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 Rocketry Product: Quest - Cobalt {Kit} (1021)

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 1 Parts (2011-02-06)

This may look like a standard build but we will be covering: Making your own centering rings from card stock and cereal box cardboard Making a "close" clone from a internet photograph ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 2 Getting Sizes (2011-02-07)

Please note: This model is designed, owned and Copyright by Quest Aerospace. I would hope you would buy the Quest kit or parts to make your own. I am only using it as an example of how to make a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 3 Fin Sizing (2011-02-07)

Because it is so new, the Cobalt instructions or fin patterns are not available online. We'll do the best we can from the picture on the Quest website.   The Cobalt image was ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Part 4 Engine Hook Retention (2011-02-08)

The XLEH Extended Length Engine Hook is 3" long. By gluing the engine block BELOW the upper bend of the hook, there is no chance of tearing the motor mount tube if you have a strong ejection. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 5 Engine Block (2011-02-09)

When using the Odd'l Rockets EXEH , the engine block (or thrust ring) goes under the top bend of the 3" long hook. You do have to use a 1/4" long engine block . The EXEH hook is 3" long. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Part 6 Centering Rings (2011-02-09)

I made some centering rings from Cereal Box ply. I always have some on hand for rings and fins. This thick white stock was made three ply from: 1. 110 lb. card stock glued over 2. Cereal Box card ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Part 7 Centering Rings (2011-02-10)

Cut the centers out first. Use a SHARP knife, this homemade card stock is thick!   Note that I cut INSIDE the drawn line. This is because you traced around the outside of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 8 Centering Rings (2011-02-10)

    If your knife is really sharp, you can shave off anything that is "out of round."               ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Part 9 Nose Cone Prep (2011-02-11)

  The Quest nose cones are inexpensive. They are also not perfect.   After you sand down the convex raised seam you'll still have some concave areas. Carpenter's Wood ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Part 10 Nose Cone Prep (2011-02-11)

If you ever fly the Cobalt with anything more powerful than a Quest A6-4, you'll want to open up the hole in the back of the nose cone shoulder to install clay weight.   ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 11 Body Tube Seams (2011-02-12)

I'm slowly adopting a new way to fill the body tube seams with thinned Carpenter's Wood Filler.   I now dip the tip of a hobby knife into the tube of thinned CWF. A small ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 12 Body Tube Seams (2011-02-12)

This is a technique suggested in a TRF post by Todd (Bradycros on TRF)   The filler will be "locked" into the seam with thin super glue.     I set a drop of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 13 Engine Mount Painting (2011-02-13)

The exposed end of the engine mount will be painted black. This picture isn't of the engine mount slid into the body tube, that's paper taped around the centering ring for masking. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 14 Fin Line Marking (2011-02-13)

    Some instructions tell you to extend the fin marking lines downthe entire length of the body tube.   I used the root edge of the fin as a guide for how ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Part 15 Fin Marking (2011-02-14)

Using the pencil line as a guide, lightly sand to rough up the surface for better glue adhesion.   Notice I left a little bit of the mark at the top to draw the line again. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 16 Paint Prep (2011-02-15)

After the fins are in place and the glue is dried, erase as much of the forward pencil alignment line as you can. You won't be able to erase it if there is any dried glue on the line. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 17 Masking (2011-02-16)

After the blue had thoroughly dried, I started masking for the two silver fins. While many use expensive, specialty masking tapes, I get great results using regular clear Scotch tape for color ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 18 Masking (2011-02-16)

The rest of the rocket is covered with pieces of a cut up plastic grocery bag.     You can see where masking tape was to the side of the Scotch tape already in place.   ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 19 Masking (2011-02-17)

After spraying the silver on two opposing fins, the model is left to dry.       Never touch a fin to see if it is dry! If you have to check, touch some paint on a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 20 Engine Mount Gluing (2011-02-18)

Now that the body paint is finished, the engine mount is glued in place.   Because the body tube is so short, I'll set the mount in the tube dry and add glue afterwards.   ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Build Part 21 FINISHED! (2011-02-19)

Here's how the streamer was attached to the shock cord. The streamer is only 1" wide.     Usually the snap swivel would be flipped around when using a parachute. But on this ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Clone Answers (2011-10-20)

Last year I built a clone of the new Quest Cobalt kit. I know - Why build a clone of a available kit? A few reasons: 1. I had extra Quest PNC40 nose cones and 40mm body tubing at hand. 2. I wanted a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Build Part 1 Parts (2013-01-11)

A 4FNC rocket? I always need good models for soccer field launches and I have plenty of A6-4 engines to run through. There were "gotchas" on this build and some problem solving. Many have had ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Build Part 2 Engine Mount Steps 1 - 6 (2013-01-12)

I substituted a thicker ST-7 tube for the thin yellow engine mount tube supplied with the kit. The Quest centering rings are a tight fit on the ST-7 tube, so it took a little sanding for a slip ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Build Part 3 Step 8 Gluing The Engine Mount (2013-01-13)

I'll do Step 7, marking the fin and lug locations, after the engine mount is in place. I want to use my FinTool which centers the engine hook between two fins. There was a problem with the fit ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Build Part 4 Step 7 Fin Marking OOPS! (2013-01-14)

Step 7 has you cut out the tube marking guide. As normal, wrap it around the tube and mark for the fins. I don't like cutting up instructions, I transferred the lines onto another piece of paper ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Build Part 5 Step 10 and 11 Gluing Fins and Lug (2013-01-15)

The launch lug was glued on and the body tube primed and sanded. Sometimes its easier to prime the body tube with the fins off. The fins were primed and sanded before gluing onto ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Build Part 6 Step 12 Nose Cone Fix? (2013-01-16)

After reading a few forum comments, it seems there is very little room for wadding and the streamer. With the nose cone in place, the base of the shoulder is right on top of the engine block! ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Build Part 7 Step 13-15 Paint and Decals (2013-01-17)

After the Cobalt was painted an overall white, two opposite fins were masked off. The top fin has been masked at the root edges with Scotch tape and covered with copy paper. The bottom fin has ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt - Packing the Streamer TIP (2013-01-18)

I had to be sure the streamer would be pulled out of the nose cone at ejection. Here's one easy way to get it done - Set the nose cone tip into the body tube to hold it. Stuff all the shock cord and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Build Finished! (2013-01-18)

  It's a cute little model, should be a good one for the Quest A6-4 engines I have. I'm looking forward to flying it at the small, schoolyard field. A little nose weight (a forum ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest Cobalt Evil Twin - ORANGE! (2013-01-23)

I built a second Cobalt based model at the same time the stock kit was built.   This one is ORANGE . I had an extra Quest nose cone and some 40mm body tube. All is the same ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Fixing A Fin Ding TIP (2013-03-30)

On it's first flight the Quest Cobalt had a hard landing in the street I was expecting big damage but there was just a nicked fin. Here's one way to re-paint without respraying the whole model. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Balsa Fin Lamination Clamps (2013-04-16)

Recently I made extra fins for a second Quest Cobalt model. The kit has almost 1/8" thick fins. I only had 1/16" balsa on hand. Two pieces of 1/16" balsa were cut for each fin. These were glued ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: EBAY? Oh Come On! (2014-09-06)

A Quest Cobalt for a Buy-It-Now price of $29.99 - for a $10.00 kit? Sorry, I didn't notice that includes Free Shipping.   [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Not Enough Room? TIP (2015-01-07)

Occasionally you are stuck with a short model without much room for a parachute and wadding. If you have a plastic nose cone you can use the hollow interior for most of your parachute and shock ... [Read More]