Steampunk Protostar, Part 34 - Attaching The Fin Pods

The next step of the Protostar actually refers back to use of the kit instructions.

What?     Instructions?    NO WAY !!

This portion of the build calls for attaching the pod assemblies to the fins.  Per directions, the pods are marked at 1-1/4" from the rear of the plastic pod piece.  These marks are to be aligned with the trailing edge of the fins.

I found this step to be the trickiest part of the build so far.  The pods are initially attached using CA glue.  It took some very creative use of  tape hold downs and careful balancing of the model to keep each pod in position and properly aligned until the glue could set. Only one pod could be done at a time.  

After the CA set, a small batch of epoxy was mixed and fin/pod fillets applied.   I learned the hard way to do each pod separately in this manner.  Before that, I was attempting to CA tack on all pods one after the next.  I ended up somehow bumping the previously attached pods and knocking them off!. It was like circus plate spinning!

Anyway, I finally managed to get all the pods glued on and securely filleted.

Here is the Protostar finally standing on its own supported by the pods...

Steampunk Protostar, Part 33 - Rivet Panels Finished

Hooray! The Steampunk protostar build series has finally returned.  Many of these posts have been completed for a long time, but have sat idle in 'draft' status up until now.

Today I have begun finishing up the final detail steps on the model, so things should all meet up within the next few weeks.

 The most time consuming part of this build is finally complete.  A total of 32 individual adhesive backed label stock panels, all with rows of hand-punched 'rivets', make up the ship's main body surface.  

Rivet spacing is 1/10" apart, and there are 16 rows of them running the full length of the model's 16" body tube.

I haven't counted them, but that's a ton of rivets!

The photo shows that there are some gaps between the ends of some of the applied panels.

These will be covered up by some wider riveted bands around the tube at each panel section that will be applied in a future step.

Ready For Rocketry!

Following the rush and bustle of the Christmas and New Year holidays, taking down and putting away the lights, and nearly completing the rocket binge-built, I virtually took off the entire month of January to rest, re-coop, and catch my breath.  I virtually did nothing rocketry related, save ordering the '22 Estes catalog and checking the rocketry forums once in awhile.

Now, fully refreshed and motivated, I'm ready to dive right back in.

Two of the binge-build rockets are still awaiting final paint coats.  The weather has been too crappy lately to do that, but I'm hoping things will change in the next few weeks.

I'm also ready to finish up the Steampunk Protostar project and resume putting up the remaining build posts (Finally!)

After that, I will be free to start work on a couple of scale birds in the queue.

Stay tuned...

The 2022 Estes Catalog

 I just received my new copy in the mail today.

Perusing through the pages, I was fairly delighted with the new model offerings:

A cool new Signature Series model designed by Bill Simon.

The return of the Orbital Transport (Yay!).  That one should never have gone away in the first place.

The Vesta Intruder in the Space Corps series.

The Universal Astrocam - an HD video/audio cam designed to fit 'most Estes rockets'.

And finally, the Blue Origin  New Shepard.

As for the scale and Pro series catalog sections, nothing has really changed there.  Pretty much the same thing with the lesser skill level series of models.

The biggest surprise of all, at least for me, is found in the motor section.

The A3-2T and A3-6T motors are back !!!  

Break out the party hats and noise-makers !!

Ever since I re-joined the hobby I have lamented the lack of these two motor types.  But they're really, truly back!

Here's to building some A-class boost/gliders and mini-motor multi-stagers... 

Another excellent change to the catalog is all about the photographs of the models.  Most are now shown in profile orientation which gives a better idea of proportion and appearance than the 'skewed' photos of near past issues.

General Kudos to Estes on the 2022 catalog! 

But then, of course, there are the price increases....(sigh)....

A Look Back At 2021

 Another year has come and gone...

Every January, I like to take a retrospective look at the past year here on the BlastFromTheBast Blog.

Even though 2021 still found us in the throes of a pandemic, I managed to get quite a bit of model rocketry done.

Here are the highlights:

8 new model rockets built.  

Five of these were part of the year-end multi-rocket build frenzy that is still in process.  I didn't get the remaining two completed due to the onset of colder weather and lots of windy conditions which precluded further painting operations.  These models will have to be part of the 2022 fleet addition roster.

54 Model Rocket Flights

These were spread out over 16 launch sessions:

    Five group launch sessions at Dove Valley Park in Centennial, Colorado.

    One launch session at Founders Park in Castle Rock.

    Ten launch sessions at Douglas County High School, also in Castle Rock.

Out of the total number of flights, one model was lost, and one was damaged irreparably.

One motor CATO was suffered.

Other Highlights:

One fleet model was retired after being launched on its 50th flight. This was my first ever model rocket, built in 1973.

I flew my first BAR-era D motors.  Up until this time, I had been apprehensive of going beyond Cs due to the relatively small fields I frequent. 

Several successful flight missions were flown involving altimeter and video camera payloads.

Finally, substantial progress was made on that old Steampunk Protostar build.  Sorry, no pics yet....

Our small group of rocketeers that meet at Dove Valley Park has expanded to nine individuals, including myself.

Here is this year's family photo of the flight-ready fleet for 2022:

Plus three more still residing in the 'repair hangar':

The fleet now stands at 30 models.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of you who have, thus far, followed this obscure little corner of the wonderful worldwide web!  More to come in 2022!

Cheers!

My Newest Blog, Ever....

 Hi, All,

As if I don't have enough to keep me busy with writing this blog, a LEGO blog, and a woodworking blog, I've embarked on yet another keyboard-tickling venture that covers all of my other many and varied interests:

"Eddie's Random Ramblings"

Check it out by clicking on the link at the right under 'All Of  My Blog Pages'.

Cheers!

Faster Than A Mosquito On An A10 !!!

 That's how fleeting 2021 seemed to have flown by.

Happy New Year to all of you and yours.

Here's wishing you a blessed and prosperous 2022.

Keep em' Fliying !