Model Rocket Building Blog
Centuri Alien Scoutship Flying Saucer #5325, Build Background"The first flying kit of a flying saucer ever produced!" A well engineered design. Stable (but labored) boost. At apogee, the model flips over and descends landing on three wire antenna legs. Glow in the dark accents were included, "Perfect for display in your room!" Above is the first catalog ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 1, PartsHere's the home prints. Again, to get the PDFs, CLICK HERE and go to post #21. The major and minor shrouds (on the left) are printed on 110 lb. card stock. The rings and the C and L braces were printed on self-adhesive (peel and stick) sheets. In the center is a 2 3/4" length of ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 2, LaminationsThe printed side of the cereal box cardboard should be lightly sanded to remove some of the printing and glossiness. This will remove some of the ink so it won't show through the overlay. It also makes for better adhesion of the self adhesive sheets.. The two 110 lb. card stock prints were sprayed ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 3, The Large RingThe large ring and C and L center braces (and large ring) got a cereal box cardboard lamination. You could probably use a thin coat of white glue, but a shot of Supper 77 spray adhesive is much easier. Some self adhesive paper went on the bottom covering the brown cereal box stock. Cut our the ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 4, Wire AntennasThe instructions had a print of the original kit antennas. Since this is a 3/4 size downscale, I drew a 3/4" box and reduced the 1" span box to the 3/4" length. Below the print are the three finished, bent antennas. You'll need some music wire. I found some at Hobby Lobby - K&S wire, #602201, ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 5, ShroudsThe C and L braces are cut out. Note the pencil mark along the top. That's to fit the short end of the antenna top bend. Cut the interior curves first, then the straight lines connecting them with a straightedge and sharp blade. Before cutting out the shroud pieces, The backings are peeled off and ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 6, Engine Mount & Large Shroud GluingThe engine hook is removed and the low end of the tube is set on the marking guide Notice the brace gluing positions aren't all the way down the tube. I set the braces against the tube and only marked the gluing areas. I wasn't planning to paint anything and didn't want pencil lines on the ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 7, First Fit of the C BracesTIP: You can get a rounded leading and trailing edges on carded fins by applying a glue bead down the edge. Apply a fine line of glue, then run your finger down both sides of the fin to even out the glue bead. Let dry and sand lightly with 400 grit. This glue bead will also strengthen and ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 8, Oops! Re-Fit AgainEven after the first trim of the C braces, the fit was too tight, still distorting the roundness of the core tube. The side of the C braces had to be trimmed even more! I had enough disappointment for the night. I waited a day or two before removing the card stock wire form retainers and ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 9, Gluing It All TogetherInstead of putting a line of glue down the outside edges of the C braces, I applied some small glue dots on the inside of the core tube using a sharpened dowel. The outside of the C braces were turned into the glue dots and the excess wiped clean with a Q-tip. Here's where we're at - Now onto the ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 10, Trim Pieces & L Brace GluingThe fit of the minor shroud was very good. It covers the cogs on the inside of the large ring. The three L braces also needed some trimming on the outside edge to fit between the core tube and engine mount tube. It's difficult to get the l braces in place without making a glue mess - try gluing ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 11, Finished?This was fun, and a good challenge getting everything to fit! This smaller 75% size makes it more manageable and will get a better altitude with C6-0 and C5 engines. The only thing different is the engine mount tube sticks out the top. I could have had it extend out the bottom, but it might be ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 12, Glow In The Dark DotsHere's a case of a single guy with too much time on his hands. I'm going to add the glow in the dark dot "lights". These were a special added feature of the Centuri kit. From the instructions: "SPACE GLOW DECALS" There are over 70 of these round dots, more than enough to decorate your model. One ...[Read More]
Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Fix and Finished!Remember the clear coat made the motor tube wrap a bit transparent? The brown tube underneath was showing through. This was probably the weirdest mask I've ever done. The interior core tube was masked off with many pieces of masking tape. The tape wasn't pressed in place, I didn't want to tear or ...[Read More]
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