I bought the kit just over a month ago and it finally got to the top of the build pile:
the Apogee Johnny Star Commander designed by Shrox.

I've not slit it open yet, but since it is indeed a Shrox design there should be some beveled tubes, some slot mounted fins, and a butt-load of fun.

Let's go!

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Kit bag is slit and the parts laid out. The 1/8" balsa laser cut sheets are premium and there's more fins than a Helsinki phone book (or a dive bar in the U.P.) Pre-slotted main BT. 5-color, pre-cut, peel and stick decal sheet. PRE-CUT DOWELS???

Rather than stuffing that much plasticine into the nose I'll instead use a fraction of that volume in chilled #8 lead shot.

And it looks like this will have to continue tomorrow. The Vixen has brought me a Black and Tan and crackers with kippered herring! I'll have to lock the cats out of the office.

Good night.

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

The Vixen, the cats, and the dog are all in their beds so there should be nothing to tempt me away from doing some work on the JSC.

Sheesh!--and I thought an Interceptor E had a lot of pieces to it's wings! This is a flat stack of (5) pieces (so far) per wing. My wax paper covered Corian slab isn't quite large enough for it but I'll make it work. After piecing it together I use a long piece of aluminum angle to ensure alignment and straightness. After achieving that, I then use the same aluminum angle to weigh the wing stack flat until the glue sets. I'll do the wing assemblies one at a time.

I've also assembled and epoxied the engine mount into the main BT--ensuring the engine hook is not in line with any of the slots.

TBC

Attached Thumbnails

       

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

The wood glue of the first wing assembly is now dry and now for some technique:

To add some structural security to the wing until I get it glued onto the main BT, I lay the wax paper covered Corian board across my Herculean thighs and let a drop of thin CA soak into each of the (3) narrow wing joints (both sides.) Without this, the wing parts' own weight might make them break off during handling until I can get the root edges glued onto the main BT.

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Both wing stacks are assembled and reinforced and I've mounted them onto the BT55 with carpenter's glue. Yes, there are gaps in the balsa-to-tube parting lines, but with a wing assembly that long I was expecting it. Gaps will be corrected during filletization.

Since the trailing edges of the wings extend (a little) beyond the rear of the BT55 I use my squaring method of 2 straight pieces of scrap balsa and clothespins.

TBC

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

WARNING: the attached photos contain Herculean thighs.

So, to coin a phrase (correctly): "the proof of the pudding is in the eating." I've removed the braces and the clothespins and the wings are perfectly aligned.

I've prepped the vertical tail by gluing the leading edge detail strip to it and registering the top edges with a small aluminum angle.

TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Prepping the ventral strake.

The ventral strake ends up inside the intake tube of the model's belly so it wold be nearly impossible to sand, seal, and finish the strake AFTER assembly, so now for some technique:

After sanding the ventral strake with 220 I then mask off the strake's slot mounting tabs. I then use my Elmer's glue stick and apply a heavy coat of adhesive to one side of the strake. I then lay a piece of regular printer paper onto the treated side--registering the good edge of the paper with the root edge of the strake and I smooth it down with my Herculean thumbs.

After the adhesive is dry I'll slit off the excess paper and then repeat the process for the other side of the strake.

p.s. I've probably typed the word strake more times in this single post than in all of my previous years of life.

TBC

Attached Thumbnails

         

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

I've now mounted and squared the vertical tail assembly.

TBC

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

The ventral fin is now papered on both sides and then all edges (except the root edge) have been soaked with thin CA.

Time for a little Scotch! Good night.

TBC

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

The ventral fin is now slot-mounted onto the underside of the BT55.

TBC

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078