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1. ASSEMBLE THE AFT SHROUD.
View the whole assembled model
HST's AFT SHROUD is a cylinder which surrounds the spacecraft's optical instruments and some other equipment. It has doors and handrails for servicing on orbit by astronauts.
- Select the small rectangular Parts Sheet C from the kit. Find the words AFT SHROUD at one end of the silver side. Smear a small amount of low-moisture glue, using a glue stick, along the whole end, covering the words AFT SHROUD, and making the glue-smear exactly 1/2 inch (13mm) wide (measure first, and mark with pencil). Make sure the glue extends all the way to the edge of the paper which is below the words AFT SHROUD. Use of low moisture glue is intended to prevent making the seam soggy, which would cause an uneven bend in the resulting cylinder.
- Bring the opposite edge around, forming a cylinder with the silver side out. Overlap exactly the measured and marked 1/2 inch (13mm) onto the glue, covering a little of the printed detail. Adjust so that the overlap is straight. Press and hold the surfaces together tightly until the glue sets. It helps to insert a ruler into the cylinder and press the seam. Avoid creasing the tube, so it remains round.
- From parts sheet A release the circular AFT BULKHEAD (labelled on the back). Place it silver-side down on your work surface. Look for the letter K near the edge at one point (K will mark the direction to the Keel fitting, later).
- Set the cylindrical AFT SHROUD down on top of the AFT BULKHEAD so that the seam, as viewed from outside, is aligned with the K. SCI's address inside should be down toward the AFT BULKHEAD. Apply glue to hold them together, and let dry.
- From parts sheet A release the circular PRIMARY MIRROR ASSEMBLY. Place it silver-side down on your work surface. The protrusion near the letter K is the Keel fitting.
- Turn the AFT SHROUD over, and set its open end down on top of the PRIMARY MIRROR ASSEMBLY so that the middle of the 1/2-inch glued seam is aligned with the K. Apply glue to hold them together, and let dry with a flat object, like a coaster, balanced on top to press down.
