Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Background I remember getting this 1970 catalog in the mail! The slick, new Orbital Transport was featured on the cover. This was Estes kit number K-42 and sold for $3.25. The design was by Wayne Kellner. The kit was sold from 1969 through 1985. No die-cut or laser cut balsa on this one! All 36 (Yes, I said ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 1, Parts When the package is turned over, it looks like some parts might be missing. All the laser cut basswood is inside the folded instructions. Most parts were of good quality. The small laser cut launch lugs were replaced. That laser melts the plastic Mylar on the lugs.
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 2, More Parts Parts of interest, from the upper left going clockwise: The Engine Block - Maybe longer than needed, note the laser burnt ends. Glider Hook - An improvement over the old dowel/launch lug connection. Cardstock trim pieces - that glider nozzle is small! Glider nose cone Centering rings Jet Engines - ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 3, Parts Prep I didn't want to use the burnt launch lug "engines" on my build. in addition to the burnt edges, the lengths were inconsistent. I have plenty of small launch lug pieces saved from previous builds. Four lengths were cut and the edges sanded smooth. The laser cut parts are 1/32" thick basswood. ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 4, Engine Mount GOTCHA: Here's what I meant about the engine block being too long - The end of the Kevlar shock cord is knotted. This knot sits under the bottom of the engine block. Typically the engine block is pushed in so it ends up even with the top of the motor mount tube. This long engine block would place ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 5, Engine Housings The housings needed some fine fitting. I used my small diamond file. The better fit is shown on the right. The sides are glued on. The inside corners are small so I used a Q-tip to even up the fillets. Here's the assembled engine housings with the shorter center piece and lugs (engines) glued in. ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 6, Wing Construction The wings and other wood parts are thin! The lower wing had the tab break off before it was glued up. Glue on the fairings on a flat surface. The side wings got a fillet, applying the glue with a toothpick. Use a toothpick, the inside angle is too small for a standard glue bottle nozzle. More ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 7, Motor Housing Gluing The engine housings are glued into the remaining slots on the bottom of the wing. These slots also require filling with CWF and smooth sanding. The smaller auxiliary fins are glued on the top and bottom. The small ones are on the top, the back of the orbiter glider rests on these. Like the small ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 8, Orbiter Glider Construction The dihedral of the glider wing is done by setting the joint over the glider body tube. When the outside tips of the wing sides touch your work bench, the angle is correct. I also filled the joint at the wing center. The instructions suggest glue fillets along the top joint of the wings. I ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 9, Orbiter Glider Construction GOTCHA: Something wasn't right. I had built three other full size Orbital Transports before. Check the instruction photo showing the glider body tube. The front extends probably 3/8" beyond the front center tip of the wing. The kit supplied tube was too short! Luckily I had some MicroMaxx sized ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 10, Final Smoothing & White Paint The launch lug is glued in place on the bottom center line of the main body. I used some tape to hold it in place while some medium CA glue was applied with a toothpick. The drop od CA was allowed to run down the joint. The entire model got a shot of gloss white. The picture shows the sanded ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Build Part 11, Decals & Finishing Up Here's a bit of the Semroc instructions showing the decal placement. The water slide decals are small! Notice the bottom of the decal - TIP: To fit against the wing you've got to cut right at the red ink border. The rest of this decal sides don't need to be cut as close. TIP: Here's another decal ...
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Semroc MMX Orbital Transport, KMX-01, Finished! Without any size reference, this mini Orbital Transport looks like the full sized original. The build is small and would be hard to fill the wood parts after assembly. I'd recommend filling the parts, seams and notches as you go. The small glider could be tricky to trim for a good glide. I'll ...
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