Seams on the 1:96 Saturn V stages

Hi Bob, and welcome. I built this kit when Steven's International did their re-release. First I reversed the sheets with the painted surface on the inside of the tanks. I planed to use a custom paint job and Space Model Systems Ultimate Decals in 1/96th. I made tiny cuts on the ends of the sheets to eliminate the seam. I used Weld On # 3 liquid cement for the assembly with clamps to keep the ends together until the cement set, then reinforced the seams with Super glue. Other builders have said the model isn't sturdy with the thin tank sides but I find mine very strong. I used info from Apollo Maniacs website to super detail the outer surfaces with additional sheet styrene and other tiny homemade 'greebles'. I got mine about as close to accurate as one can get doing this and she turned out beautiful.

Very interesting styrenetamer....I've seen some other image posts around the Inet of the sheets turn inside-out, too. I believe the german apollo member had that going on, or maybe it was someplace else. I just can't get over how tediously the folks on this site, as well as the FSM magazine's articles seem to be. You are perfectionist ARTISTS, one and all!

 Since I already have this little setback and a couple of others, too, I've begun to consider masking off everything to do a complete outer repaint job. I don't like the difference in the sheet styrene and the molded plastic, the way the reflection of light is different between them. I've seen those fine decals from SMS Decals too, but I wonder why the model came out with these painted markings already there. I know it can make a better out-of-the-box kit for those who don't do that much detail, but its also a drawback in some ways too, at least IMO.

 But for recovering from my own problems, do you have any idea how you would address that?  I guess I need to take a couple of images of my poor workmanship and show the other members what I need to fix. I'm thoroughly embarrassed to show my work, but I want to fix this major flaw that I've already created for myself. Guess its time to swallow my pride.....watch for an image a little later.

For the S-1C the seam on my kit ended up under the vent line that runs down the side.  For the S-II I added a second sheet of styrene over the kit sheet because I didn't like the step between the interstage ends and the kit sheeting.  When I did this I sized the sheet so it too ended with the seam beneath the vent line (In fact I welded it to the side of the vent line.  Using 0.005 sheet made this extra skin work very well but definitely use MicroWeld or Tenax 7R for the task and clamp is while it dries.

Thanks for the tip! I see what you're saying, and the seam on the bottom-most sheet that connects between the engine end and the first molded portion above that is very close to the tunnel or vent you mention, but its the next seam above this at the top of the S-1C stage looks terrible.

 

Your's is a good tip for my next Apollo Saturn V kit, but has anyone got any suggestions on how to REPAIR the seam I have now. I'm certain its just a super-sloppy job I've done that's the reason it looks so bad, but can it be fixed. I plan to try and add a picture of this problem later this evening or tomorrow when I find the time. I had another problem on this upper section as well when the upper and lower tunnels didn't come together. There was about a 5/16 or 3/8 inch gap between the two that I could have trimmed off of the sheet material to make fit properly, but it's too late for that now. I whipped up a small patch of Tamiya putty and tried filling this gap in last night, now the sanding and finishing begins....

 

Thanks dcaponeII

Bob

Well, I decided to throw caution to the wind and pull out the hobby knife to try trimming that excess plastic off the seam on my first stage. I used a 1.5x magnifier lens in my headset and a number 11 blade, then CAREFULLY trimmed the excess away from the systems tunnel and it went pretty well. I still need to do some putty work on the seam to make it look finished, but I got that pesky excess plastic chopped off at least!