Leo's Semroc Mars Lander Building Thread

[Leo]

I finally got my Semroc Mars Lander in the mail last week. Back in the mid eighties I had gotten 2 Estes Mars Landers from a distributor who sold Estes and Centuri products in Germany at that time. I was asked to build them for him and I enjoyed it very much. The Mars Lander is a great looking model rocket. To this day I could never figure out why I didn't have a kit of my own. Maybe it was due to the high price.

Original mint Estes Mars Lander Box with Semroc parts enclosed just for nostalgia reasons ;)
http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/semroc_mars_lander_estes_box.jpg

Nonetheless, lets get back to the present.

Upon opening the kit you notice how well the components of the Semroc Mars Lander are made. The quality of the parts are first class and I'm looking forward to building this kit.

I have decided to build the Mars Lander exactly as it was designed with maybe one exception and that being how to mount the shock bands so that they can be replaced.

This thread is my step by step construction. I have kits that I started 20 years ago and are yet to be finished. I hope this build will be shorter :rolleyes:

So lets begin :)

Step 3 and 4:

As described I sanded the balsa sheet on both sides and then removed all the fins from the sheet, afterwards carefully sanding each of the fin edges.

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/steps_3_4.jpg

Step 5:

Finished the gear housing. Next step is to seal the inside and give it a white coat of paint.

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/step_5.jpg

You gotta love the smell of burnt balsa wood. It's making me all woozy :D

[tbzep]

Wow! You built it in one step! My instructions are a little more complex. ;)

Looking foward to seeing the rest of it, Leo.

[Leo]

Step 6:

Ready to be glued together.

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/step_6.jpg

I have made up my mind and will replace the shock bands with springs, the same way Sandman built his ML :)

Now to find some nice springs for the project.

Keep stopping by ... :)

[Pyro Pro]

That looks very nice :), keep working on it!

I've been holding off on building mine, but I think I'm just going to build it totally stock (I don't really want to change it around and accidently mess it up).

I might get another and try the 'spring mod'.

Keep up the good work


-David

[Leo]

continuing the build...

Steps 18:

4 identical clones :) Next thing to do is to give them a nice sealing and painting. The landing pads will come on later (missing in the picture).

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/step_18.jpg

Steps 20 - 23:

Here the engine mount parts layed out

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/step_20-23.jpg

and here the engine mount completed. Note position of the cap ring ;)

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/step_20-23_f.jpg

Steps 24 - 26 and step 28:

Gluing on the gear housing spacers was easier than I had thought. The finish turned out perfectly

Assembling the decent stage bulkhead was one of the simpler steps (left in the picture) :)

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/step_24-26_28.jpg

Keep tuning in... :)

[Leo]

Steps 36 - 45:

Today I built all the shrouds.

Left to right are Ascent Module, Desent Stage Bulkhead, Command Module and Engine Nozzle.

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/steps_36-45.jpg

[Leo]

Well, I have come into my first glitch while assembling the kit.

While testing the fitment of the Ascent Module and Command Module it wouldn't fit correctly.

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/body_shroud_faulty.jpg

Because I am very sure that all the parts where perfectly put together I went and measured the parts, in particular the forward bulkhead. It turns out that the hole is not perfectly centered and about 0.5 mm off. I removed some material from the opposite side to make the correction.

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/ascent_shroud_correction.jpg

After making the modification I retested the fitment and it now matches perfectly.

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/body_shroud_fixed.jpg

There seems to be a small manufacturing error in the forward bulkhead.

Keep stopping by ... :)

[Carl@Semroc]

There seems to be a small manufacturing error in the forward bulkhead.

Thanks, Leo. There sure was! It is fixed now.

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Any further progress on this, Leo?

[Leo]

Any further progress on this, Leo?

Well, yes and no.

I'm still in the sanding and sealer phase and for the record, I hate this step :mad:

Good news is that I found perfect springs to replace the rubber bands. Will post a pic of the spring later.

[Leo]

As primised here are the springs I'm going to be using on the ML.

I can't wait to try them out :)

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/builds/semroc_mars_lander/springs.jpg

[barone]

As primised here are the springs I'm going to be using on the ML.

I can't wait to try them out :)



OK....where did you get them?

Don
NAR 53455

[Leo]

Don, I got them from here: Pollin Germany (http://www.pollin.de/shop/shop.php?cf=detail.php&pg=OA==&a=MjU5OTkxOTk=&w=Njk1OTk4&ts=0)

I didn't know what I was getting really but I guess I found the perfect springs.

[Leo]

I've been asked what kind of glue I'm using for this project.

As will all my rockets I solely use standard white glue.

The only exception is ca glue being spread in the inside end of the body tubes which are then slighty sanded for a smooth fit & finish and added strength.

[Steve]

(I realize this is an older thread... but)

So, Leo - did you ever finish this model? Any more build pictures?

[wickball]

If you haven't checked out his web site, do it. It's pretty nice.

wick

[Leo]

Steve, I'm still waiting for the glue to dry completely.












:chuckle:

OMG, has it been soooooo long !!???? ( Shame on me :o )

I'm still in the sealer phase :(

[dlazarus6660]

It's been 12 years...

Should be done by now!

[georgegassaway]

Note to self, never use glue or sealer from Germany.

Seems like they take years to completely dry/cure.

[tbzep]

Note to self, never use glue or sealer from Germany.

Seems like they take years to completely dry/cure.

:chuckle:



.

[pdooley]

Leo, are you still around?
I remember meeting you in Tampa, FL many years ago. maybe early 2000's?