Mars Snooper

Take us through your build strategies and ideas.
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#11 Re: Mars Snooper

Post by Commander »

As mentioned elsewhere, the Snooper took another tumble. :cry:
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bernomatic
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#12 Re: Mars Snooper

Post by bernomatic »

This is getting really frustrating :x It seems any time I think I'm getting ahead or close to finishing with this build, something else happens. :evil:

I was working on the pod that last fell off. I used some JB Wood Weld to fillet the joint and was smoothing the results when I accidently dropped it on to the vinyl covered basement floor from a height of...

30"
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

If the rocket can't take a fall from that height without sustaining damages, How the heck is going to recover from a launch? :o This latest wasn't even a joint separation, it is much akin to what happened to the USS Atlantis in that it cut across the grain. This isn't a weak joint issue, this weak wood.
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Joe Wooten
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#13 Re: Mars Snooper

Post by Joe Wooten »

OUCH!!!!

Not much you can do about weak wood but replace it......
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#15 Re: Mars Snooper

Post by Commander »

Some splinting
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Overnight wait, remove splint
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a little sanding and we're ready to prime again :roll:

That is until the next fall :? :cry:
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#16 Re: Mars Snooper

Post by Commander »

I guess it's time for an annual update on this build:
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#17 Re: Mars Snooper

Post by Commander »

Well good news/bad news. I went to weigh the Snooper and the lower section fell to the floor :o and no damage occurred. :shock: :D
The bad news? She weighed in at 107g. That's 130% of the listed weight of the Sem-Roc Mars Snooper (with thicker tubes) and I haven't even finished painting her.
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#18 Re: Mars Snooper

Post by Commander »

The original Estes Kit has 2.2oz. which converts to 62.4g. Any way you look at it, she's heavy. She is however nearing completion.
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On this previous attempt to paint, I had laid down a base coat to even out the color, and while sanding, you guessed it, one fin tried to fall off the body tube and one cracked along a previous fault line (see post 12). :x
I immediately stopped sanding the coat, and used a rougher paper to rough up along all the root edges of the fins along the body tube. I then laid new fillets using Titebond Wood Molding Glue. I initially tried to run Super Glue along the hairline crack of the fault line, but that proved useless. I smeared Titebond II along the line and worked it in by slightly flex the fin , then held it shut till the glue set. I finished by applying a layer of superglue over the area.

Well she's looking good now that I have laid down two coats of gloss paint. As to the weight problem, well I ain't any leaner than I was two years ago. :roll: :lol:
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#19 Re: Mars Snooper

Post by Commander »

Finally, after these many years, she's finally 98% done. :USA: Just the decals and maybe a little personalization. :D
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I used a "High Heat" Black Rustoleum for the cones and hand painted the vanes silver. It's not as noticeable in the photo, but the flat black of the High Heat Black offsets the gloss colors. That brings up one final issue. Do I just gloss coat the entire rocket after the decals, or do I mask off the cone portions?
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#20 Re: Mars Snooper

Post by Commander »

Personalization didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked.
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A little touch up here and there and I'm on to the decals and gloss coat.
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