Centuri Flutter-By Build, Part 1, Parts Here's some back story on the Flutter-By from the Semroc Spartan kit instructions: "The Stellar Spartan was the second in the Centuri Stellar Line. Originally planned for mass merchandising, the line was later changed to mail-order only, then dropped. The Spartan was an early prototype for the ...
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Centuri Flutter-By Build, Part 2, Fins
In the original Centuri kit, the four Flutter-By fins were the same. The fins on the right are used in the bottom half. The tab on the root edge glues to the smaller diameter engine mount tube. On the right are the upper section fins with no root edge tab. All four fins have strake positioning ...
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Centuri Flutter-By Build, Part 3, Engine Mount
There is no mention of a relief notch on the inside of the adapter. You should cut one or the engine mount tube will be distorted where it presses down over the engine hook. TIP : Don't cut the notch over the seam. The ring will want to de-laminate if the seam ends are cut.
The centering ...
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Centuri Flutter-By Build, Part 4, Paper Laminating Fins
Instead of the strakes the fins will be reinforced with paper lamination. Mentioned earlier, this is the way the original kit fins were strengthened. Only the leading edges of the fins were rounded. Trace around the fins, then add a second line about 1/2" outside the fin border. This ...
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Centuri Flutter-By Build, Part 6, Paper Laminating Fins
After the fins have dried overnight in a heavy book, the edges get a coat of medium CA. The CA insures the edges stay down during trimming. It also hardens up the edges for smoother sanding.
Cut all the corners form the fin edge out. This also makes for easier sanding, the edges can flex ...
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Centuri Flutter-By Build, Part 5, Paper Laminating Fins
Turn over the fin and apply glue stick to the other side. With the wood fin leading edge so close to the centerline you can see why the glue overlapped the middle. You can't get close or under the leading edge now.
Here's where most people have trouble with papering fins - the rounded ...
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Centuri Flutter-By Build, Part 7, Filling the Fin Edges
After sanding off the paper from the sides there will be a raised paper lip around the edges. Lightly sand off the lip with 400 grit.
The open balsa edges will need to be filled. Brush on thinned CWF keeping the filler just on the exposed balsa. There will be some overlap onto the sides. ...
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Centuri Flutter-By Build, Part 8, Fin Gluing & Masking?
I wanted to mark the back of the root edge to line it up with the rear of the interior body tube. The right side of the picture shows the first attempt. Because the fins are two different shapes they can be hard to line up. The inset picture shows the second try, this time I got it right. The ...
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Centuri Flutter-By Build, Part 9, Paint & Trim
The instructions say to use bright silver on the upper half. If you've ever used silver on a rocket you know that fingerprints show through and the finish quickly turns dull. Looking at the Centuri catalog page on Ninfinger's site it almost looks like a light blue was used. I decided to ...
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Centuri Flutter-By Finished
I did want to use chrome trim. In the early 1970s, many Centuri models had a wrap of chrome. The Groove Tube, Bandito, Excaliber and even the Saturn V had it. Chrome trim was a great finishing touch!
Sorry, that decal design is ugly! I'd mentioned before about it looking like a ...
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Centuri Flutter-By - More Finished! I ended up adding the Centuri logo decal like on the catalog model.
That chrome trim really caught the light in this picture! That's really all the model needs, just like the catalog picture.
Less is more here. Keep it sleek, not goofy!
Here's the ...
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