MARS LANDER clone :-)

[Green Dragon]

well, ok ... got my Outlander kit in the mail today , and have my old (rough) R2-D2 half disassembled.

downloading the instructions right now, have to refill the black inl before I can print em :-(

anyways, I don't have my vintage one I built 20+ years ago to go by, so was wondering if anyone has any advise, tips, tricks, etc.

also if anyone can comment on what parts,exactly, can be used from the outlander - that would help me trying to match each one up to the files, etc - such as, the legs and such was mentioned as ok, are the foot pads right ? ( except something about being too thick ? ) .

what about the internal (hinge mount point) rings ?

actually the nosecone looks like it might work and look ok, but I'll be getting one from BMS just to keep the ' right feeling' to it, lol ...

and will certainly switch to elastic or similar instead of rubberbands, but any other mods appreciated / cionsidered.

~ AL

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

well, ok ... got my Outlander kit in the mail today , and have my old (rough) R2-D2 half disassembled.

downloading the instructions right now, have to refill the black inl before I can print em :-(

anyways, I don't have my vintage one I built 20+ years ago to go by, so was wondering if anyone has any advise, tips, tricks, etc.

also if anyone can comment on what parts,exactly, can be used from the outlander - that would help me trying to match each one up to the files, etc - such as, the legs and such was mentioned as ok, are the foot pads right ? ( except something about being too thick ? ) .

what about the internal (hinge mount point) rings ?

actually the nosecone looks like it might work and look ok, but I'll be getting one from BMS just to keep the ' right feeling' to it, lol ...

and will certainly switch to elastic or similar instead of rubberbands, but any other mods appreciated / cionsidered.

~ AL

And you'll keep us well supplied with pictures as the project progresses, right? :cool: ;)

[Carl@Semroc]

The parts for the Mars Lander are "in the works." Watch Mars Lander parts list (http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/ClassicParts.asp?ID=44) for latest. We should have many of the parts before the end of November.

[Quasar]

Check out the Yahoo group below. Lots of info.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mars-lander/

Also:

http://www.tela.com/~dtkostron/lander/lander.htm

Mike Fields

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

The parts for the Mars Lander are "in the works." Watch Mars Lander parts list (http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/ClassicParts.asp?ID=44) for latest. We should have many of the parts before the end of November.

:eek: :eek: :eek:
That's HORRIBLE news! I'm broke. :D :(

[Green Dragon]

Check out the Yahoo group below. Lots of info.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mars-lander/

Also:

http://www.tela.com/~dtkostron/lander/lander.htm

Mike Fields


thanks Mike - just joined your list, so hope that helps :-)

looking at the kostron site now....

~ AL

[Green Dragon]

:eek: :eek: :eek:
That's HORRIBLE news! I'm broke. :D :(

Bill,

I saw that big list of projects that you noted, by the time you get through those you'll have lots of time to save your pennies :-)

~ AL

[dtomko]

The parts for the Mars Lander are "in the works." Watch Mars Lander parts list (http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/ClassicParts.asp?ID=44) for latest. We should have many of the parts before the end of November.

This is too good to be true! Carl, will the shrouds be embossed??
Drew

[Carl@Semroc]

This is too good to be true! Carl, will the shrouds be embossed??
DrewWorking on an embosser for the Mars Lander and Saturn 1B wraps.

[marslndr]

This IS great news! I have the KosRox clone about half built and would love to build it with the embossing, and buy another just because I would like a backup. If it is half as good as the Astron Spaceplane I bought from you it will be great! Thanks for letting this BAR build all the stuff I wanted when I was a kid.


Mark

[John Brohm]

Working on an embosser for the Mars Lander and Saturn 1B wraps.

Carl;

Will you be offering a kit/short kit of the Lander and the Saturn 1b, or just the parts?

John

[Ltvscout]

Working on an embosser for the Mars Lander and Saturn 1B wraps.
Awesome! How about an embosser for the Shrike?

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Awesome! How about an embosser for the Shrike?
:cool: :D

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Hey, I just thought of something. Any chance this Lander is going to be ready for Christmas? Someone picked my name in the family exchange and it sounds like something that might fit the bill.
That or another gift certificate. ;) (#00000000000000000000000000000000000000002.)

[Carl@Semroc]

Carl;

Will you be offering a kit/short kit of the Lander and the Saturn 1b, or just the parts?

