All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Semroc - Baby Orion {Kit} (KA-31)

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 1 Parts (2011-09-07)

I had built and flown the original, big Centuri Orion years back. I was interested when Semroc brought back the full size Orion. I was more interested when I saw this downsized version. This one ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 2 Engine Mount (2011-09-07)

First up in the instructions are sanding the laser cut fins. Nothing out of the ordinary here, just be careful when rounding the pod fins. The balsa grain runs parallel to the short leading edge. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 3 Engine Mount (2011-09-08)

Here's two card stock shrouds after cutting out and forming on my hand with a dowel. Notice the tabs have also been curled a bit. After gluing closed, I'll use the best fitting shroud. Here's all ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 4 Engine Mount (2011-09-08)

With that nozzle in place, ther'll be very little room for movement of the engine hook end. I cut off some of the bent end to make it easier to slide an engine in. For now, the engine hook was taped ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 5 Engine Mount (2011-09-09)

The lower centering ring was slipped over the top and down to the shroud. The upper centering ring was hard to get over the Kevlar knot. I had to make the notch bigger and set it over at an angle. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 6 Small Wrap Details (2011-09-09)

Looking forward to Step 27: "The original Orion had small parts attached to the wrap but were too small to provide with this kit at one-half scale. The yellow indicators on the wrap can be covered ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 7 Wrap Details (2011-09-10)

First up are the half-rounds at the top of the upper wrap. As is my usual practice, keep the dowels long while shaping the front, then cut the back to the correct length. Sand off the back half of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 8 Wrap Details (2011-09-10)

On the lower wrap is a two piece detail. The lower piece was a thinned down Popsicle stick. The upper round is a toothpick with the bottom sanded flat. After gluing the toothpick with CA, the front ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 9 Wrap Details (2011-09-11)

These little nozzles were the hardest to make. The front end of a toothpick was cut and sanded at an angle. I guessed at the pencil mark for the next cut. After getting a good shape on the first ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 10 Wrap Details (2011-09-12)

A couple more half rounds were needed on the lower wrap. The front was marked and sanded at the correct (or close) angle. The bottom is marked for cutting. I'll usually cut a little long and sand it ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 11 Details and Filling (2011-09-12)

This is all fourteen wrap trim pieces cut and shaped. These are not glued on yet. I'll seal all with varnish, two coats sanding between coats. All the parts needing filling are shown on the right. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 12 Small Nose Cone Shoulders (2011-09-13)

Looking ahead, I started thinking about the paint pattern. The nose cones would be painted blue before gluing to the tank tubes. The tube edge would give a good color separation. After sanding down ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 13 Primer (2011-09-13)

If I'm building a model that is getting an overall color (like the Orion, which is white overall) I would normally glue on the fins before painting. This model is small, with lots of tight spaces, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 14 Fin Gluing (2011-09-14)

There was nothing out of the ordinary in regards to gluing on the fins. Except, there is six fin positions. Three large fins and three tank standoffs. In the picture I tried a dry fit of the engine ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 15 Engine Mount Fix (2011-09-14)

The centering rings were too loose in the ST-10 body tube. I had to build up the diameter slightly. I cut some strips from 110 lb. card stock. Three were glued on and between the centering rings. To ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 16 Decal Wrap Plan? (2011-09-15)

Sometimes the plan doesn't turn out right. I was going to use the decal wrap supplied in the kit then glue all the small pieces I'd made to it. I'd left the decal out when working on another ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 17 Wrap Install (2011-09-15)

I'd drawn the wraps wide with plenty of overlap. The thickness of the paint probably widened the circumference of the tube. A long strip of 110 lb cardstock was wrapped around the tube and the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 18 Gluing Wrap Details (2011-09-16)

All the small detail pieces had been sprayed yellow. The wider pieces had their back sanded to a round contour to better fit the body tube. Any area that had a glued detail was lightly scraped to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 19 Yellow Tank Bands (2011-09-17)

I waited to glue on the three BT-3 tanks. I never would have been able to get paint coverage on the standoffs if the tubes were glued in place. These were sprayed off the model, a thin strip of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 20 Masking The Nose Cone (2011-09-17)

Originally I was going to paint the model like the facecard art. I don't have a can of light blue paint for the small nose cones. So I decided to go with red for the six small nose cones and the tip ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 20 Masking The Nose Cone (2011-09-18)

Originally I was going to paint the model like the facecard art. I don't have a can of light blue paint for the small nose cones. So I decided to go with red for the six small nose cones and the tip ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 21 Masking The Nose Cone (2011-09-18)

I used the Tamiya tape for this mask. Two overlapping pieces were set on my patio door glass. With direct sun, you should have enough light to make this work like a cheap light table. The printed ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion Build Part 22 Decals (2011-09-19)

There were a lot of decals crammed on a small decal sheet. Take your time when cutting them out. I didn't like the word "Baby" at the top left of the name Orion. It was cut off and the Centuri logo ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Baby Orion FINISHED (2011-09-20)

This one finished out shorter than I thought it would. A great downscale by Semroc. I probably spent more time building the Semroc Baby than I did the original larger Centuri Orion back in the ... [Read More]