All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Keeping Filler in the Body Tube Seams (2010-10-13)

It's frustrating when Carpenter's Wood Filler pops out of the body tube seams. Depending on the width and depth of the seam, results are unpredictable. This is an adaption from ideas suggested ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: CWF Filler Mix Ratio for Body Tube Seams (2011-11-03)

I've never had great luck filling body tube seams with Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler or C.W.F. About this time last year I tried to find a good mix ratio of CWf and water. Here's the post from ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Filling Body Tube Seams (2011-12-13)

This has been covered before. I'm re-writing the entry as some may have some problems with it. Don't just look at the pictures - be sure to read the copy! I've seen a few pictures posted of seams ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sanding CWF in Body Tube Seams TIPS (2013-10-01)

If you can feel the body tube seams with a fingernail, the seam will show after color coats are applied. It's hard to see the seams, especially on the white tubes. Lately I've been dragging a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Filling Body Tube Seams TIPS (2013-10-29)

For filling body tube seams, I was mixing the CWF a little thicker than what was used for balsa grain filling. The thicker filling didn't seem to chip out of the seams when sanding to surface. I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Why A BT-56? (2016-12-28)

On TRF, Cavecentral wondered about the origin of the Estes BT-56 tube size. "What is the difference between BT-55 and BT-56? Even BMS doesn't have BT-56. I doubt I'll need one unless I find a cone ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: That 1090 Tubing? (2017-03-31)

The "Coming Soon" kit, the Airwaker, has that interesting, thick walled 1090 body tube. In the comments section, Anonymous said: "About the tubing....that's likely HBT-1090, which Estes used in ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Kit Body Tube Lengths? (2018-12-10)

On YORF, Scott M asked: Is there a kit by kit list of the body tubes used, and lengths, in a similar way to the published pdf for Estes kits? I have had need lately to look up 3 different Centuri ... [Read More]

Improbable Ventures: High power rocket construction: part 3 (rocket body) (2019-12-05)

The motor mount is built, and the fins are attached. (Note: sometimes this part of the rocket is also called a “fin can.”) What next, you ask? Well, next, the motor mount or fin can goes ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: I Wish They Didn't Do That - Laser Cut Tubes and Launch Lugs (2020-01-02)

I'm not naming names -  I can understand laser cutting balsa, but body tubes and launch lugs? A few vendors are cutting tubes using lasers. This chars and leaves a rough edge, especially on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: CA Glue On Tube Ends? (2020-05-06)

Some builders get carried away with CA Glue (Super Glue) reinforcement of body tube ends. I've seen a forum post where the builder was letting the CA glue run down inside the tube. He was doing ... [Read More]

Improbable Ventures: How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 3: airframe prep (2020-05-21)

My first couple of posts related to the Darkstar Extreme were just recapping my progress in high power rocketry to date, and outlining everything that’s needed in order to build this ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sanded & Square Body Tube Ends TIP (2020-07-28)

From TRF, Hooked On Rockets Posted his tip for sanding the ends flat on a cut tube. "So if you are talking about making true edges to match up with each other, you could do this: Glue up some ... [Read More]

Thrifty Rocketeer: How to slot a body tube (2021-02-28)

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues.... Have I ever mentioned how hard it is, coming up with new topics all the time? Well it is.   I usually just let my mind wander, and it's a ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Another 'Found' Rocket Part. (2023-07-21)

 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 ... [Read More]