repairing creased body tubes

[Eric]

Anybody have a good way to repair creased body tubes? I have a estes mercury atlas kit and opened the box for the first time to find the body tube was creased in several places Can you sand out the crease and fill in with filler and sand smooth? Any ideas appreciated!

Thanks!

Eric
waltsbullies@comcast.net

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

I've never built an Atlas before. Is the tube specially slotted or otherwise special? If not, just check the BT list and order a replacement from Semroc or BMS.
http://www.rocketshoppe.com/info/Estes_Body_Tube_List.pdf

[STRMan]

I've never built an Atlas before. Is the tube specially slotted or otherwise special? If not, just check the BT list and order a replacement from Semroc or BMS.
http://www.rocketshoppe.com/info/Estes_Body_Tube_List.pdf

I agree 100%.

[johnnwwa]

Anybody have a good way to repair creased body tubes? I have a estes mercury atlas kit and opened the box for the first time to find the body tube was creased in several places Can you sand out the crease and fill in with filler and sand smooth? Any ideas appreciated!

Thanks!

Eric
waltsbullies@comcast.net

Eric
depends on how bad the crease is and location.
Replacement size
Size in inches 18 "
dia. 3 7/16"

could be a Bt-344 .

No Slots ,straight tube.

BAR
John

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

You could also try Estes Customer Service. (And while you're there, drop a hint or two about reissuing this bird. I missed it on the last go-round. ;) )

[Rocket Doctor]

You could also try Estes Customer Service. (And while you're there, drop a hint or two about reissuing this bird. I missed it on the last go-round. ;) )

You can hint all you want, but, don't expect to see it, not on any list.

As far as the body tube goes, it may or may not be available through Estes customer service. It has been awhile since this kit has been out (#2111) ( 1195 - 1998)

Contact Estesx customer service via email www.estesrockets.com and fill out the cutomer service form, or by calling 1-800-525-7561 X216

Good luck on this one, usually, after this length of time any parts will be thrown away. (believe it or not)

[tbzep]

Sometimes with large body tubes you can push the ridge in to get rid of it. Just carefully flex the opposite way without creating new creases. Burnish the ridge down with the handle of a hobby knife or something similar. Then use good old sandpaper and fill-n-finish or bondo spot putty to smooth out the area. Soak it with thin CA once you've got it nice and round because the creased area will be much weaker and prone to creasing again even with mild handling (if the crease is at the nosecone end). That will cause the filler and paint to chip off. If you put the motor mount at the damaged end, that will also stiffen up the offending area.

Also with regular rockets, you can hide the creases under fins, but the Atlas doesn't let you do that with it's fin pods. However, the Atlas does have the huge conduits for the outboard motors, so you could hide at least one of the creases under that area. The "stainless steel" wrap material is so thin that it won't hide the damage either, so you do need to try to do something with it before applying the material.

Just out of curiosity, is the full length creased, or just one end?

[JRThro]

Just out of curiosity, is the full length creased, or just one end?
Or is it creased in the sense that the tube was bent and therefore creased/kinked along one of the spirals in the tube? That's what I automatically think of when I read about tubes being creased.

[Eric]

Sometimes with large body tubes you can push the ridge in to get rid of it. Just carefully flex the opposite way without creating new creases. Burnish the ridge down with the handle of a hobby knife or something similar. Then use good old sandpaper and fill-n-finish or bondo spot putty to smooth out the area. Soak it with thin CA once you've got it nice and round because the creased area will be much weaker and prone to creasing again even with mild handling (if the crease is at the nosecone end). That will cause the filler and paint to chip off. If you put the motor mount at the damaged end, that will also stiffen up the offending area.

Also with regular rockets, you can hide the creases under fins, but the Atlas doesn't let you do that with it's fin pods. However, the Atlas does have the huge conduits for the outboard motors, so you could hide at least one of the creases under that area. The "stainless steel" wrap material is so thin that it won't hide the damage either, so you do need to try to do something with it before applying the material.

Just out of curiosity, is the full length creased, or just one end?

Looks like the damage was done during shipping. In several areas the tube has been pushed in. The tube is still round but is weak in the ares where it has been creased

[tbzep]

Looks like the damage was done during shipping. In several areas the tube has been pushed in. The tube is still round but is weak in the ares where it has been creased

If it still has its shape, just soak the weak spots with CA.

[LeeR]

Looks like the damage was done during shipping. In several areas the tube has been pushed in. The tube is still round but is weak in the ares where it has been creased

I'd fiberglass it. I've done wraps of 1.5 oz. cloth on BT-80s, and it is so thin, that the nose cone / body tube joint was a smooth transition. It would definitely toughen a weak tube.

I've used 30 minute epoxy, thinned ~ 15% with lacquer thinner to make it flow. Paint the tube with epoxy, wrap the fiberglass (I recommend enough to form two wraps), and squeegeed off most of the epoxy. Cut a plastic lid from a food container to form a curved squeegee that conforms well to the tube's curve. You'll get a pretty smooth surface that requires minimal sanding, and priming will easily fill the weave. The easiest way to let it cure is to open a coat hangar, and thread it thru the tube. Hang it horizontally from the ends of the coat hangar hanging out the ends of the tube. Dowels work, but the coat hangars are "free", and if you throw them out, no big deal.

Finally -- I'd practice on a few tubes first. Then you'll have a few tubes for some other projects, and be proficient enough to do the Atlas tube.

[Phred]

If the BT is still round, but simply weak in spots, I would suggest soaking the affected areas with thin CA. Fiberglass is kinf of heavy for this model. Any imperfections can be cleaned up with some filler.

Phred

[Eric]

Thanks. That is what I am doing now. Soaking the inside of the tube where it has been creased to strengthen. Then on the outside I am sanding the creases smooth and filling in with elmers wood filler. In some spots the creases were sufficient to tear the outer layer of paper on the tube. Difficult to get a round tube perfectly smooth again. It will take some time.

Eric