All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Aerospace Specialty Products - D-Region Tomahawk (13mm) {Kit} (KDRT-13)

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 1, Parts (2018-02-03)

I've always like the D Region Tomahawk, a clean looking sounding rocket. The first on I put together was the old Competition Model Rocket version. I remember (unsuccessfully) trying to emboss rivets ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 2, Shock Cord & Engine Block (2018-02-05)

That craft stick is used to apply glue inside the body tube. Mark the depth for the glue bead. Apply a drop of glue and rotate the stick end in the body tube. It'll probably take a few applications ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 3, Fin Shaping (2018-02-07)

Here's two fins, one right off the sheet and the second after light sanding with 400 grit on a block. The laser "smoking" should be taken off. You can round the leading edges but I'm going for the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 4, Fin Shaping (2018-02-08)

When sanding a fin taper it's hard to see the edges on basswood or balsa. Here's one way to give a high contrast for a sharper sanded  line. You'll be using a permanent marker on the leading ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 5, Seam Fills (2018-02-09)

The nose cone is lightly sanded before filling. TIP: Don't round off the tip! Press the nose cone tip into your fingertip so the sandpaper can't roll over the top. TIP: A bit of the CWF was brushed ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 6, Filling the Nose Cone and Fins (2018-02-10)

Both the tube and nose cone got a good single coat of Duplicolor Primer/Filler. Before sanding is on the left, after sanding is on the right. The fins were set on a piece of cardboard. Hold them ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 7, Fin Gluing and Fillets (2018-02-14)

The rear root edge fin cut is set 1/4" up from the rear end of the body tube. To make it easier to line up, a pencil line was drawn at the end of the root edge. Fins and the launch lug were glued ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 8, Paint and New Paint (2018-02-15)

I've finally given up on Rustoleum 2X paint! Over the past year, their gloss white has been iffy - some cans seem to be fine, others spatter or spray a rough coating. Even if you wait for the paint ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 9, First Mask (2018-02-16)

Here's the D Region Tomahawk picture from the ASP website. Three black fins, one red fin. The upper body tube has two red sections. Above the nose cone shoulder is a brown band. The nose cone gets a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 10, More Masking (2018-02-16)

A brown band goes on the base of the nose cone, 7/32" above the  shoulder lip. On the left the nose cone has been lightly marked with pencil in four locations around the nose cone. I use more ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 11, Fin Masking (2018-02-18)

The D Region Tomahawk has three black fins and one red fin. Here's the mask for the single red fin. On the left is the Scotch tape surrounding the root edges. In the second picture a grocery bag is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 12, Fin Plates (2018-02-19)

I probably could have sanded and shot the black root edges again but thought I'd take the easier way out. Most of the root edges will be covered by a fin plate decal so it doesn't have to be ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 13, New Fin Plates (2018-02-20)

I looked back at the Estes Tomahawk instructions and Peter Alway's Rockets Of The World for more information on the fin plate shape. The plates are slightly raised above the body tube so I decided ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 14, Folding and Cutting the Fin Plates (2018-02-20)

Emboss the fold lines before cutting out the fin plates. It's easier to make the fold lines while the pieces are still on the larger paper. I'm using the tip of a butter knife, the flat area above ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 15, Fin Plate Forming and Adhesion (2018-02-21)

Bend the long (already embossed) sides over a straight edge. You should be able to set the metal edge of a ruler into the embossed line. Press up with your fingertips. Crease the entire length of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 16, Fin Plate Setting and Streamer (2018-02-21)

The backs of the card stock fin plates were sprayed with 3M 77 adhesive spray. Here's how the plates fit around the curve of the tube and with the folds tucked into the fin root edges. The great ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build, Part 17, Nose Cone Tip Paint (2018-02-22)

Just the very tip of the nose cone is brown. The instructions say you could dip the nose cone tip in paint, it's worth a try. The same brown from the nose cone base was sprayed into a baggie set in ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP D Region Tomahawk Build,Finished (2018-02-23)

All my experiences building and launching ASP kits has been very positive. The D Region Tomahawk has always been a favorite, very clean lines. This BT-5 based model should perform well even with a ... [Read More]