A New Model In The Fleet

 Yesterday, my grandson and I set to work on a new addition to the BlastFromThePast model rocket collection.

This is the "Flat Earth Orbiter". 

Full sized plans can be found on the JimZ website in the section marked by a file cabinet icon. The plans are in the Estes list.

It's not clear whether this is a real Estes concoction or not, but it's pretty comical, nonetheless.

All that is needed to build this gem are a piece of white-surfaced corrugated cardboard, some typing paper on which to print the 'decals', and some scotch tape to apply them.

Done!

A nice, attractive model rocket that can be launched on an unlimited number of imaginary flights.

Only conundrum I am facing is whether this model should be added to the official fleet list.

The jury's still out on that one ...

When Model Rocketry Meets McDonald's Happy Meals...

 And now for something completely silly...

My two oldest grand-kiddoes came over last night to spend the weekend at the BlastFromThePast home.

Before stopping in, their dad took them to McDonald's for dinner.

They each arrived with an interesting Happy Meal toy - a 'Luisa' figurine from the new Disney animated film 'Encanto'.  Apparently, Luisa is the heavy-lifter strong person in the film's story.

I immediately hit on an interesting idea. Grabbing one of the figurines, I hastened downstairs to the basement La-BOR-atory to set up a photo scene featuring Luisa:

"Here is your rocket ship, Senor!"

OK.  Enough silliness.  Back to the binge-build... 

Back In The Day, Part 48 - The 'Old Fleet' Nike-X

 Having just completed a build of a new-release Estes Nike-X, I thought I would pay a visit to the dim and distant past and dig up whatever info I could about my old fleet version of the original #1270 kit built in 1978.

This model, fleet #70, was modified significantly from the stock kit, in that the body tube was cut below the middle fin set so that a first stage booster could be built.  This was equipped with a 24mm motor mount. 

Mighty D Engines, folks.

Also, as shown in the photo, I went with an olive drab paint scheme with plenty of paint-dot bolt heads.

My old flight records indicate that the model was flown 3 times.

The maiden launch took place on July 15, 1979.  This was a single stage flight using a C6-5 motor to check for stability of the upper stage.  Successful flight.  Here are pics of that particular launch.  The second photo was one of the rare shots of a liftoff I managed to get with my cheesy old camera.

The next two flights were in the two-stage configuration, both utilizing a D12-0 / B4-6 motor combination.  These took place on October 7, 1979 and May 10th, 1981, respectively. Both were highly successful, with perfect staging and nearly out-of-sight flights of the upper stage.

There are hints that the model may have been flown a couple more times, but there are no existing records to corroborate this.

The Nike-X was sold along with the rest of my model rockets when I stepped away from the hobby in 1985.

Here is a photo of another model in the old fleet that was custom-bashed from an additional Nike-X kit.  

I called this one the 'Uprated Nike-X', whatever 'uprated' was supposed to mean. Might be because the fins were of a more high-performance design and were airfoiled for increased altitude. 

The model was fleet #74, built in 1980.  Records show a total of 4 successful flights.

The bird was sold alongside the Nike-X in '85. 

Kinda' wish I still had these ol' models....

BAR Fleet #136 Nike-X

 

Source:  Estes Industries Kit # 7259

Type:     Scale-like sport model

 Stages: Single

Engine Type: 18mm

Recovery:  Parachute

 Length:  59.4cm (23.4 in.)

Diameter:  33.65mm (1.325 in.)

Weight Empty:  56g (1.970oz.)

Nose Cone:  Tangent ogive

Fin Types: Clipped delta, delta

Number of Fins: 3 sets of 4

 Color Scheme:  White, black, red

 Date Completed:  December 16, 2021

 An ‘Old Fleet’ Re-build

A large part of my BAR era model rocket fleet consists of re-builds of some of the favorites I had flown in the days of yore.

 The Estes Nike-X is another of these.

