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#11 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Fri, 06 Jul 18, 16:55 pm
by Commander
#12 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Thu, 09 Aug 18, 23:52 pm
by bernomatic
#13 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Sun, 19 Aug 18, 12:24 pm
by Joe Wooten
OUCH!!!!
Not much you can do about weak wood but replace it......
#14 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Sun, 19 Aug 18, 21:51 pm
by Rocket Babe
Been there done that too.
#15 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Sat, 01 Sep 18, 20:45 pm
by Commander
#16 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Sat, 03 Aug 19, 17:09 pm
by Commander
I guess it's time for an annual update on this build:
- working on model a while.jpg (74.43 KiB) Viewed 50622 times
#17 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Sat, 03 Aug 19, 19:37 pm
by Commander
Well good news/bad news. I went to weigh the Snooper and the lower section fell to the floor
and no damage occurred.
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.
- Mars Snooper 8-3-19.JPG (251.68 KiB) Viewed 50621 times
#18 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Sat, 03 Aug 19, 20:18 pm
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.
- Mars Snooper 2.JPG (343.89 KiB) Viewed 50620 times
- Mars Snooper 3.JPG (387.18 KiB) Viewed 50620 times
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).
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.
#19 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Tue, 13 Aug 19, 04:25 am
by Commander
Finally, after these many years, she's finally 98% done.
Just the decals and maybe a little personalization.
- 101_1253.JPG (417.04 KiB) Viewed 50603 times
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?
#20 Re: Mars Snooper
Posted: Wed, 21 Aug 19, 05:31 am
by Commander
Personalization didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked.
- 101_1255.JPG (523.45 KiB) Viewed 50568 times
- 101_1257.JPG (574.22 KiB) Viewed 50568 times
A little touch up here and there and I'm on to the decals and gloss coat.