Hello All,

I opened my SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon kit and looked through it, and I also read the instructions. They are good, but they contain a few errors and omissions that are easily remedied. They are:


[STEP 1: "Assemble the Engine Mount"]

The text neglects to suggest that the engine hook (the motor clip) should be slightly bowed upwards in its middle (easily done between one's fingers) before it is installed onto/into the engine tube. Slightly bowing the engine hook causes it to press more firmly against the end of the motor (be careful not to bend the engine hook).

The small square sticker (from the decal sheet) that is used to affix the engine hook onto the engine tube is inadequate by itself; at least one wrap of (paper) masking tape applied around the engine tube (and over the square sticker) will suffice. A drop of white (PVA) glue should be wiped across the end of the masking tape so that it won't peel up; allow it to dry before proceeding. Before applying the masking tape, fit-check the engine tube with engine hook in the plastic tail unit, to make sure the masking tape doesn't block the through-hole (for the engine tube) in the rear bulkhead of the plastic tail unit.

After the thrust ring is glued into the front end of the engine tube, insert a model rocket engine into the engine tube, rotate it one full turn, and then *quickly* remove it before the glue "grabs" it. Keep the engine tube oriented with the "thrust ring end" pointed downward until the glue dries.


[STEP 4: "Attach the Launch Lug"]

After gluing the launch lug onto the body tube, do NOT orient the body tube as shown in the illustration in the instructions, or the glue will run! Instead, orient the body tube so that it is level and the launch lug is on top; brace the body tube in this position and allow the glue to dry. After the glue has dried, apply a reinforcing glue fillet to each side of the launch lug/body tube joint and smooth it with a finger. Then orient the body tube in the same "launch lug on top" position as before, brace it in that position, and let the glue dry.


[STEP 7: "Prepare the Cords"]

Before tying the yellow aramid (Kevlar) cord to the ejection baffle, rub a thin film of white glue onto one side of the baffle and let it dry, then repeat this on the other side of the baffle (this will further protect the ejection baffle from the hot, erosive ejection charge debris). While it is drying, rub a thin film of white glue onto the last 10 cm (4") or so of one end of the yellow aramid (Kevlar) cord and let it dry. After it has dried, tie the glue-coated end of the cord to the ejection baffle, as the glue coating will protect the cord from ejection charge debris.


[STEP 9: "Install the Ejection Baffle"]

Instead of "dripping" white glue down into the forward end of the body tube 10 cm (4") from its front edge (as shown in the illustration in the kit instructions), make a glue applicator out of a cotton swab (a "Q-Tip") taped to a dowel, a pencil, or a stick. Measure 10 cm (4") back from the middle of the swab's tip, and mark this point on the dowel, pencil, or stick. Apply white glue to the cotton swab, carefully insert it into the front end of the body tube, up to the 10 cm (4") mark, and then apply the glue in a ring to the inside of the body tube.


[STEP 11: "Mount the Tail Assembly"]

Before gluing the plastic tail unit into the rear end of the body tube using epoxy glue, sand the shoulder (tenon) of the plastic tail unit that will fit inside the body tube. Sanding the shoulder (to roughen it) will help the epoxy glue "grab" the part better, by providing tiny ridges and valleys in the plastic surface to which the epoxy can bond more effectively.


[STEP 12: "Attach the Parachutes"]

When packing the two parachutes for flight (just the Falcon 9's parachute--with the Dragon capsule also tied to it--may be used if desired; see the section titled "PREPARATIONS FOR FLIGHT"), pack the Dragon capsule's parachute *below* the Falcon 9 rocket's parachute inside the rocket's body tube. In the event of a weak ejection, the capsule's parachute will pull the rocket's parachute (packed above it) out of the body tube so that both parachutes will open; otherwise, only the capsule's parachute will be likely to be ejected from the body tube, leaving the rocket body to fall unretarded by its parachute (although if it landed on grass or soft soil, it would probably not be damaged, but why risk it?). Also:

The bottom edge of the Dragon capsule's shoulder should be sanded to give it a rounded edge, so that it won't catch on the inside edge of the body tube when the capsule is socketed in place.

I hope this information will be helpful.

__________________
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