JohnParts will be coming online as they are received.

Plans (subject to change) are for:
KS-1 Saturn 1B 1/70 (based on Estes K-29)
KS-2 Apollo Capsule 1/70 (based on Estes NCK-29)
KS-3 Little Joe II 1/70 (based on Estes K-30)
in time for Christmas.

KV-56 Mars Lander (based on Estes K-43)
will probably be too close. There is a lot more to do for it!

In the works... a Mars Transport for the Mars Lander in time for NARCON, since it has a Mars theme. I have several ideas for this, but any other thoughts and suggestions are always welcome.

[Carl@Semroc]

Hey, I just thought of something. Any chance this Lander is going to be ready for Christmas? Someone picked my name in the family exchange and it sounds like something that might fit the bill.
That or another gift certificate. ;) (#00000000000000000000000000000000000000002.)It would be great to have them all ready for Christmas, but the Mars Lander might not make it. We do have a few more Gift Certificates left!

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Parts will be coming online as they are received.

Plans (subject to change) are for:
KS-1 Saturn 1B 1/70 (based on Estes K-29)
KS-2 Apollo Capsule 1/70 (based on Estes NCK-29)
KS-3 Little Joe II 1/70 (based on Estes K-30)
in time for Christmas.



Well, I GUESS a Little Joe might be an OKAY Christmas gift. :rolleyes: :eek:


In the works... a Mars Transport for the Mars Lander in time for NARCON, since it has a Mars theme. I have several ideas for this, but any other thoughts and suggestions are always welcome.

Sounds interesting. Any details? :cool:

[Carl@Semroc]

Sounds interesting. Any details? :cool:
Mostly some wild neurons firing right now, nothing modeled yet. There are some interesting Mars concept vehicles on the web.

[SEL]

Parts will be coming online as they are received.

Plans (subject to change) are for:
KS-1 Saturn 1B 1/70 (based on Estes K-29)
KS-2 Apollo Capsule 1/70 (based on Estes NCK-29)
KS-3 Little Joe II 1/70 (based on Estes K-30)
in time for Christmas.

Cool. I'm just sent Scott the old K30 Little Joe II Plans (see below) . No patterns or wraps, but you won't need them, when Carls kit comes out. And if you can't wait, the newer plans with wraps and patterns are already up on YORP.

p.s. Just put me down for one of each , Carl :-)

Sean

[Ltvscout]

Cool. I'm just sent Scott the old K30 Little Joe II Plans (see below) . No patterns or wraps, but you won't need them, when Carls kit comes out. And if you can't wait, the newer plans with wraps and patterns are already up on YORP.

p.s. Just put me down for one of each , Carl :-)

Sean
And here's a link to said PDF in case Carl needs it for producing the kit:

http://www.oldrocketplans.com/estes/estK-30/K-30_OldEstesLittleJoeII.pdf

Thanks, Sean!

[Carl@Semroc]

And here's a link to said PDF in case Carl needs it for producing the kit:

http://www.oldrocketplans.com/estes/estK-30/K-30_OldEstesLittleJoeII.pdf

Thanks, Sean!How easy can that be? Thanks Scott!

[Ltvscout]

How easy can that be? Thanks Scott!
No problemo.

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

No problemo.

Scott, that's French! (OLD Addams Family reference. Apologies will be profuse and swift.) ;)

[jpasqual]

Carl - Will the Saturn 1B be a 4 engine cluster like the original Estes K-29 or do you plan on doing something different

[kurtschachner]

Parts will be coming online as they are received.

Plans (subject to change) are for:
KS-1 Saturn 1B 1/70 (based on Estes K-29)
KS-2 Apollo Capsule 1/70 (based on Estes NCK-29)
KS-3 Little Joe II 1/70 (based on Estes K-30)
in time for Christmas.


I have a few unsolicited comments about this list, if you're interested.

As someone who has cloned the Estes 1/70 scale kit, IMHO there are a few flaws with the Estes design. Maybe I shouldn't call them flaws but things that may have been necessary in the late 60s that aren't today.

First off, the scalloped shroud in the original kit is cut from paper. This was then glued to the tank tubes and then the assembly was painted. This is a beast to do and in my opinion the shroud should be made from plastic (like the Centuri and Apogee kits) and the tank tubes painted ahead of time. This is much easier to accomplish.

