Viking IV Scale Model Back On The Bench

 Now that the Deltie Airshow construction is finished and the model is in the paint queue, I've pulled out the tray containing the parts of a Viking IV scale model, first started about this time last year.

If you remember, the model was included in the 2022 binge-build, which never quite fully materialized.

So far, the main tube is cut to length, seam-filled, and marked out.  The motor mount is also assembled and installed.

The fins are cut to size, and I am now in the process of sanding the airfoil facets into them.  

This is my first serious attempt at shape-sanding scale fins, so they may not turn out exactly perfect.  

Here's a progress pic:

Even though I am attempting to do my most careful and precise scale-building work, this model is intended to be flown as a sport bird, with which (I hope) to log a lot of flights. 

It definitely will never see anything close to NAR-style scale competition!

I'll let you blog readers in on a little secret - I've modified my upcoming build list to include a goodly number of scale models.  Some will be from kits, while many more will be scratch-built.

Many of the single-stage sounding rocket replicas on the list will be built at BT-20 size and powered by 13mm motors.

Think NAR 'Peanut' Sport-Scale. 

With all of the 'fiddly-little-parts' experience gained from the recent build of the highly detailed Steampunk Protostar, I perceive that I am equipped to tackle a lot of small detail on BT-20-sized scalers.

Should be fun...and challenging!

Deltie Airshow - Ready For Primer

 The booster fin sealing and sanding, a model rocketeer's favorite part of any build, is now finished.

And the all important launch lug is in place.

Next stop is the BlastFromThePast Painting Facility (a corner of the back yard) to apply the first coat of primer.

I may just get this one finished yet!

A Plastic Model Conversion Gold Mine !

 During a recent trip to the local Hobby Lobby I stopped by the plastic model aisle where I found this:

This is a "U.S. Space Missiles" kit by Atlantis.

The kit includes small plastic 1:128 scale models of  36 historical missiles, mounted together on a display base.

In the back of my mind, I thought I had seen this one somewhere before.

Of course! An old issue of Model Rocketry Magazine!

Pulling out my collection of MRm copies, I found what I was looking for in the November 1971 issue.

There on the front cover is a photo of three models from this kit.

Back in 1971 the kit was marketed by Monogram. After over 50 years later Atlantis has re-issued it.

The MRm article, beginning on page 14, was written by George Flynn and details the flight conversion of the kit's three largest models, Titan II, Atlas, and Jupiter.

Here is a photo of the kit from the magazine article:

Back then MPC had just recently introduced their 13mm Minijet engines, which were small enough to make the conversion of these models possible.

George also states that a couple of the other models in the set could possibly be flight-converted - the Thor and Minuteman.

Today, I am pretty sure that a number of additional models in the kit can be converted to flight using the modern MicroMaxx motors.

Interesting....

A downloadable file of the November 1971 issue of Model Rocketry Magazine can be found on the Ninfinger website.

Here's the link:

Model_Rocketry_v04n02_11-71.pdf (ninfinger.org)

Cheers!

Deltie Airshow - Fin Clean-up

 The booster rocket fins/glider attachments have now been sanded to their finished profile.

I rounded both the leading and trailing edges of all fins, plus cleaned up the tip surfaces of the glider attachment pieces.

The Edmonds instructions would have the builder leave all edges squared, but I prefer to have them rounded. It just looks better.

Next step is to apply some CWF to the various gaps and do final shape and clean-up sanding.

I also test-fitted the gliders in their places between the attachment pins. As expected, they were very tight. 

I happen to have a needle file that is the exact thickness necessary to take down the inner surfaces of the pins.

The gliders now slide into position easily.

Here's a preview of how the completed model will eventually look.

Onward and upward....

Deltie Airshow - Glider Attachment Parts Re-Built

 I finally have some time to settle down at the workbench and make some progress on the Deltie Airshow model.

Today's focus was on re-building the tips of the booster rocket fins that hold the gliders in place.

