All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Estes - 260 Space Booster {Plan}

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Part 1 Parts (2011-08-25)

I'll use standard Estes parts from the plans: From left to right: Clear fin (body wrap) substitute is a 4' clear fluorescent tube guard 7" BT-60 and Balsa Adapter #TA-5060 7 3/4" BT-50 and Nose Cone ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 2 Shrouds (2011-08-25)

Two shrouds were made using the Transition Tool at PayloadBay.com http://www.payloadbay.com/index.php?page=Tools&action=TRANS I wanted to use dimensions from the plans, but the first print I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 3 Shrouds (2011-08-26)

After the shrouds were printed up on 110 lb. card stock the rough cut shroud was taped on some unprinted stock. I can cut two shrouds at the same time. The shrouds from the PayloadBay.com Transition ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 4 Engine Mount Coupler TIP (2011-08-26)

To give your coupler more of a gluing surface, sand the edges flat with 200 grit on a sanding block. On the left is the cut edge of the coupler as sent from the vendor. The edge is actually more of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 5 Engine Mount Coupler (2011-08-27)

It's hard to get a fillet of glue on the inside edge of a coupler assembly. Apply a ring of glue on the inside edge of the coupler. Try to apply it a smoothly as possible. The glue will want to bead ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 6 CA and Dry Fit (2011-08-27)

I always read about hardening up a card shroud with CA glue. It's always implied to cover the outside of the shroud with glue after it is glued in position. I prefer to apply the CA to the inside of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 7 Engine Mount Gluing (2011-08-28)

Before gluing the coupler into the tube, look close at the picture. With the black coupler slid in, 1/2 of the the centering ring (thickness) is sticking out of the tube end. This makes a gluing ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 8 Shroud Gluing (2011-08-28)

Dry slide the short shroud up to the BT-60. Turn the shroud around the end of the tube until you find the best fit. Mark the seam location at the best location. Slide the shroud away from the BT-60. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 9 Shroud Gluing (2011-08-29)

Slide the larger shroud down the BT-20, then place the centering ring. I sanded a little of the centering ring where the underlying gluing tab would make contact. In the picture you can see where ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 10 Semroc 16 Booster (2011-08-29)

Here's a post about the 260 build from TRF: Originally Posted by El Cheapo "That's cool. Looks like it'll be nice and clean with no excess junk. I like that. I assume the clear fins will mount above ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 11 Nose Cone Shaping (2011-08-30)

The nose cone is made from a TA-550 balsa adapter. The upper shoulder is sanded away and rounded. First the shoulder is reduced by matching the angle of the sanding block to the side angle of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 12 Nose Cone Shaping (2011-08-31)

I extended the sides on the nose cone drawing to show where the balsa adapter is right now with the upper shoulder removed. The top will have to be shortened. The new length was drawn on with ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 13 Cutting Clear Fins (2011-08-31)

Cutting out the fins took practice and some wasted clear fin material. This clear fin stock from Hobby Lobby is thicker and harder that the old Estes stock. To start, the instructions were taped to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 14 Clear Fin Cutting (2011-09-01)

After the one side is scored over the fin drawing, the plastic is removed from the template and flipped over. The other side is scored. Cut right over the first line, you can see it right through ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 15 Clear Fin Glue Test (2011-09-02)

I cut a 4" section of the clear fluorescent light protection tube for fin gluing practice. I wanted to find the best way to adhere the thin fin material. Going back to the ole Estes Gemini Titan ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 16 Clear Fin Wrap Fit (2011-09-03)

The clear tube won't quite fit over the BT-60 so it'll have to be split lengthwise and taped shut for flight. The old Estes Gemini Titan instructions talk about splitting the clear fin tube if it ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 17 Prime and Paint (2011-09-03)

Even though I did a "butt-joint" of the seam edges, (not an overlapping tab) there was still a little fill to do. Here I'm dragging a drop of CWF down the seam with my knife tip. After this was ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 18 Decal Plan (2011-09-04)

The instructions say to cut the decals from the Estes #D5 decal sheet. That decal sheet isn't at hand! I'd have to draw it up and print decals at home. The rocket drawing on page two of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 19 Black Trim (2011-09-04)

Long strips of the Black Chalkboard Contact Paper were cut .45" wide. All the black stripes on the model will be this width except for the .25" black nozzle stripe. You can see what the roll looks ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 20 Black Trim (2011-09-05)

These two separated vertical strips will have the USAF decal between them. I taped down another strip to the side for alignment. All the strips running vertically down the BT-60 tube are long - for ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 21 Decals (2011-09-05)

I'm getting better at printing half sheets of decal paper. I've made it a point of always printing out more than needed, in case I screw one up. In this case, four USAF and four U S AIR FORCE were ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build Part 22 Clear Fin Can (2011-09-06)

I made up the clear fin can on a scrap piece of BT-60, off the model. I didn't want to take any chances of the clear dope marring up the model's finish. The scrap BT-60 was marked for four fins, the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: 260 Space Booster Build FINISHED! (2011-09-06)

On the left is the lower end with the clear fin can attached. The nose cone got a simple coat of red paint. [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: The Shelf Queens (2015-03-26)

  In a comment, Jim asked to see some other models in the fleet.   Here's the Shelf Queens, the models that don't fly! (Yes, they are in a kitchen cabinet. I'm single and ... [Read More]