Build thread: Estes SA-2061 Sasha #7271
 

While "The Vixen" wet-sands the 3D printed parts of the Boyce Aerospace Nike Ajax and shoots me dirty looks (go figure,) I'll build this brand new, 2-stage, scale-like beauty: the Estes #7271 SA-2061 Sasha.

I've slit the kit bag open and everything looks good. Tubes are nice. There's a slotted BT-60 booster tube. Decals are nice. There's (3) balsa sheets.

I first assemble the (2) engine mounts. These will get epoxy for adhesive and the sustainer's 24mm mount gets a Kevlar shock cord leader. TBC

Now to prep the fins.

I first lay the Corian board covered with 220 across my herculean thighs, and while "The Vixen" feeds me grapes I scrape the leading edges of the (12) fins round.

Four down--eight to go. TBC

I've epoxied the engine mount into the booster and slot-mounted the (4) fins to the booster section. TBC

I think I'll jump ahead in the instructions and attach the raceways before the fins instead of afterward.

Now for some technique: to scrape a concave detail into the mounting surface of each raceway I first cover a scrap piece of BT60 with 220 grit sandpaper. I then rub some Elmer's glue stick onto the fingertips of my right hand. This allows the raceway to stick to my fingers as I scrape the concave detail into it.

I then glue the (4) raceways onto the sustainer with Titebond red.

TBC

The following is WHY I'm mounting the raceways before the fins.

After the glue is dry on the raceways I then surround each raceway with Scotch Blue Delicate Surface painter's tape. The tape will protect the sustainer's BT60 as I sand and scrape the final profile of each raceway using the mahogany block initially and then by hand.
After I'm satisfied with the profiles I then give each raceway (4) coats of sanding sealer. After the sealer is dried and sanded I finally remove the surrounding tape.

TBC

Now for the sustainer's fins. The (8) fins are now mounted to the sustainer. I've also mounted the (2) launch lugs onto the sustainer and I ensure the lugs and the fins line up with the lug and fins of the booster. I'll fillet them tomorrow.

Time for a drink. Good night.

TBC

I've now filletted the sustainer's fins and launch lugs.

You might have notices that I haven't mounted the (8) 1" dowels into the designated recesses of the sustainer's fins. I'll do it after the fins are sanded and sealed an ready for primer--otherwise the dowels will just be in the way of the finishing process. Hmm, I might even ditch the kit's supplied wood dowel and cut the 1" pieces from Plastruct styrene rod stock. I'll see if I have that diameter. (I probably do.)

TBC

I changed my mind. I went ahead and used the kit's supplied birch dowel--which I cut into (8) 1" pieces, rounded one end, and then glued into the slots of the fins of the sustainer.

The fins have now been treated with wood filler and (3) coats of sanding sealer. I then shot it with a coat of gray primer, buffed it with steel wool, and then shot it with a coat of white primer.

TBC

I hope to shoot the colors this weekend.

Here's the paint lineup: Rustoleum winter gray for the PNC60 and the faux nozzle, and Rustoleum army green for the booster and sustainer. The (8) little dowels I'll have "The Vixen" paint by hand with Model Master guards red.

Time for some Scotch! Good night.

TBC

All spray painting is now finished and cured. The booster and sustainer each have (2) coats of army green and the faux nozzle and PNC each have (2) coats of winter gray. "The Vixen" corrected the myriad of flaws in the army green with her "magic brushes".

The model just needs the little dowels painted red and the decals applied.

TBC