All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Semroc - USS America {Kit} (KV-97) [2012-]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97 Background (2019-07-22)

This was the new standout kit from the 1975 catalog! At over 43" it was almost as tall as the Saturn V! Painted an overall black with high contrast orange decals and metallic trim. In the Estes ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 1, Parts (2019-07-23)

As I mentioned before -  The two main, smaller diameter body tubes are the thicker walled ST-7 tubing. The other BT-50 style tubes look to be thicker walled ST-9 tubes. When I got the parts ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 2, Joining the Body Tubes (2019-07-24)

Test fit the coupler in the body tubes. Don't glue in place yet. Sand the edges if needed for a smooth fit. The side of the coupler with the hole is the upper side. The coupler is marked with pencil ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 3, Upper Shroud Prep (2019-07-25)

The reducer shroud is laser cut! Another benefit of modern technology. The sides will be charred, wipe them off and lightly sand with 400 grit if needed. I did my usual shroud forming by rolling a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 4, Upper Shroud Gluing (2019-07-26)

TIP: At the inside edge I did sand down the glue tab so I could get a better fit against the body tubes. The tab area is thick! Slide the adapter up to the centering ring - dry, no glue yet. Trace ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 5, Low Engine Mount End Assembly (2019-07-27)

The lowest centering ring is notched for engine hook movement. TIP: The flat side will be exposed so sand it flat with 220 grit on a sanding block. Sand one side of the (closed) upper ring, it wall ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 6, Assembly Jigs (2019-07-28)

The assembly jigs are assembled as shown on the right. These just slide together, you don't really need to glue them. The short tubes are used in the jigs now and glued on the small fins later. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 7, Cleaning Up Parts (2019-07-29)

The short tubes have interior seams! You'll be able to see them on the finished model so of course, I'm filling them! The launch lug ends were a bit rough, sand them smooth with 400 grit. The heavy ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 8, Gluing The Radiator Rings (2019-07-30)

The trailing edge tip of the large wing/fin is even with the end of the body tube. The picture shows how the top ring will fit into the root edge notch in the fin. With the ring glue on, double ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 9, Fin Alignment (2019-07-31)

The large wing fins are glued on using the larger assembly jig. Set the engine end tube into the large jig, the front of the rocket is set into the upper jig for support. Glue the root edge. Set the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 10, Small Fins and Dowels (2019-08-01)

TIP: This is an optional step, but you can seal the conduit dowels before gluing them onto the rocket. I dipped a paper towel in some clear varnish and wiped down the dowels. You can use most any ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 11, Dots TIP and Launch Lugs (2019-08-02)

There are two small "dots" glued onto the body tube forward of the dowels. These are cut from thick card stock. They won't fit the curvature of the body tube as they are now. I drew a line down the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 12, Lugs and Detail Pieces (2019-08-03)

Here's the rear and front launch lugs glued in place. Some of the fin details have been glued in place. There are small positioning dots burnt into the sail fin surface. As mentioned before, mine ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc USS Andromeda KV-97, Part 13, Black Paint Prep (2019-08-04)

 The engine tubes were masked off for the fluorescent paint and the entire model was sprayed gloss black. After the decals are applied the rocket will end up a coat of flat acrylic. Paint it ... [Read More]

Rocketeer's Corner: A summer cornucopia of new releases... (2019-08-12)

The rocket vendors have not been idle over the past couple of months; there have been lots of new kit releases, so many that it has been difficult to keep up. I thought that I'd use this post to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Andromeda Build, Part 14, Decals and Paint Choices (2019-10-22)

Back to finish up the Semroc Andromeda -  I had assembled the Semroc Andromeda earlier on the blog. I was waiting on the decals, I understand Semroc had some delays finding a vendor to make ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Andromeda Build, Part 15, Mask & Paint (2019-10-22)

The interior of the engine tubes were hand painted earlier with fluorescent orange acrylic. The interior color isn't very smooth, next time I'd probably spray the fluorescent orange. These were ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Andromeda Build, Part 16, Checking Out The Decals (2019-10-23)

Here's the water slide decals and the chrome wrap. The chrome wrap is interesting, Randy Boadway told me the black stripes were laser burnt into the Mylar. These are real "old school" ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Andromeda Build, Part 17, Applying The Decals (2019-10-24)

In the instructions you are given placement measurements. Here I'm leaving most all of the decal on the backing paper. The right side of the "A" in Andromeda is set on the 9/16" spacing before ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Semroc Andromeda Chrome Wrap Fix, Tips, Part 2 (2020-06-29)

Here's the original Estes instruction illustration showing the spacing of the chrome bands. The low wrap is 1 1/2" above the centering ring joint. The second wrap goes 1/4" above that. On the left, ... [Read More]