Building the 1/100 scale Estes Saturn V: Part 6, Upper Detail Wrap Installation

The new 1/100 scale Saturn V kit from Estes is one of the most impressive model rockets ever released. Some may find the complexity of the build daunting, though! This video series will guide builders through construction and finishing of the Saturn V, giving builders the confidence to tackle their own model.

In the installment we'll cut, fit, and install the styrene plastic detail wraps onto the surface of the upper airframe tube. We'll also do some simple scratchbuilding as we fabricate new third stage cable raceways, and replace some missing longitudinal details.

Videos will appear every few days until the project is completed.

[mguerramd]

I used exactly that same method to fix a wrap gap. Works beautifully.

[DavudsDailyLifeNuggets]

Just finished building Saturn 7 for the scale event in the USA team flyoffs in Pueblo. This video is very helpful!

[JMChladek]

I applied the entire S-IVB wrap on mine. First I sanded down the raw tube to roughen it up and used the finish cure epoxy method.

If you have the half round styrene rods, those can be used to fix the long seam on the wrap. Select a half round that is slightly bigger than the seam and glue it in UPSIDE DOWN! As a result, the tapered surface will wedge into the edges of the wrap nice when the plastic weld glue is applied. Once fully cured, careful sanding with wide sanding sticks will make the filled area practically disappear.

I replaced the missing raised areas on the wrap with the half rounds the same way you did.

As for why Estes did the S-IVB wrap this way, I suspect it was for scale thickness purposes in case anyone wanted to enter the model in a NAR scale meet and for a consistent appearance with the Saturn 1B.

When Centuri did the original 1/100 Saturn 1B, they used a S-IVB tube that is slightly bigger than what the 1/100 Saturn Vs used, probably so it could fit properly around the fuel tank tubes. The wraps on the Estes Saturn 1B are close to the modified wraps you did here on the V with the body tube taking up the exposed tank body. But since the Saturn V S-IVB tube is a layer narrower, the wrap accounts for that thickness.

[asennad]

I still believe that a 60 minute epoxy lightly dabbed on the back of the wraps with a sponge is a better way of attaching wraps. Rubber bands around the wrap provide pressure to prevent bubbles. And dowels alongside the seams prevent lift up at the seams.