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A Fish Named Wallyum 02-12-2007 08:23 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Not much time to do any work on it today. (Battery issues with my van.) These are the fins with the pods.

James Pierson 02-12-2007 08:50 PM

Looking Forward Eagarly!
 
I am glad that you have decided to stick with the UFO Invader Bill, and I am looking forward to this built thread. I have never seen an UFO Invader except for the catalog shot. Don't forget to post lots and lots of photo's :D .

James Pierson
NAR# 77907

A Fish Named Wallyum 02-12-2007 09:16 PM

Larry Zeilmann cloned all of the super kits a few years ago, then disappeared before filing flights. http://www.rocketreviews.com/review...fo_invader.html His other reviews are also cool.

Bob H 02-12-2007 10:03 PM

3 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
Needless to say, building the Raven has always been a far off dream of mine. I've got a cone from Mike at Moldin' Oldies, and I've got all the fibre cut for fins, but I think I'll eventually go with basswood.
Well, you could always make a 33% downscale Mini Raven from cardstock.

I posted a review on EMRR and the cardstock parts can be linked to from the article:

ESS Raven review

Tau Zero 02-12-2007 10:03 PM

Replacing fibre fins with "covered" balsa
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
I would actually like to see Semroc re-issue the SSV Scorpion and the ESS Raven, but ONLY if they replace the "fibre" fin components with Balsa or Basswood.
Remember, basswood weighs 3 times as much as balsa, so you'd be looking at some *major* stability issues. :eek: :mad:

However, since I built David J. Miller of Sirius Rocketry's "Interrogator"
(my reviews are posted on EMRR and TRF), I've made it a point to use his handy-dandy "computer label paper" method to cover balsa fins. You seal the edges with thin CA, and you have to remember to rub it down with a Sharpie pen cap to make sure the paper sticks and doesn't "bubble" when you paint it, but it looks a *lot* better. :D

I decided last summer if *I* built a UFO Invader, I'd use 1/16" balsa, cover it with the label paper, and not *have* to worry about the old-school "Fiber or Traditional Balsa" debate. :eek: :cool:

YMMV.


And while I *had* a USS America, I *really* wanted the UFO Invader because of its cool decals... but the local drug store had the "America" in stock, *so*... :rolleyes:

BTW, cool build, Bill. ;)


Cheers,

Bob H 02-12-2007 10:17 PM

2 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by CenturiGuy
....However, since I built David J. Miller of Sirius Rocketry's "Interrogator" ...... I've made it a point to use his handy-dandy "computer label paper" method to cover balsa fins.

I like label paper method also, but if I had it to do over again, I would have cut away the paper where the rudders attached to the fins. Every flight of my Interrogator has resulted in the shock cord getting tangled on the wing tip dowels and ripping the rudders off.

A Fish Named Wallyum 02-12-2007 10:18 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by CenturiGuy
I decided last summer if *I* built a UFO Invader, I'd use 1/16" balsa, cover it with the label paper, and not *have* to worry about the old-school "Fiber or Traditional Balsa" debate. :eek: :cool:



I haven't had the stones to try the label paper trick, just like I haven't had the stones to try the fiber(re) fin trick. :rolleyes: One o' these days.


Quote:
Originally Posted by CenturiGuy
And while I *had* a USS America, I *really* wanted the UFO Invader because of its cool decals... but the local drug store had the "America" in stock, *so*... :rolleyes:

BTW, cool build, Bill. ;)


Cheers,



The decals on JimZ's site look like a pretty nice scan. If mine come out okay I'll print you off a set if you want. (BTW, I'd consider the America to be a pretty good consolation prize.)
As for the build, I should manage some progress if school gets cancelled tomorrow. I decided to build the fins as a single unit, then attach them to the body, (which needs only final sanding to be ready for primer, btw.)

Leo 02-13-2007 02:29 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
...

Needless to say, building the Raven has always been a far off dream of mine. I've got a cone from Mike at Moldin' Oldies, and I've got all the fibre cut for fins, but I think I'll eventually go with basswood.


Don't feel bad.

I started my Raven back in 1982 and I haven't touched it ever since :o


Arley Davis 02-13-2007 04:49 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Some thanks to know about the Super Kits, The body tube for the Scorpion and the UFO Invader are BT-56, when I built my clone of the UFO Invader I purchased the tubing from Sunward Aerospace for at that time it was the only place that had that size tubing. For the fiberboard I used Bristol board I purchased at Hobby Lobby.

I can not say for sure but I suspect the reason way Centuri used fiberboard is because it is lighter and needs no sanding sealer that adds weight. Also I suspect that Fiberboard lends itself more to complex shapes were balsa would not work as will and would be difficult to work with.

By the way the USS America was the only one to use balsa fins.

A few years ago I built the SSV Scorpion that I had purchased off ebay, and I would say that it would be almost impossible to clone, there are just to many small hard to cut little pieces, and a lot of internal cuts.

Here is my suggestion on using fiberboard take it or leave it, on all the exposed edges I use about three coats of sanding sealer to fill the layers of paper, It not only seals but makes for a nice look on the edges when painted.

Here is my SSV Scorpion!

Arley Davis 02-13-2007 04:58 PM

Here is what I am talking about!

http://www.dars.org/jimz/centuri/cen5307i.tif

http://www.dars.org/jimz/centuri/cen5307j.tif

http://www.dars.org/jimz/centuri/cen5307k.tif


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