Trimming Plastic

To model Apollo 15, I have to remove the 4 ullage rockets from the Interstage wrap, and then patch the holes. Tim Van Milligan of Apogee Components recommended cutting patches from a second wrap; the question then became just how to get the patches to fit and to look good.

My first attempt: cut a patch that was too big, place the patch behind the wrap, and line up the stringers and other molded features. The slightly different plane is makes the patch too obvious, though. On to a second method: cut the patch so it fits perfectly inside the hole from the ullage rocket. This seems to be working, despite requiring much more precision and being much more tedious. It’s now just a matter of being patient: start with the patch very close to the right size, but perhaps ever-so-slightly too big, and trim a thin sliver at a time until it fits, carefully ensuring the stringers stay aligned. With luck (shouldn’t take too much), a tiny bit of filler and a coat of primer will complete the illusion.

You must be logged in to post a comment.