All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 1, Background and Sizing (2016-05-04)

I've always liked the OOP Thrustline Arapahoe E design. This picture is from Rocket Reviews: CLICK HERE John McClure did the build and review. The original kit was made for D and E engines. The main ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 2, Background and Sizing (2016-05-05)

Go to the right under EDIT, go down to SCALE. At the SCALE FROM line, change the  1.637 " (BT-60 dia.) to  1.325 " (BT-55 dia.) Hit the SCALE button. Here's the model in BT-55 size, Open ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 3, Fin Pattern Printing (2016-05-06)

To get a print of the re-sized fin patterns, Go to FILE, Click on PRINT / EXPORT PDF This window is brought up. Click on ARAPAHOE, to clear all the boxes, Then click on FIN TEMPLATES. These patterns ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 4, Tail Cone (2016-05-07)

The tail cone is made from the nose cone from a second Monarch kit. The BT-20 engine mount tube has to fit inside. The nose cone tip is removed. Set the engine mount tube over the NC tip and trace ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 5, Engine Mount and Hook Relief (2016-05-09)

The engine mount tube has got to be longer than the kit supplied tube. I was trying to do this kitbash using only parts from the two Monarch kits. I used part of the second kit engine mount tube. To ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 6, Fin Planning (2016-05-10)

The root edge of the fins runs down the curve of the tail cone. An easy way to get a start on the curve is to simply trace around the tail cone on some card stock. Hold the tail cone and body tube ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 7, Fin Cutting and Fitting (2016-05-11)

To help prevent the wood from breaking down the grain, start the cut at the corner where chipping can occur. Only one fin half had to be pieced together. When piecing balsa together, sand the edges ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 8, Strakes (2016-05-12)

I rounded just the tip corners on the fins first before rounding down the long leading edge. The way the grain is running, these fins are very easy to break at the corners. I had to dip into some ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 9, Tail Cone Gluing, Ends and Edges (2016-05-13)

Before gluing on the tail cone and spraying primer, the shoulder was sanded down to the same outside diameter of the body tube. TIP: Beacon Fabri-Tac glue was used to glue the engine mount and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 10, Fin Position Marking (2016-05-14)

After the tube was shot and the filler/primer sanded, it was marked for three fins and three long strakes. The difference on this design is the strakes go down the tube length between the three fin ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 11, Fin Gluing and White Spray (2016-05-16)

This is a dry fit of a fin. Notice the pencil mark on the fin root edge at the break between the body tube and tail cone. Above the pencil mark, wood glue will be used for the wood/body tube joint. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 12, Masking (2016-05-17)

This is not an easy mask. The fin tips and strakes get some different paint treatment. On the right is one of the two fin tips. A single piece of Sharpie marked clear tape goes over the leading edge ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 13, Mask Reveal and Decal Trim (2016-05-19)

When removing a mask, pull the tape back over itself and away from the line. The tape is pulled and folded back over itself. For the red,I used the Rustoleum Red Metallic. I has very fine metallic ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 14, Strake Decals (2016-05-20)

The short bars center over the low end of the strakes at the red mask line. I should have looked ahead with the launch lug placement. It's right in the middle of a decal. The decal was cut to fit ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Thrustline Arapahoe C, Finished (2016-05-21)

This is one of my favorite designs and paint scheme. Brian Coyle brought his to the Orlando ROCK launch a few years back and I've wanted to build one ever since. The original Thrustline kit was ... [Read More]