Building the Estes 1/100 scale Saturn 1B

Рет қаралды 12,525

2 жыл бұрын

The Estes 1/100 scale Saturn 1B kit builds into a great looking replica of the venerable NASA booster. Used to send Apollo astronauts on missions restricted to earth orbit, the Saturn 1B flew five crewed missions from Apollo 7 in 1968 through 1975's Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The rocket also flew to the Skylab space station three times during 1973-74.
This tutorial will guide builders though basic construction, painting, and decal application, breaking the project into a series of simple, easily completed steps. Follow this roadmap and you'll finish with a beautiful model that is also fun to fly!
A slightly shorter version of this video was presented at NARCON 2022, the annual conference of the National Association of Rocketry.
The unboxing video mentioned during this program may be found at: • Estes 1/100 scale Satu...

Пікірлер: 65

@aidanmarshall8469 16 күн бұрын

I just went to space camp and got this model at the gift shop. I have put together many advanced and a few expert but this is my first master level. I was very skittish about getting this model but now I am not really worried about assembly, I am worried about paint. I will use the techniques used in this video and paint like the Saturn 1b they have at the space and rocket center. Thank you so much for making this

@dansmith7617 Жыл бұрын

I just pulled the trigger and ordered this model. Your video is so complete, easy to listen to, includes great tips and is clear as a bell. Thanks for the incredible effort! -Dan

@edwardhale4294 Жыл бұрын

I built the 1970s version of this....4 engine cluster....a bit bigger. Launched it in August of 1975 with 4 B 14-5 engines....28 total pounds of thrust at liftoff...a blast to be sure...

@joej8361 2 ай бұрын

I had the same one in 1970. I think the kit was $9.95 then. The escape tower was all wooden dowels and the fins were paper/balsa build-ups.

@tmurray1972 2 жыл бұрын

incrediable amount of detail and patients applied to this build.👌🏻

@brianshort7921 Жыл бұрын

This is a great video I have just built my first rocket in 30 years, I do have decent skills but I learned a couple valuable tricks that I had forgotten from this video. So thank you very much, can't wait to see another video

@theblackswan2373 Жыл бұрын

Nicely done. The note in the instructions to builders who going fly this model to leave the tower removable for flight, seems to me to be a good idea. Just my .02 Thanks for the great video.

@fishingwithsasquatchoutdoors Жыл бұрын

I applied several of these techniques to both my Apollo 11 and Skylab Saturn V builds>

@jeffwarren392 Жыл бұрын

Very nice!

@allgood6760 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful 🇳🇿👍

@modelrockets3215 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic build!

@glennvogt1194 2 жыл бұрын

Nice work.

@michaelc6817 Жыл бұрын

That's one great model build tutorial!! Thanks for this. I will be referring to it when I start my Saturn 1B build.

@jameswilkinson259 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Mr. Duffy. This is such a great kit. Your video was chock full of good build tips. I wish I had seen this before building mine.

@rocketaero 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words! You can always build another!

@jameswilkinson259 Жыл бұрын

I will eventually! However the trick will be to convince my wife that I need another. By the way, I launched my Saturn 1B last week with a C11-3. I was worried about stability, but it was straight and stable all the way up! What a honey of a kit.

@capnhardway 5 ай бұрын

Had one growing up and the Saturn V. I have the Estes V 2 and Little Joe and a few others. Thank you.

@terryperrott9913 10 ай бұрын

A very well explained build video. I started one , just got the centering ring section with the motor mount in this last Friday.

@ShanesOutdoors 8 ай бұрын

This is cool. I really wish I could find a video like this of the Estes Mercury red stone. I’m considering getting one.

@yf222000 Жыл бұрын

Damn! One challenging kit.

@bobp5356 9 ай бұрын

Beautiful job. Not sure i would launch it now. 😄

@fishingwithsasquatchoutdoors Жыл бұрын

I keep referring to this same video as i work on my Saturn 1B.

@haywardgaude8589 Жыл бұрын

Not sure I could bring myself to fly it after all that work!! How well do these fully scale rockets tend to survive flight?

@modelrockets3215 Жыл бұрын

They fly well. On my page I believe in flying them all at least once. No shelf queens. If it has a mishap repair it and fly it again🚀

@stemmentor9700 5 ай бұрын

@@modelrockets3215Waiting for your maiden flight Keith with that 4 engine cluster. 👍👍. (I have 3 Sat 1Bs and gotta decide build or sell. Pint looks intimidating with out air brush.

@mctschegsn Жыл бұрын

Awesome build documentation. I will use this while building my Saturn 1b in the near future. Im thinking about going for the black and white Tanks as I like the look more that the all white tanks. Will have to research the decals tho. Do you have a hint where to look for this information?

@rocketaero Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words! If you are seeking documentation for a Saturn 1B with the black and white tanks, I suggest a google search for Peter Alway's great drawings on this subject.

@mctschegsn Жыл бұрын

@@rocketaero as far as I had researched its SA-205 instead of SA-206. Every other thing is almost the same? Do you have a link to Peters drawings for me?

@stemmentor9700 5 ай бұрын

Do you know if this can be converted to the older style 4 engine cluster. I’m getting back in the hobby after 40 +years and still love them cluster engines.

@rcnut9153 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic build! I will definitely be referring to your excellent tutorial when I put my model together. I take it there were no adverse effects on the vacuum formed parts from the Tamiya lacquer?

