All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Dr. Zooch - Saturn I Block II SA-5 {Kit}

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 1 Parts (2010-11-03)

The parts are layed out on the cruise ship carpet. (I had intended to build this while on the cruise, but didn't bring any balsa filler!) The parts were all of good quality, typical of the Dr. Zooch ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 2 Prep (2010-11-04)

The nose cone tip didn't last long. I'll have to build the point back up. I used Carpenter's Wood Filler straight from the tub without thinning. With the straight CWF it dries harder and stronger. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 3 Prep (2010-11-04)

The nose cone tip has been built up and sanded smooth. In Step 2 you are told to paint the upper tubes and adapter white. I decided to go ahead and fill the nose cone, too. Here's all four parts ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 4 Spider Beams (2010-11-05)

The T-20 engine mount tube is marked for the eight spider beams. The spider beams support the fuel tank tubes to be rolled from card stock. In the picture the spider beam lines are extended down the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 5 Rolling S-1 Tanks (2010-11-05)

These tanks can take some practice to get right. You are only given four white tanks in the kit, I drew up extras from a sheet of white 110 lb. card stock. Simply draw up some boxes that are 2 9/16" ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 6 Rolling S-1 Tanks (2010-11-06)

Rolling the S-1 tanks will take a bit of explanation. Start a pot of water boiling in a pan. After it boils, lower the heat to a low, slow boil. You want the water to steam.   ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 7 S-1 Tanks (2010-11-06)

The only way I've been able to get a good start on the tubes is to push and hold in the starting side with a straightedge. Push the inside edge down, start the roll and remove the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 9 Engine Block (2010-11-08)

Even though you are told to install the engine block (CR205W) in the next step, I though it might be easier to do it now. With the engine block resting against the top bend of the engine hook, it is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 10 S-1 Stage (2010-11-09)

Here the thrust structure tube is glued over the engine mount centering rings. The rear of the tube is glued flush with the rear ring. I decided to add white glue to the inside edge of the lower ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 11 S-1 Tank Placement (2010-11-10)

The rolled tanks are glued into place. I sanded off a little of the overlapped card stock from the one black tank that'll sit against the engine hook. The thickness of the engine hook will raise ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 12 S-1 Tubes (2010-11-11)

With all the tubes in place I wanted to make all the tops were in line before gluing them in place against the top centering ring. Card stock was wrapped around the tubes and rubber bands were ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 13 Fairing (2010-11-11)

In Step 6, the CR2055F centering ring is slid down the top of the motor mount tube and a fillet is applied. Because of an earlier fillet, my 2055 ring didn't go all the way down flat on the top ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 14 Fairing (2010-11-12)

The dried fairing was slipped down the body tube and left above the upper centering ring. Glue was applied to the upper edge of the ring and the fairing was slid down into the glue. Here's the upper ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 15 Body Wraps (2010-11-12)

In Step 8, you are told to: "Apply the thrust structure paper wrap starting at a point where a white tanks meets a black tank." After a coat of spray adhesive, the wrap was set in place. Instead of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 16 Fin Shaping (2010-11-12)

Those "Stub" fins are narrow! The direction of the balsa grain doesn't help sanding very much. This picture shows a side view of the stub fin, the finished shape is on the left. The kit instructions ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 17 Fin Priming (2010-11-13)

The fins grain has been filled with Carpenter's Wood Filler and sanded smooth. Here's the fins after spraying with gray primer. They are standing up on a strip of masking tape, with the sticky side ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 18 Nozzles (2010-11-15)

I decided to jump ahead and work on the nozzles. They are cut out from a 110 lb. card stock pattern sheet. There is a larger "inner band" and a smaller band. The smaller band slips over the top and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 19 Nozzle Bands (2010-11-16)

After trimming off the overhang, I did have to sand the bottom of the nozzle bands flat and smooth. To make a smoother edge of the nozzle, I hardened it up a bit. I set a small drop of thin CA on my ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 20 Nozzles (2010-11-16)

After the glue has dried on the start of the Popielium band you can begin wrapping the line. Using a toothpick, white glue is applied down the line just 3/4" at a time. When the glue starts to set ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 21 Fairings (2010-11-17)

