Sirius Interrogator Build Part 1, Parts
This is one I've looked forward to building for quite a while - The Sirius Interrogator. This is the 18mm engine version, Sirius also makes upscales of this design. From left to right, the parts of interest: Three water slide decal sheets! Lots of decals with clean graphics. 1/16" thick balsa ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 2, Engine Mount
Nothing out of the ordinary with the engine mount. The Kevlar was tied under the forward centering ring. TIP: The instructions did teach me an better way to measure the correct length of the Kevlar to prevent a possible zipper. Typically, I'll tie on a length of Kevlar to the mount and roll the ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 3, Intake Tube Cutting
The intake tube cutting guide is cut out and wrapped around the BT-55 tube. Mark with a pencil and cut with a sharp knife. As the instructions say, use multiple light passes. Don't try to cut through in one pass!
The tube is marked for the forward strakes using the same cutting guide. ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 4, Tube End Seam Filling
I applied some medium CA on the tube edges with a Qtip. I only apply the CA to about 3/16" inside the open end. Fine sanding got the edge to a hard smooth cut. On the upper right, the edges of the BT-5 ramjet tubes were sanded smooth with sandpaper wrapped around a pen barrel.
The angle ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 5, Intake Tube Gluing
The BT-50 main frame tube is marked for gluing on the intake tube. I decided to prime the tubes before gluing everything together. The gluing lines were masked with thin strips of masking tape.
After the primer/filler was applied and sanded the masking tape was removed. Glue is applied ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 6, PRM Fin Covering
At one time, PRM covering was sold through the Estes catalog. PRM stands for P aper R einforcement M aterial. It's a white self-adhesive paper, great for reinforcement of thinner balsa. It's also used when you don't feel like filling the balsa grain. This kit also gives you the option of ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 7, Rudders and Dowel Tips
As directed in the instructions, it's a good idea to "set" the PRM edges with some CA glue. This insures the edges stay down. The exposed balsa edges also got two applications of medium CA sanding between coats. This filled most of the end grain balsa. I did an additional fill with some CWF and ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 8, Wing Gluing
The small ramjet tubes got a shot of filler/primer before assembly. Sitting on the spraying wand - the upper tube has been sanded.
The wing dowel seams were filled with CWF. The upper seam is dried and ready for sanding. The lower dowel seam has been sanded smooth.
The instructions ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 9, Strakes, Lug and Ramjet Details
The forward strakes are glued on the previously masked lines. Beneath the wing root edge the lug is glued on. The lug will be hidden under a ramjet tube.
Ramjet tubes are glued even with the rear end of the intake tube. The remaining two dowels are glued in the joints and overhang the ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 10, Dowel Wing Joint Detail The tip of the wing and dowel needed some cleaning up, The match was close but didn't have a good flow. With the intake tube cut to a curve I though the front of the wing should also have a rounded tip. The sides got a piece of tape for protection from the sanding block.
The tip was rounded ...
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Interrogator Build on the Model Rocket Building Blog Chris Michielsson's Model Rocket Building Blog is an interesting blog that covers building many model rockets from a long-time rocketeer's perspective. Chris is also the owner of Odd'l Rockets, the maker of "odd" rockets and useful accessories for the model rocketeer. Sirius Rocketry carries many ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 11, Fillets and Primer Filler
The wing dowel joint got filled with CWF. Here it is after sanding. Primer Filler followed with more fine sanding. The bottom ramjet tube joints got a fillet with Titebond M&TG. Another shot of primer filling and sanding. Finally, the first white color shot. This model only requires an ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 12, White Color Coats
I still needed some sanding between the white coats. The wing/dowel joint took a little extra time.
It was worth it in the end, the transition angle is filled and smooth.
There are a lot of nooks and crannies on this one. Before spraying the final (heavier) coat be sure you've got ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 13, Decals The Sirius decals transfer easily and really hug the surface well after blotting. The instructions say to soak them for 30 seconds, mine were ready for use after just over 20 seconds. Many of the decals are transferred in group "blocks". Be careful before you cut apart a decal that might be part ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Part 14, Ends and Edges
The instructions mention you can paint the inside of the ramjet tubes. I decided to use the Contact paper blackboard covering. A strip about 1 5/8" X 1" was cut. The 1 5/8" side just covers the inside diameter of the BT-5 tubes. The black vinyl was rolled sticky side out around a dowel and slid ...
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Sirius Interrogator Build Finished From the Sirius website, David Miller wrote this about his line of kits: . . . "These really are the sort of things I loved to build in the "Golden years" of Estes and Centuri, and I am trying to bring back some of that feeling in my kits. . . I also love the kits that had lots of decals and were ...
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