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 Rocketry Product: Estes - Corvette Class {Kit} (7281) [2019-]

Model Rocket Building: More Upcoming Estes Kits! (2019-10-03)

Now on the Estes website - Coming Soon page: CLICK HERE #7281 Space Corps Corvette Class 25" tall, BT-55 based " The first release in a new Estes series, the Estes Space Corps." More Space Corps ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes New Kit Poster (2019-10-17)

From TRF, CoModelBuilder showed a poster featuring the upcoming Estes kits: The Orange Bullet is small with tumble/featherweight recovery. Enlarge the picture and you can see the weights on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Part 2, Engine Mount & Fins (2019-11-13)

This was a pre-production build, some parts may have slight changes before the kit goes into full production. The engine mount centering rings had a slot cut for engine hook movement. There is no ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Part 1, Parts (2019-11-14)

This should have been the first post! That's what I get for posting these after Midnight. I'll put them in the correct order tomorrow - This is a 25" tall, BT-55 based model with three fins. 18mm ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Part 3, Fin Details (2019-11-15)

There are four pieces of launch lugs in the kit. Three shorter lugs are used for the fin details (guns) The fourth is the longer 1/8" standard lug to slide down the launch rod. Here I've slid the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Part 4, Nose Cone, L. Lug and Fin Gluing (2019-11-16)

I noticed a slight lip on the tip of the molded nose cone. It was sanded and the tip rounded. This is injected molded, not a blow molded nose cone. There are no seams down the sides! It was very ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Part 5, Details Gluing & Masking (2019-11-17)

The fin detail lugs are easy to glue on crooked. Look at them directly from the side to be sure they are straight on the outside edge of the fin. The dowel "guns" are sprayed gloss red off the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Part 6, Details & Decals (2019-11-18)

The fin detail "guns" are slid in place and glued at the ends. Check the exposed ends to make sure that the rear end of the red gun extends 1/2" out the back. The front exposure is longer. I really ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Finished (Almost!) (2019-11-19)

This is a sharp rocket, built around the strong BT-55 tube. As explained earlier, the decals weren't applied awaiting the minor corrections. It reminds me of some other classic models that had many ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Part 7, Decals (2019-11-20)

The Space Corps build just "finished" on the blog was a Pre-Production Sample (P.P.S.) build that went back to Estes without decals. There was a slight mistake in the decals. I would assume - before ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Part 8, Decals (2019-11-21)

Here's the upper wrap decal. Look close and you can see the center pencil line from the last post. On the back side there is an overlap. TIP: The paper towel is stuffed in the top of the body tube ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Space Corps Corvette Class, #7281 Build, Finished (2019-11-22)

Decals really make the finished model! Any more decor and it might be too much. As mentioned earlier - try one soaking and transferring one decal. If they seem too thin or hard to work with, spray ... [Read More]