that's from playing guitar...
Never mind!
But, anyway, that was a lot of fins to fill and sand.
Hey, Elon.....where is my Tesla-Bot ???
For this multi-rocket build I chose to "CWF" the fins after they were attached to the body tubes, rather than my usual MO of doing them separately. The only exception to this were the little 'tab' fins on the Crossfire. Compound fins are usually more difficult to fill and sand if assembled.
Also, I was able to forego most of this step on the Icarus booster stage fins in favor of papering them. I figured that these fins could use a little bit more reinforcing strength due to all of the hard landings they will be subjected to. I did, however, glue on some reinforcing balsa gussets along the fin roots. These parts received the full fill and sand treatment.
All of these models were subject to no less than three cycles of this process, so I've been quite busy covering myself with CWF dust.
You might have noted that the above photo includes a 7th model. This is an Estes Interceptor that had been completed up to this point since last Spring. It has now been integrated into the current binge-build.
Moving on.....
isn't that a Quest Intruder?
ReplyDeleteHi, Mike,
ReplyDeleteThis is, indeed, a Quest Icarus, though it is highly modified. The shorter kit body tube has been built into a booster stage rather than a payload bay. The fins for the booster are from a spare Cherokee-E kit I had hanging around. You might note that the fins are mounted upside down to make a closer match to the Icarus fins. The booster has also been built to accommodate an Estes E12-0 motor. This one should be fun to fly.
At this point in time, the nose from the Icarus kit is being flown on my Big Rage model. I lost the BR's 'Nike Smoke' nose cone on its 2nd flight at Dove Valley. Until I can get an order out to Quest, both the Big Rage and Icarus will have to share the payload and nose.