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  #1  
Old 02-22-2013, 09:16 PM
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Default Cloning the Estes Alien Explorer

....and so it begins.

I'm back from W. PA and I now have everything I need to clone the beloved(?) Estes Alien Explorer #1372.

As you can see, there's an extra BT20 coupler in the pile. This is no accident. Some of you may figure out on your own what I'm going to use it for. Otherwise, follow my thread and you'll soon find out! TBC
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Old 02-22-2013, 10:03 PM
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I start by surface sanding Semroc's AWESOME balsa sheets. The balsa is a little on the soft side so I've used 400 grit. The laser cut fiber cardstock sheet is the same as the one for the Andromeda. TBC
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Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

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  #3  
Old 02-22-2013, 10:31 PM
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Using a flat cabinet scraper I scrape a new surface onto my dead-flat Corian slab and then cover it with a fresh sheet of wax paper. I've lightly sanded the mating edges of the sail pieces to remove the laser charring and joined them with Titebond red. They're laid upon the Corian slab and weighted down with MM bottles until dry. TBC
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Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

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Old 02-22-2013, 11:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffyjeep
I start by surface sanding Semroc's AWESOME balsa sheets. The balsa is a little on the soft side so I've used 400 grit. The laser cut fiber cardstock sheet is the same as the one for the Andromeda. TBC


That's just cheating!

I cut all of the fins on mine by hand!

Not fair!
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  #5  
Old 02-22-2013, 11:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sandman
That's just cheating!

I cut all of the fins on mine by hand!

Not fair!

Tough.

And now the front portions are joined by dowels to the main portions of the sails. The Dowels are thicker than the 3/32" balsa of the sails, so I use popsicle sticks and clothespins as cross braces to make the parts lie in the same plane as the glue of the dowels sets. TBC
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Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

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  #6  
Old 02-23-2013, 12:15 AM
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Now the (6) 2" long .083" thick dowel pieces (a.k.a. "parachute snaggers") are attached, as are the first cardstock pieces, and the balsa/dowel subassemblies are now finished.

Time for a Scotch and an IPA! Good night. TBC
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Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

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SAM# 0078
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  #7  
Old 02-23-2013, 07:32 AM
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What city in PA were you? I'm originally from a small city 60 miles NW of Pittsburgh. BTW are you going with the flashy Zinc Chromate finish?
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Old 02-23-2013, 08:32 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrism
What city in PA were you? I'm originally from a small city 60 miles NW of Pittsburgh. BTW are you going with the flashy Zinc Chromate finish?

The job was in Warren, PA.

I'll go with the zinc chromate finish if I can find the right paint. I'll try to shoot it without crying or throwing up, because I overdosed many times over on zinc chromate in the Navy. I didn't BEGIN my submarine duty as Sonar LPO--I started out as an E2 in deck division. It was the color of the primer we used under the black epoxy paint on the outer hull of the sub.

The horror! The horror!
__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

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  #9  
Old 02-23-2013, 08:40 AM
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Next I join the (2) 18" BT20's together. To maintain the straightness as the glue dries, I cradle the assembly into a long aluminum channel and secure it with braiding rubber bands.

Now the motor mount. I'm not a fan of the wrapped paper engine hook retainer--but I AM a fan of over-engineering the engine mount, especially when it will never be seen again (at least not without major trauma.) Hence, I've added a mylar hook retaining ring and I've enrobed it and the forward portion of the hook in epoxy. TBC
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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078
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  #10  
Old 02-23-2013, 08:50 AM
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And now the pre-marked reactor section tube is glued over the motor mount and I don't have to worry about the "guts" because of the added prep work. TBC
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Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

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