All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 1 Parts (2011-07-05)

Here's all the parts from another of the Semroc Deci-Scale kits, the IRIS. I hope to show an alternative way to paint the black/white separations down the body tube. Some of the more interesting ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 2 Engine Mount (2011-07-06)

There is nothing out of the ordinary with the engine mount. The centering rings are a little thinner than I would have expected, but should work fine. I wanted to explain a way I use to wrap the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 4 Fin Taper (2011-07-08)

This leading edge will be tapered down to almost a knife edge. With balsa being a light color, it's hard to see how thick the leading edge is. This idea was taken from how a luthier levels worn ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 5 Fin Taper Fill (2011-07-08)

Using 400 grit on a block, lightly square the top of the edge taking off the remaining black ink. NOTE: My fins don't actually taper to a real knife edge. the leading edge is squared off a little. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 6 Paint Plan (2011-07-09)

Looking ahead, this is going to be a tricky mask. The IRIS picture is from the Semroc.com website I've decided to take the easy way out to get the split between the black and white sections of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 7 DIY Making A Coupler (2011-07-10)

Making a coupler has been covered before, but this one and it's application is a bit different. I've made them out of body tubes but not from stiff, black fish paper before. There was no Series 11 ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 8 DIY Making A Coupler (2011-07-10)

Sand the joint edges with a block and keep them straight. The other half of the coupler is around the back of the sanding block edge. After a little sanding, here's the fit in the Series 11 IRIS ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 9 Nose Cone Shoulder (2011-07-11)

The nose cone was filled at the same time with the fins I mask off the base to keep the filler away from a good fitting nose cone shoulder To get the best fit at the shoulder, I'll lightly rough up ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 10 Primer Band Mask (2011-07-12)

In this step, the tube will be marked for masking before spraying the primer. There will be a strip mask for both bands and the fin root edges. The bands will be glued on after the primer is sprayed ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 11 Gluing Bands (2011-07-13)

The fins, body tube and nose cone were sprayed with gray primer and sanded. The tape was removed before sanding the body tube. (You'll have to add back more tape strips before painting the white and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 12 Band Gluing (2011-07-14)

Here's the doubled band at the top of the body tube. Note there is a raised edge where the band ends. While gluing the band on the fin side, I was double checking the fit with the fin recess. Here, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 13 Engine Mount Gluing (2011-07-15)

The launch lug location had already been marked and masked on the tube. The engine hook will line up with the launch lug. The engine mount in now glued in place. Some instructions will have you ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 14 Fin Tab Gluing (2011-07-15)

Looking very close, there are some extended corners on the square tabs. Each tab was stood on end and the small extended corners cut square. The laser burned sides were sanded and cleaned up a bit ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 16 Color Separations (2011-07-17)

You can see how the wrap strip overlapped itself and left a ridge. It'll take some careful sanding and a little filling to make it less noticeable. Now, on to the black / white body paint pattern. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 17 Color Separations (2011-07-18)

It's hard to see in this picture, but Scotch tape was used over the white area separation lines. Masking tape covered the area between the thinner Scotch tape lines. Here, the Scotch tape is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 18 Color Separations (2011-07-18)

The tube is marked halfway between the upper and lower bands, around 7 1/2" from the top. I wrapped card stock around the tube for an edge to cut against. Use a sharp knife and cut carefully. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 19 Rear Color and Lugs (2011-07-19)

I used some aluminum Monokote trim material for the silver area behind the rear band. I used aluminum because the silver Monokote looked a little too metallic and shiny. The lower launch lug was ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 20 Fin Mask and Gluing (2011-07-20)

All four fins have been sprayed red. The root edge on the left still has the thin masking tape strip in place. On the right, the tape has been removed. I used a sanding block over the root edge to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 21 Oops! (2011-07-21)

This is what can happen when you take pictures for a blog by yourself. I dropped it! The IRIS fell hard and broke off two fins. The fin on the left has a pretty good ding in the trailing edge. Sure, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 22 Fin Fix and Decals (2011-07-22)

After the filler was sanded just the side with the dent was hit with gray primer. Then the obligatory white undercoat. Red followed and the two fins were re-glued again. Looking ahead at the decals: ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Build Part 23 Decals (2011-07-23)

Between the IR and the IS is a very light pencil tick mark. This is the measured center of the IRIS decal. The body tube also has a very light pencil tick at the center of the upper white rectangle. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc IRIS Finished! (2011-07-24)

Here's the finished Semroc IRIS I did have to hit the model with a dull clearcoat to match up the dull surface of the rear black decal. Before hitting it with the dullcoat, the rear Monokote ... [Read More]