All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Estes - Black Brant II {Kit} (1958) [2001-2003]

Shroudlines: Three Rockets, Chosen At Random... (2016-10-13)

Ok, not exactly at random, but close. When I went to write this week's blog, I began to think about all the cool kits that, for one reason or another, I have never built. So, I went to my rocket ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Background (2019-02-23)

The Estes Black Brant II kit was available from 1986 - 1998. This model was the second design from the Canadian sounding rocket program. I always thought it was a clean, classic look with a very ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 1 Parts (2019-02-24)

Initially the parts seemed to be of good quality. I'll get into the concerns later on. The newer kit had a blue engine mount tube, the older kit had the stronger brown tube. Parts of interest from ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 2, Engine Mount (2019-02-25)

The tail cone ends up as two separate pieces. Double check the instructions to be sure you don't cut it apart in the wrong place. I used my razor saw to cut off the ends. Notice where I am pointing ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 3, Engine Mount (2019-02-26)

Mentioned earlier - The instructions say to open up the small end of the tail cone until the yellow tube slides in. Mine did, but just to double check I tried to slide a D engine in. It didn't fit! ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 4, Engine Mount (2019-02-27)

The instructions imply that you should glue the low end of the short BT-55 tail cone tube first. You do want to put the bead of glue on the tube so nothing squeezes out when the parts are slid ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 5, Fin Tapers (2019-02-28)

Both the kits had die-cut balsa. The blades must of had been dull - the cuts didn't got all the way through on both sheets. This is why you had to stack and sand fins! Look at the die-crush on the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 6, Fin Tapers & Fit (2019-03-01)

Set the fin face flat on the sanding block to see if the side is flat. Look close and you can see the root and outside ends are slightly raised. A little more sanding was needed through the center ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 7, Tail Cone Recess Fin Fit (2019-03-02)

After the fins are glued on the instructions have you carve and glue small wood triangles into the tail cone recess ring. I didn't like the step: "When glue is dry cut away the excess balsa." I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 8, Tail Cone Recess Fin Fit (2019-03-03)

Small triangular pieces were cut with a single edge razor blade. These were cut oversize so some would stick out on either side of the fin face. The fin was set against the body tube and tail cone ... [Read More]

Rocket N00b: Estes Black Brant II Coming Back! (2019-03-05)

The new Estes catalog came out today , and among other things, they're bringing back the Black Brant II, a scale model of the Canadian sounding rocket. I love BT-55 sized rockets, and I love the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 9, Antennas (2019-03-06)

It looks like the Black Brant II will be returning as a kit. It is listed in the new 2019 Estes catalog. The catalog picture doesn't show the antennas, they may not be in the new version of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 10, Antennas (2019-03-07)

Here's one of the antennas in place. The picture at the right shows the coupler inside the tube holding the upper bend of the antenna in place. The plan is to set the couplers in the holes then glue ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 11, Fin Gluing (2019-03-08)

TIP: Keep small parts in bags until they are ready for gluing on the model. Anything that can fall on the floor or roll off your work table. In this bag are four antennas (one extra) and the short ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 12, Paint Masking (2019-03-09)

This is one of the few scale models that uses gloss paint. On the left, look close near the root edge of the fin. After filling and priming, there is still some balsa grain showing through. I rubbed ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 13, Paint Masking (2019-03-10)

Regular brown masking tape is used between the fins making sure to cover any open areas on the body tube. The rest of the body tube was covered with a square of plastic cut from a grocery bag. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 14, Decal Placement (2019-03-11)

The Estes instructions show the decal placement using three pictures of the finished model. Each picture is rotated 120 degrees to the left. I found the pictures confusing, almost as tough as the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 15, Decals (2019-03-12)

Here's the first vertical bar placement, centered between two fins. If you were to turn the rocket to the left and the next two facing fins, the next vertical bar is placed just to the right of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Part 16, Decal Fix (2019-03-13)

In the last post I mentioned these decals were old and brittle. Trying to fit this lower vertical strip over the root edge didn't go well. I printed up some home decals with many extra vertical ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Black Brant II Kit #1958 Build, Finished (2019-03-14)

I've always liked the looks of this one. With Estes reissuing the kit, I hope there are water slide decals. The later version of the kit had stickers. I don't see antennas in the new 2019 catalog ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: New Estes Black Brant II, Changes Part 1, Fins & Tail Cone (2019-09-01)

Here's the instructions from the older Black Brant II kit. On the tail cone there is a recessed ring. This leaves a gap at the root edge of the fin. You are directed to make a triangle shaped piece ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: New Estes Black Brant II, Changes Part 2, Antennas (2019-09-02)

In the previous version of the kit, you surface or end glue toothpicks to the outside of the upper body tube. It's recommended that this antenna assembly be used for display, you were given another ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: New Estes Black Brant II, Changes Part 3, Decals (2019-09-03)

From a previous Black Brant II build from last March - I drew the roll pattern out "flat" to show how the vertical bars would sit. This seemed to be easier to follow than the 1/4 turn pictures in ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: New Estes Black Brant II, Changes Part 4, Decals (2019-09-04)

On this build I set the launch lug behind the name decals so you would see the C.A.R.D.E. names when the rocket is on the launcher. The problem was - on the other side you end up with a launch ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: New EBAY Items (2014-09-04)

I've put up some rocketry items for bidding on EBAY. First is the Estes Black Brant III made from the nose and tail cone from the Crossfire kit. CLICK HERE Fins are cut from basswood and scale ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Kit Fin Stock Thicknesses (2014-10-08)

In a recent post I made a judgement about the thickness of the Estes Black Brant III kit fin thickness. I was building a semi-scale model using the Estes instructions and information from Rocket ... [Read More]