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The Right Stuff - Hints and Tips from APOGEE, the official
newsletter of the Miami Valley Rocket Society.

Questions or comments? Send E-Mail to Bob Hegwood, CIS: 76276,2552

Or write to: Bob Hegwood
             31 Pagett Drive
             Germantown, Ohio 45327
             (513) 855-7105
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Construction

1. Having trouble gluing those wrap-ons to your Saturn V? Have
you tried white glue, epoxy, yellow glue, and spray glue only
to find that the stuff makes a real mess of your work? Try
using a Dennison Glue Stic. Simply lay out your wrap-on on a
flat surface, and run the Glue Stic over the side to be attached
to your model. No muss, no fuss! The glue doesn't really set until
about one minute after the wrap-on has been pressed in place,
and you can reposition your work as needed. Another advantage
is that the glue just absolutely will not run. Once you put it
somewhere, it stays put! I have heard that this type of glue
loses its adhesiveness after a while, but this has not happened
on any of my work yet. Also, you can always apply a thin layer
of epoxy to key locations to insure that your work will not come
apart later. The Glue Stics are available at almost any store
amongst the school supplies, and they cost anywhere from 89 cents
to a buck and a half. Other types of glue sticks are also available,
and they can be used to attach homemade decals too. (B.H.)

Finishes

1. I have had a lot of trouble when it comes to finishing the plastic
nose cones which come with some of the bigger, higher-powered kits.
These cones are usually injected plastic and are fairly heavy. No
matter how many times I sand the cones with 400, and even 600-grit
sandpaper, I still end up with a lot of tiny bumps and ridges on the
surfaces of some of the cones, and this makes spray-painting a good
finish almost impossible. I have discovered a solution, however.
Sand heavy plastic nose cones as you normally would, then, apply
a generous coat of Krylon sandable primer. Wait a day, then sand
your cones again using 400-grit sandpaper to lightly remove the
bumps and ridges from the surface of the cone. When you're ready
to paint the things, you'll find that you have a nice, smooth
finish that's worth the extra effort. (B.H.)

2. If you've managed to get a good finish on your models, take some
extra precautions to keep the finish from getting banged up. Smaller
models can be carried to the launch site on a transportation stand.
(ie-a large flat piece of wood with engine casings glued to the
surface at regular intervals.) To transport the larger, "honking
huge rockets", you can stretch a clean, old t-shirt over fins and
nose cones to prevent accidental "Oops!" damage. (Jim Breckenridge)

Supplies

1. Need mixing cups in order to use epoxy? Don't go BUY the darn
things. If you like to eat at fast food restaurants, you can pick
up a supply for nothing! Just eat at the restaurants which dispense
catsup and mustard from a pump. As you're getting your salt, catsup,
and napkins, you can grab a handful of catsup cups, and no one will
mind. The cups are perfect for use with epoxy, and they're FREE as
long as you're eating at the restaurant. (Steve Lubecki)

(All tips from Volume 3, Number 2)