If you recall, the earlier versions of these parts were built up with three laminated pieces of 1/16" balsa.

I soon found that those tiny balsa protrusions were easily broken, so those assemblies were subsequently cut off and discarded.

The new versions are built up the same way, except that the outer sections with the protrusions are made of 1/16" basswood instead.

Here are the nine pieces cut from sheet stock:

The parts of the three sub-assemblies are now laminated together.

It's interesting to note that, no matter careful one is when cutting out identical parts, there are some that still end up a little bit larger or smaller than the rest. I still had to do a little sanding on all three units to even up the laminated edges.

Next the sub-assemblies are glued in place on the tips of the main booster fins.

I can see right away that the new basswood glider supports are a huge improvement in strength over the all-balsa versions.

Next step on the fins is to do some gap filling with CWF, followed by sanding everything to an even profile.

Stay tuned....

A Sad Day In Model Rocketry Blog-dom.

 The past few weeks, I have been running ragged with having family staying at our home, coupled with preparation and rehearsal for a music gig with a newly formed band.

It has been about three weeks since I have had the time to sit down at the computer and peruse my favorite blogs and websites.

Imagine my surprise when I clicked into Chris Michielssen's excellent "Model Rocket Building" blog to find the words: 

"The Blog Is Done !"

The post is dated June 30, 2023.

Yep, after 13 years and hundreds of posted model rocket build threads, Chris is knocking it on the head.

My first encounter with Chris's blog was when I became a BAR in 2016. I had just purchased an Estes Lynx kit and was poking around on the web to find more information about it. The first link I encountered was a Lynx build tutorial on a site named "Model Rocket Building".

The series of posts was well-illustrated, comprehensive, and full of nifty tips and general rocket construction techniques.

My Lynx build turned out way better than I'm sure it would have had I not found that series.

Clicking on the home page link, I found a list of similar threads covering many, many other rocket builds spanning all eras and most of the various manufacturers' kits.

What an astounding body of work!

From that day forward, I was hooked.  The superb blog became part of my daily web-surfing regimen.

I can also say that Chris's blog is the primary source of inspiration for my starting up the BlastFromThePast blog !

Being in the blog-writing arena, I marvel at Chris's ability to produce a quality post every single day.  

And for thirteen years, to boot!

That level of dedication and commitment is world class.

Heck, I'm doing very well if I can manage to eke out a blog post once a week!

Anyway, if any of you readers have never had the pleasure of visiting "Model Rocket Building", I strongly urge that you do so. By absorbing Chris's incredible amount of model rocketry building tips, techniques, 'things-to-be-aware-of, and manufacturers' kit history, you can't help to become a better model builder and flier.

The link can be found above on the right side under the "Other Cool Places" list.

Chris states that he does not know how long Google will keep the blog site active.  Personally, I'm not sure if that's a worry. I've encountered some other rocketry blogs using Google's BlogSpot that haven't seen a new post as far back as 2018, and they are still up.

This is good, because I still intend to click into Chris's blog on a daily basis.  There remain vast amounts of older posts and build threads that I have yet to view.

Rocket on....

Another 'Found' Rocket Part.

 I'm always on the lookout for any item that can possibly be used for model rocket construction.

This past Independence Day weekend, I acquired a long cardboard tube that was part of the packaging for some glow-tube necklaces.

This tube is roughly BT- 20 diameter.

When I got it down to the Basement La-BOR-atory, I found that it is slightly smaller than BT-20.  In fact, it fits perfectly inside a dummy yellow tube that comes with some Estes kits for motor spacing.

Short sections of this tubing could possibly be used for building up stage couplers and payload section bulkheads.

It could easily be fitted with a 13mm motor mount for putting together a small-field 'garbage' rocket.

Or it could turn out to be just the right size for a future scale model project.

The possibilities are limitless. 

I just might hold onto this one...

Cheers!