Model Forum / General / Rockets / March 2006

I'm nearing completion on my Semroc kit.  I've learned a few things for
the next time I build one, but overall this is an absolutely beautiful
kit.  The one major change I made was to put springs in instead of the
rubber bands it comes supplied with.  I used some 1/4" wide by 1 3/16"
(approx) springs that I got at the hardware store, that measure around
2lbs. of tension.  They are the Midwest Fastener spring (for folks whose
hardware stores carry them), and they are either number 102 on the
display board or 18613 by SKU number.

They were fairly pricey (about $1.64 each), but it looks like they will
work out well.  I'm going to order some other springs (maybe) from
McMaster-Carr to see if they might work out better.

The only 'change' needed to accomodate the springs is that the dowels
that hold the spring ends in place is rotated 90 degrees from the way
shown for the rubber bands, and I used the 1/8" dowel (the thicker one)
instead of the thinner dowel.

In retrospect, though it would be hard to build, I think I should have
painted the individual parts of the legs separately, rather then
assembling the legs and then painting them.  It doesn't appear that it
would take much more effort, and it would make for a 'cleaner' paint
pattern.

The only 'error' I made in the shrouds is that I glued the ascent shroud
just slightly too tight.  I would (in retrospect) ensure that the
centering ring on the bottom of the ascent shroud actually fits before
the glue dries.

David Erbas-White