This version is the new re-release of the kit (#7259).  It was constructed as part of a seven-model simultaneous build project begun in October, 2021.

 This model is built to kit specifications except for the upper decal.  A simple checkerboard roll pattern was applied in place of the kit decal.  Another minor deviation was the addition of red paint to the model’s lower fin tips.

 The Nike-X is overall a very attractive, well designed model rocket which proudly takes its spot in the ever-growing fleet.

Binge Build: A Shop-Full of Shock Cords !

This is the final step of the build that can be effectively done assembly line style.

My method for shock cord mounts is very similar to the ones used in MPC and Centuri kits back in the day:  A flat piece of material with three holes or slots into which the shock cord is threaded and glued. 

I am not a fan of the trifold 'teabag' mounts because of their high profile and sharp corners on which parachutes and shroud lines can get caught.

The mounts I use are cut out of Manila stock with three slits for the cord and all of the square corners removed.

 The shock cord is then threaded through the slits and glued to the mount at all of the contact points.

These are very sturdy mounts that are very reliable and take up little space inside the body tube. I've never had one fail or cause parachute obstruction.

For all of the bigger BT-55 and BT-60 sized models in this build, I go with a 45 inch length of quarter-inch elastic.

For the Crossfire ISX, I went with thirty inches of one-eighth round elastic with a thinner card stock mount.

For the models on which will likely be lofting a payload section airframe, I equipped the loose end of the shock cord with a snap swivel.  This will allow interchangeability between noses and payload sections, or facilitate the use of seperate parachutes.

Here are all of the shock cord mount assemblies built and ready to be installed into their respective models:

Binge Build: A Deluge of Decals, Part 2

 Today, the Quest Icarus received its sticker and decal embellishments.

The kit name and fin panel 'peel and curse' stickers were applied first, with good success.  

The sticker sheet also included a wide black band that was supposed to go around the top of the body tube, but I found that it lacked a full quarter inch of length to go all the way around.

The sticker went into the trash. A few less moments of peeling and cursing,

I may still mask off the section and apply the band with black paint.

The 'Quest Aerospace' logo is a home print waterslide decal.

For the booster stage, I went with a spare sheet of Cherokee-E decals. After all, the fins are from the same Cherokee-E  kit, only mounted upside down.

I suppose that makes this model a Cherokee-Icarus.

The remainder of the models in the binge build are awaiting painting operations.

Not today, though. The Colorado Front Range weather forecast is calling for high winds with gusts up to 80 mph!

Binge Build: A Deluge of Decals, Part 1

 Now comes the fun part of doing any model rocket build - seeing the whole finish coming together with the application of decals and markings.

The first order of business is to design and produce a home-print decal sheet with a number of custom patterns, numbers and other details.

Here is a photo of this sheet included with all of the other kit decals.

Here are the first two models of the build to get the decal / marking treatment, completed December 12th:

The Interceptor. That's a lot of decals!!

...and the Nike-X.   Note the different roll pattern below the front fins.  I totally screwed up the original kit decal when applying it to the model.  It initially went down with a lot of wrinkles.  In the process of trying to carefully straighten it out, it sustained a severe tear right down the 'show side'.  After several attempts to fix things, I only managed to mess it up further. Conceding a total loss, I removed the whole mess.  My decal folder happened to have some nice checkerboard pattern decals, so I cut and applied one of those instead.  

I kind of like it better than the original.

I also did the fin and body decals a bit differently.  They were made to be applied as one piece with a narrow clear area nestled into the fin root. After placing the first one, I didn't like how it looked, so the remaining similar decals were carefully cut apart at that seam line and applied individually.

To make things look even better, I used a black Sharpie to color in the fin/body separation lines and extend the patterns out to the edge of the fins.  This looks way better, in my opinion.

On a whim, I applied some red permanent marker to the aft fin edges, just to break up the black and white monotony.

These two models are now ready for clear coating.

Stay tuned.....