Second, the Estes decals did not have a white rectangle behind the "United States" for the black tubes. In the kit you were supposed to mask off four of the white tubes before painting them black. Again I think this is too complicated for no reason.

I redrew the Estes decals and had them screen printed for our group cloning effort so feel free to "steal" that artwork if you like. However, the Estes decals weren't all that accurate. The Centuri decals rescaled to 1/69 would be a better representation (I also have the artwork for that).

Now as for that capsule, when we cloned our 100 sets of stuff we could not get those replicated in balsa. We could get the capsule done but not the two small balsa pieces for the escape tower. One of our group members ended up reproducing the three balsa parts in resin and it worked very well. The only problem with that was getting the four tower holes drilled properly in the resin capsule, but I had a machinist at work drill them for me.

Lastly, for the Little Joe II I have also redrawn those decals from the Estes kit. I can't recall if they are on JimZ's site or not, but if not let me know and I will send them to Scott. I also have a couple original body wraps for this kit you could borrow if you want.

Kurt

[Carl@Semroc]

Carl - Will the Saturn 1B be a 4 engine cluster like the original Estes K-29 or do you plan on doing something differentPlans are for interchangeable adapters included for original four 18mm engine cluster and single 24mm engine.

[Carl@Semroc]

I have a few unsolicited comments about this list, if you're interested.Very interested! Consider all comments solicited. We do not work in a vacuum.First off, the scalloped shroud in the original kit is cut from paper. This was then glued to the tank tubes and then the assembly was painted. This is a beast to do and in my opinion the shroud should be made from plastic (like the Centuri and Apogee kits) and the tank tubes painted ahead of time. This is much easier to accomplish.We started to change to plastic, but the paper has the "look and feel" of the old kits. Plastic would raise the price significantly and vacuum wraps are available oline.
Second, the Estes decals did not have a white rectangle behind the "United States" for the black tubes. In the kit you were supposed to mask off four of the white tubes before painting them black. Again I think this is too complicated for no reason.Agree! Those four decals will have a white background so the tubes can be painted solid black.
I redrew the Estes decals and had them screen printed for our group cloning effort so feel free to "steal" that artwork if you like. However, the Estes decals weren't all that accurate. The Centuri decals rescaled to 1/69 would be a better representation (I also have the artwork for that).Thanks, we will tweak the decals.Now as for that capsule, when we cloned our 100 sets of stuff we could not get those replicated in balsa. We could get the capsule done but not the two small balsa pieces for the escape tower. One of our group members ended up reproducing the three balsa parts in resin and it worked very well. The only problem with that was getting the four tower holes drilled properly in the resin capsule, but I had a machinist at work drill them for me.The capsule is all balsa so the paper shrould is not necessary. A decal will replace the color shroud. The balsa escape tower cone and nozzle are cut as one part and cut apart by the builder. They are very close to the original.Lastly, for the Little Joe II I have also redrawn those decals from the Estes kit. I can't recall if they are on JimZ's site or not, but if not let me know and I will send them to Scott. I also have a couple original body wraps for this kit you could borrow if you want.
KurtThanks again! We would really like to see some original wraps to try to get ours as close to them as possible.

Our design goal for these kits is to keep them as close as possible to the original and keep them reasonable in price. Our target prices are under $50.00 for the Saturn 1B and under $20.00 for the Little Joe II. We are planning on also including "close-to-scale" laser-cut balsa fins for modellers that that want a flying model and don't want to spend the time with the included paper and rib fins that are based on the original kit.

[jpasqual]

Thanks Carl -Kurt for your input on the Sat 1B - definetly a classic of it's time - even with it's imperfection - It's one kit I would truly like to add to my collection

[kurtschachner]

We started to change to plastic, but the paper has the "look and feel" of the old kits. Plastic would raise the price significantly and vacuum wraps are available oline.

What about laser cutting a styrene shroud? You'd have to somehow join the two ends, but it'd be more sturdy than a paper one.

Can you laser cut styrene sheet?

[Carl@Semroc]

What about laser cutting a styrene shroud? You'd have to somehow join the two ends, but it'd be more sturdy than a paper one.

Can you laser cut styrene sheet?I have not tried styrene yet. Vacuformed parts are something that we really want to be able to provide.