Here's a tank fairing cut from the pattern sheet in the kit. While these are certainly usable as is, I wanted to get a better fit and a longer wrap around and to the center of the tanks. Please ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 22 Fairings (2010-11-17)

Before any glue was used, I slightly rounded the fairing by pressing it into the heel of my hand with a dowel. Glue was applied to the back of the fairing piece, just around the edges. Long tweezers ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1SA-5 Build Part 23 Fairings (2010-11-18)

Earlier I mentioned that I cut the new fairings a little wide. The widest part of the bottom overhung the body tube by a slight bit. After all had dried, I had to go back and carefully trim off the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 24 Fin Masking (2010-11-18)

To mask the fins, set them in place on the lower tube with the extended fin tip on the fairing. Using the color separation lines printed on the lower wrap, extend your tape straight across the fin. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 25 Bottom Plate (2010-11-19)

From Step 9B Subsection A - Amendment WB1074: The S-1 bottom plate is cut out and fitted. I cut out the "Engine Cut-Out" hole and test fitted it on a scrap piece of BT-20 before gluing it on the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 26 Fin Gluing (2010-11-19)

The larger fins are glued on the four printed lines. The stub fins center between those. If you masked the root edge before painting you should have a strong enough bond without cutting through the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 27 Details (2010-11-20)

Before cutting any of the dowel pieces, you might want to seal the wood. I used two coats of varnish, rubbed on with a paper towel. Lightly sand between coats. The sealed dowel "ducts" will look ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 28 Details (2010-11-20)

The S-IV Ullage Motors are angled at 30 degrees. You should sand the end of a dowel to 30 degrees before cutting it to the 1/8" length. I printed an online protractor. You can find one HERE The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 29 F.G.P Tips (2010-11-21)

Step 9-A-prime: F.G.P. (Funky Glue Putty) I've never had much luck making the Funky Glue Putty for the Zooch kits. But, like everything else, you usually get better results if you keep trying! I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 30 Lower LH2 Ducts (2010-11-22)

The instructions don't give enough information about placement of the lower three LH2 ducts. You only make three dowels, 4 3/8" long. But it seems there are four places the duct dowels could go - ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 31 Upper LH2 Ducts (2010-11-22)

Read the Scale mistake note below before doing what I did! I tried to sand an angle to the bottom of the retro rockets to match the top end of the lower LH 2 ducts. Be careful how much you sand, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 32 S-IV Motors (2010-11-23)

The S-IV motors are very small. You'll need tweezers to help get them into position. The instructions don't specify a color. When at the Meatball Rocketry site I saw they were red and white. Working ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 33 Details (2010-11-23)

I explained earlier about my mistake on the retro rocket positions. These steps were done before I realized the error. I'm using a favorite glue transfer tool, the tip of a toothpick. A drop of glue ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build part 34 Nozzles (2010-11-24)

Some of the silver paint was sanded off the bottom of the nozzles for a better glue bond. The inside of the nozzle bell was blackened in with a Sharpie pen. This is much easier than masking and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Post 35 Antenna (2010-11-25)

This is the back of an antenna panel showing the glue placement. The instructions show the panels cut apart, but I kept them in one piece for easier gluing. The antenna panels in place. I alternated ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 36 Nozzles (2010-11-25)

I inserted an engine casing when gluing the nozzles to the bottom plate. There isn't much clearance around the nozzle bells and the engine. With the casing in place, it's a little easier to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 37 Launch Lugs (2010-11-26)

I decided not to make eight of the standoffs. After making the first one, seven more would be a lot of work. It's do-able, but at this point I really wanted to finish up the model. The lug and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Part 8 S-1 Tanks (2010-11-07)

Here's all six of the white rolled tanks. The best four will be used on the model. The last two are still drying on the dowels. Only one dowel is supplied with the kit, I had another left from ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 FINISHED! (2010-11-27)

Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Here's the mid body with the launch lug standoff. All the fins and nozzles. This was another great build from Dr. Zooch . I learned quite a few things in the process. Next ... [Read More]