@rocketaero 2 жыл бұрын

I experienced no issues using the Tamiya lacquers on the wraps. As a matter of fact, I've used the Tamiya lacquers on thin styrene for years with no problems. Thanks for the kind words, and good luck on your build!

@dfoster9007 3 ай бұрын

is there a way to send you a picture? The longer cable race way part is too long by 10mm. Almost as if the upper wrap should not have been placed 10mm from the edge of the tube but right at the edge?

@markjohnson9402 Жыл бұрын

Tried to find your unboxing on this kit but couldn't. Did you delete it ? Great build video !

@rocketaero Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words on the build video! The unboxing video may be found at: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lbxporalqt3cgZs.html

@markjohnson9402 Жыл бұрын

@@rocketaero Thanks man ! Always loved the Saturn 1b.

@blairoconnor4844 2 жыл бұрын

Love your video. I'm building the same model. I followed your video but when I applied the ts13 over the xf-69 it all cracked. Any idea what I did wrong? Thanks in advance.

@rocketaero 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words about the video! Sorry to hear about your difficulties. The crackling is usually the result of applying the clear lacquer in too heavy of a coat. Best results will be achieved by applying lacquer (in any color) in multiple very light coats, waiting 7-10 minutes between each coat.

@blairoconnor4844 2 жыл бұрын

@@rocketaero thanks for the response. I thought I was pretty far from the model, ill try it a little bit farther away next time.

@blairoconnor4844 2 жыл бұрын

@@rocketaero thanks for the tip! Main fuselage came out perfect! Idk how to post pics, otherwise I would so I can show you the nightmare you saved me from. Thanks again!🤟🍻

@terryperrott9913 10 ай бұрын

Do you know or anyone one else , will the top section fit the SkyLab body tube??

@fishingwithsasquatchoutdoors Жыл бұрын

Do you use the micro sol on the decals that go on the wrap? Or will it damaged the vacu-form plastic?

@rocketaero Жыл бұрын

MicroSol will not damage the vacform plastic, nor will it damage dry lacquer. If you use it on a surface that you have painted with acrylic paint, though, you should let it cure for several days before using any type of decal setting agent.

@garykowalski5099 Жыл бұрын

Did I miss or did he not ID type , brand of paint used. ??

@rocketaero Жыл бұрын

You missed it. The overall white is Tamiya TS-26 Pure White spray lacquer (27:48), the silver is TS-17 Gloss Aluminum spray lacquer (33:14, both rattle cans), and the black is Tamiya XF-69 acrylic (34:46) applied with an airbrush.

@dfoster9007 3 ай бұрын

On the instructions it says to not use lacquer based paints as they can melt the plastic parts; but here you are recommending (and I just purchased) the Tamiya spray lacquers??

@rocketaero 3 ай бұрын

Yes, I am recommending the Tamiya lacquers, used over the Tamiya primers. I've used this approach for years with no drama.

@dfoster9007 3 ай бұрын

Great!! thanks-your video is fantastic@@rocketaero

@dfoster9007 2 ай бұрын

You mention the fin decals are easy to screw up--you can say that again! You have placed them on the wrong fins according to the instructions, They go on the alternate fins (between what you are calling the quads). But it gets worse: the instructions show using the quad white stripe decal twice and the dual white stripe decal twice!! So at this point maybe I will just go with what you did!

@rocketaero 2 ай бұрын

Peter Alway's drawings in his magisterial work "Rockets of the World" were used to guide the installation of the fin markings, backed up by photo and video references. The placement in this tutorial is accurate.

@dfoster9007 2 ай бұрын

@@rocketaero Very good - I went with your video- the Estes instructions are poor in this area

@chtandersonseeley Жыл бұрын

Would you recommend matte or gloss clear coat?

@rocketaero Жыл бұрын

Gloss would not be appropriate for this prototype. A matte finish would be correct, but will also attract fingerprints and other filth, especially if you plan to fly your model. A compromise would be a satin or semi-gloss overcoat, which will tie things together like a matte finish would, but still have some resistance to grime. Tamiya TS-79 Semi Gloss Clear spray lacquer should work well.

@jawsmod Жыл бұрын

Is there a launch vid or is this just a display model?

@rocketaero Жыл бұрын

This model is certainly capable of flight, but I have not yet flown it. When/if I do I'll be sure to get video.

@f1-755 Жыл бұрын

Nice work but will this work if I use this to build it but want to launch it later

@rocketaero Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! The model shown in the video is ready to fly, once some parachutes are added.

@f1-755 Жыл бұрын

@@rocketaero thank you

@cla721 2 жыл бұрын

Did I miss the engines??

@rocketaero 2 жыл бұрын

The engine mount is installed at 32:57.

@dfoster9007 2 ай бұрын

you did not install the wire anchor in the service module; is that because there is no intent to fly the model?

@rocketaero 2 ай бұрын

Correct, I did not install the anchor. I find that it is far simpler to loop the recovery harness line around the Command Module instead, attaching the snap swivel back onto the line. Very easy, and no non-scale loop protruding from the model.

@dfoster9007 2 ай бұрын

@@rocketaero ok thanks- is there a video that covers the launch recovery system?

@rocketaero 2 ай бұрын

No, but I'm about to start a new Saturn V project that will offer an opportunity to show the technique. Look for it in the next couple of months.

@dfoster9007 2 ай бұрын

@@rocketaero thats great- I have the Saturn five Skylab kit. Will look forward to another fantastic video from you!

@dfoster9007 2 ай бұрын

What exact Saturn five kit are you building? The Skylab is only one currently available, but there are Apollo versions on line.