All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Build Part 1 Parts (2013-01-19)

Here's the parts layout from the kit. This model was designed by Shrox when he was working for Quest. It was featured on the 2010 Quest Catalog cover with two ES-1 Escort models. It's a larger ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 2 Engine Mount Steps 1 - 6 (2013-01-20)

To convert this mount from 18mm to 24mm engines: A 24mm engine casing was stood up and centered on the rings included in the kit. Trace around the base of the engine with a fine point ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 3 Steps 9 - 10 Spine Fin (2013-01-21)

Step 9 has you remove the laser cut fins from the sheet and sand the edges. I sanded enough to remove the hold down tabs and remove the burned edges. The antenna tabs are glued onto the spine. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 4 Steps 11 - 12 Wood Prep (2013-01-22)

We'll skip over Steps 8 through 10 for the moment. Step 11 has you glue the wing parts together. Like the instruction illustration shows, Waxed paper was taped down. The two pieces were glued ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 5 Decal Prep (2013-01-23)

I thought this kit had water slide decals, but it's got the "peel and stick". I would have preferred the water slide. Right out of the bag these decals had wrinkles and lifted areas on the sheet. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 6 Step 13 - 14 Gluing The Spine (2013-01-24)

This model is a complex build and because I decided to paint the blue trim, a difficult mask. Again, I should have thought ahead before gluing the spine in place. The spine was lightly glued on and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 7 Step 14 Wing and Spine Fit (2013-01-25)

It looks like this model will be masked and painted in sub assemblies and glued to the main body tube afterwards. In the instructions, the intake tube is already painted before gluing on. This is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 8 Step 18 - 19 Dowels (2013-01-26)

Jumping ahead: I glued the dowels onto the wing and rudder pieces. The instructions simply say to glued the dowel to the top edge. I glued it on so the back end overhangs a slight amount. (Top ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 9 Stick On Trim Check (2013-01-27)

This model will be painted in sub assemblies then glued together. Meaning, the wings and rudders will be painted white, masked then the blue trim is sprayed. After that, all will be glued together. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 10 Step 20 Lug Position (2013-01-28)

Before gluing the lug on, I wanted to test fit the pieces to make sure the location would work. First, the intake tube is split down it's length. I used my aluminum angle to help guide the knife. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 11 Masking for Glue Joints (2013-01-29)

The wing was dry fitted down the pencil line to mark for masking tape to go on the body tube. In the picture the wing was slid down from the end tic mark to show the tape pencil marks. The body ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 12 Step 22 Rudder Masking (2013-01-30)

As mentioned before, I decided to paint the blue on rather than use the stick on pieces. I used my standard Scotch tape masks hit with a black marker. The tape was set on glass and a wide marker ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 13 Step 22 Wing Mask (2013-01-31)

This is the top of the wing mask ready for the blue paint. I wanted the blue paint to wrap over the leading edge of the wing. The bottom surface of the wing is white overall. Look close and you ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 14 Step 22 Front Body Mask (2013-02-01)

This is the most complicated part of the mask. It probably would have been easier to use the stick on pieces, but a paint match is hard to get right. Also, the stick-ons didn't seem long enough to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 15 Step 22 Front Body Mask (2013-02-02)

  Good thing I checked the coverage of the wing over the blue at the front end.. The tape strips I cut weren't long enough to reach under the wing. This is the final mask before spraying. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 16 Gluing It Together (2013-02-03)

The inside center line of the wing got a thick line of white glue. This was turned over and set on the masked area of the body tube down the center line. I let this set up before gluing on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 17 Step 21 Bad Intake Tube (2013-02-04)

I had some problems with the intake tube. The mask went fine, the color separation was looking good. When the tape was being pulled off, it pulled up a layer of the tube. It didn't just pull up ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 18 New Intake Steps 21, 23 & 25 (2013-02-05)

A new tube was cut from some 50mm scrap. The picture shows the black interior of the tube. The instructions make no mention of painting the inside of the tube. The tube was large enough I could ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 19 Step 26 Fitting the Intake Tube (2013-02-06)

Fitting the intake tube took some extra work. The top edge of the intake fin was tall. I wanted the sides of the split intake tube to sit right under the wing joint. Slide it on from the front to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Aerospace One Part 20 Step 30 Decals (2013-02-07)

Bill Stine has given permission to make the Aerospace One decal sheet available. If you'd like a PDF of the Aerospace One "print it yourself" decal sheet, email me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Tampa TTRA Launch Pics Jan. 19, 2013 (2013-01-21)

Roger Smith has posted great pictures from the Tampa TTRA launch from January 19, 2013. You can see them at: http://www.rocketreviews.com/january-2013-8172.html On the left is the Quest Aerospace ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Over Spray Removal TIP (2013-02-01)

Recently when painting the blue on the Quest Aerospace One model I missed masking the tip of the dowel. I really didn't want to paint over with white. Scraping off the blue might take off the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: EBAY Scores! (2013-09-21)

  While stuck in Mexico I've kept my eye on EBAY. I make an occasional bid, but unless it's a great buy I won't increase bidding above 50% of the retail price. I've wanted to build ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: The Discontinued Quest Kits? (2013-10-29)

On TRF there were questions about the thrust and ejections of Quest engines. This last year, Quest discontinued some larger 18mm kits: Quest Aerospace One and the Stiletto A guess on my part: I have ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Stiletto Build Part 2, Engine Mount 24mm Upgrade (2014-02-20)

This Siletto model is 26.5" tall. Usually any model I build over two feet either gets a 18mm cluster or a 24mm D engine upgrade. I've had great flights with my Quest Aerospace One with D engines, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Stiletto Build Finished! (2014-03-11)

  This is a BIG model, probably under powered with a C6 engine. Like the earlier Quest Aerospace One, this one will fly with 24mm engines. After some weight comparisons with an 18mm ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Rocketry Deals! TIPS (2014-03-22)

Most of you already know of these - but for those who don't . . . Instead of scrolling through pages of Ebay listings - 1. Got to RocketReviews.com HERE 2. Go to the "Features" tab 3. Scroll ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Decal PDFs For Patreon Support Members (2020-08-13)

Here's a list of the Print at Home PDF decals  available to  Patreon Supporters: PATREON DECAL PDFs ESTES Estes Green Eggs Scrambler K-37, #1237 Decal .pdf Makes the Estes Green Eggs kit ... [Read More]