then pull the slip knot down tight with the
first knot. Even out the two legs of the
thread, then apply a layer of glue around the
back side of the forward “B” ring to secure
the Kevlar thread in place. Apply a drop of
thinned glue to the two knots, then set aside
to dry.
Step 22
Using the Reactor Vane
Alignment Tool you completed in step 7,
mark the
inside
diameter of the BT-55J tube
for the edges of the eight cooling vanes.
Draw lines down the full length of the inside
of the tube at each location. Cut eight strips
of masking tape, 1/16” wide and 3” long.
Apply these strips of tape directly between
each 1/16”-wide pair of lines. This will
protect the inside of the shroud from filler
and primer while completing the next few
steps.
Step 23
Fill the inner and outer spiral
seams on the BT-55J shroud with thinned
lightweight filler compound. Apply filler to
the sides, leading, and trailing edges of the
eight cooling vanes. Do not apply filler to
the top or root edges of the vanes. Allow a
full day to dry. Sand all of the pieces
smooth with 220-grit paper, but do not
damage or lift the masking tape from the
shroud. A 1/2” dowel wrapped with the
sanding sheet may be helpful in sanding the
inside of the shroud. Tack-rag the dust.
Step 24
Cut eight strips of masking tape,
1/16” wide and 2.75” long. Apply these to
the top edges of the vanes. Cut eight more
strips, 1/16” wide and 4.75” long, and apply
these to the root edges of the vanes. Prime
the inside surface of the shroud and the
sides of the vanes with one coat of white or
gray primer, and allow a day to dry. You
may sand the primer at this stage, but it is
not really necessary as it will not easily be
seen.
Step 25
Remove all of the tape strips
from the shroud pieces and discard these.
Insert into the slots of the Reactor Vane
Alignment Tool all eight of the primed balsa
vanes, with the wide root edges pointing
inward,
and the short edges pointing
outward.
Position the loaded tool inside the
shroud so that each of the vanes is aligned
over one of the uncovered strips. Apply a
small drop of thinned
white
glue to both
sides of each vane at the center where it
contacts the shroud. This is only meant to
tack the vane in place. Do not get glue on
the tool, nor add any additional glue to the
joint at this time. Allow the glue about 20
minutes before removing the tool. Now,
using a keen pointed artists brush, or a fine-
tipped pipette, apply thinned white glue to
all of these joints, making sure the full
length of the joint has been glued. Allow
another 20 minutes to dry before handling.
Step 26
Cut eight more strips of masking
tape, 1/16” wide and 5” long. Apply these
strips of tape directly on top of the root edge
of each vane. This will protect these edges
from paint.
Step 27
Spray the inside and outside
surfaces of the shroud, and the fins, with
gloss or flat black, and allow a day to dry.
Now, remove the strips of tape from the
bottom edges of the vanes.
Figure 5
Step 28
Cut four pieces each of the main
fin upper and lower sections using the
patterns on page 2. Square and true up the
Main Fin Assembly
Reactor Shroud Construction
Summary of Contents for Antares
Page 5: ...Painting Guide...
