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 Rocketry Product: Estes - Dragon Ship 7 {Kit} (1345) [1980-1981]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7, #1345, Background (2018-06-01)

This model build was a request. It's been a while, I get around to them sooner or later! There's not much background information on this rocket. I had left the hobby in the late 1970s, on the road ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 1, Canopy Patterns (2018-06-02)

I didn't include an "all parts picture" on this build. It was assembled over time when I was waiting for parts to arrive. A clone kit is available through a vendor but I thought I could put it ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 2, Engine Mount (2018-06-03)

Lots of parts! This is just the engine mount - Standard 2 3/4" engine hook, engine block, 6 3/4" long BT-20D engine tube Two 20/60 centering rings Short BT-20AE spacer tube 1 1/2" long Nine (count ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 3, Engine Mount (2018-06-04)

The lower notched ring is slid down from the top until it rests on the top of the spacer tube. The retainer ring was glued on top of that. The original kit didn't have an engine block. I added one, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 4, Engine Mount (2018-06-05)

As each tube was glued on, I checked to be sure the ends were even with the central BT-20 engine tube. The engine hook is hanging over the back edge of the sanding block. I'm not sanding here, the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 5, Engine Mount Painting (2018-06-06)

I've jumped way ahead in the instructions. The engine mount and motor tube assembly is sprayed silver, then glued into the model after the main body is painted. This shows the first coat of silver ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 6, Fin Prepping (2018-06-06)

There is a lot of balsa on this model! Those small pieces in the bag are the launch lug "gun" stand offs. Those weren't on the JimZ templates. I took my best guess as to their length and height. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 8, Fin Gluing and Canopy (2018-06-07)

The fins were glued on using my Odd'l Rockets FinTool. (Yes, I may finally have the FinTool available after NARAM!) Notice the engine hook through the bottom slot in the FinTool base. On a regular ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 7, Fin Prepping (2018-06-08)

Well, I got a post out of order again! That's what I get for staying up late - I'll put them in the right order in a few days. Three pieces of balsa are laminated to make the gun housings on the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 9, Canopy Fin Fitting (2018-06-09)

After a dry fit of of the top canopy fin, I found the notch wasn't high enough. I didn't want to cut into the fin, so I glued a shim under the back. The shim was sanded, filled and the entire fin ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 10, Removable Fin Fitting (2018-06-11)

You can almost see the curvature sanded into the root edge of the bottom removable fin. Earlier the side pieces were glued on a little higher than the root edge of the center fin. This allowed me to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 11, Nose Cone Weight (2018-06-12)

The Semroc parts list shows a clay nose cone weight. It's listed as the original parts number CB-M4 at 6 grams. Notice this is the "4" designation. Looking at the Estes Custom Parts Catalog, nose ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 12, Paint! (2018-06-13)

The model got an overall shot of gloss white and some smooth sanding. This was repeated two more times. I tried to find a lighter gray than what I had on hand. I took the plastic cap from a can of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 13, Rivet Line Decals (2018-06-14)

There are lots of rivet lines on the model. Measure and cut one to size. You can cut a second decal to the same length. When fitting decals between the fins you will always have two equal lengths on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 14, More Decals (2018-06-15)

The wing decals are slightly different size. Be sure to check the width of the rear skid fins. The get the wider wing decal. The smaller wing decal goes on the dorsal fin under the canopy. Here's ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Dragon Ship 7 #1345, Part 15, Gun Trim (2018-06-16)

The masking tape strip on the launch lug gun standoff was lifted. The paint lip was sanded smooth. The guns were painted metallic black instead of just gloss black. The clear red decal stripes won't ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Decal PDFs For Patreon Support Members (2020-08-13)

Here's a list of the Print at Home PDF decals  available to  Patreon Supporters: PATREON DECAL PDFs ESTES Estes Green Eggs Scrambler K-37, #1237 Decal .pdf Makes the Estes Green Eggs kit ... [Read More]