So I was working on my sister ship to the Attack Craft Orion last night (http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=770), and once together I decided to dig out my old Orion to do a side-by-side comparo.

I have an original Orion I built as a kid and painted per the face card. After I flew it a few times, a few of the decals peeled off (as a young 'un I didn't quite grasp the whole clear coat concept ). So, back then I stripped the rest of the decals and painted it dark green and added some generic USAF stars and lettering decals.

After digging it out for my comparison, I realized two things;

1) The dark green needs to go. I'm definitely going to re-paint and decal her to original art intent.

2) After years of storage, the angles of the main wings have been pressed out and now are level. I've attached a drawing below to illustrate.

I have a question to anyone who's ever done a restoration job. Is there a way, without cutting, that I can separate the inner and outer wings so that I can re-glue them at the correct angle? The seam is balsa-to-balsa, joined by Elmer's glue (either white or carpenter's. I can't remember which).

Thanks,
EV

Attached Thumbnails

 

If you used actual WHITE Elmers, you could probably dissolve it with hot water on the joint.
If you used Carpenters Elmers, Titebond, or any other Aliphatic Resin glue, get out the X-Acto...nuttin else will doo it !

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

JACKPOT!

You nailed it. A little bit of water, and the joints softened up beautifully. I pried 'em back down to the proper 20 deg and held in place.

Re-paint and new decals to follow.

Thanks,
EV

And the pictures are WHERE?
Come on, I want to see this oldie.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

PHEW, thought I was the only one thinking the same

__________________
Leo

My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino

They're comin', they're comin'.....

Since the ex absconded with my digital camera, I've been borrowing a friend's, which I had to return today. Pictures will follow once I get my camera conundrum corrected (how's that for alliteration?!? )

Later,
EV

Conundrum conquered!

Here you go Craig, as requested....

As you can see in the close-up shot, I added what I thought in my 14-year old brain would be some cool missile rails and pitot tubes. Ick.

She will be sanded, re-painted, and decaled to her former glory.

Later,
EV

Attached Thumbnails

     

Thank you and enjoy the restoration!

__________________
Leo

My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino

She must've been a hangar queen cuz I don't see much battle damage from years of dangerous missions patrolling the galaxies!

Hangar queen???

No way man! She went up a bunch of times in her original face-card-art form, and then a couple as her "green" self. I even flew it once or twice last summer after getting back into things. C'mon. I mean, if you look close enough, you can see a lot of the dust from 18+ years of storage.

I'm firmly in the camp that if it doesn't fly, then it isn't a rocket. It's merely a model.

Dont worry. Once I do the restore, she'll keep flying!

Later,
EV