All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Old Enerjet Engine (2018-02-23)

  I only have two original Enerjet engines, both are E24-7s meant for my Enerjet Nike Smoke. This one has a hand written number on it, "477". You'd think that might mean April of 1977, ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Smoking Nike Smoke nose cone (2009-11-17)

Along with my MLAS kits, I picked up a couple of Nike Smoke cones and some T35 tubing.  Rokitflite gave me some fin cans a while back and I finally decided to get some compatible parts. The ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Smoking Nike Smoke nose cone - cont'd (2009-11-18)

Here's how the Enerjet Nike Smoke cone worked. --^ I removed the tip of the Quest cone and reamed it so an Estes launch lug will fit.  I will adapt the lug to a slightly larger tube to recreate ... [Read More]

Bayourat Aerospace Blog: Paavo John Rahkonen dies at age 79 (2010-01-18)

Saturday, January 16, 2010  > Paavo John Rahkonen 1930-2009 OGDEN, Utah USA — After three years of battling a rare incurable blood disease, American solid ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Old Range Box Part 2 (2010-07-30)

Check out the old stickers on the inside lid! Those go back to NARAM 17 and 18. The upper shelf holds (clockwise from the upper left) 1. Engine mount adapters and heavy twine. 2. Igniters from Estes ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 Build Part 1 (2010-08-12)

Parts for the Enerjet 1340. The shorter body tube at the top with the Centuri Rockets sticker will be replaced with the body tube below the nose cone. Everything is here except for the Kevlar, shock ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 Build Part 2 (2010-08-12)

The MARS package contained the plastic fin can from the Centuri Argus kit from 1973. The same fin unit and nose cone was also used in the Centuri Phoenix Bird, Estes Maniac and still part of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 Build Part 3 (2010-08-13)

The nose cone is 6.4" long just like the 1340 specifications. The MARS Project nose cone is molded together with a coupler. The MARS instructions say to simply "wiggle the nose cone/ connector unit ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 Build Part 4 (2010-08-13)

I wanted to use Es and Fs like the original Enerjet 1340 line but with currently available 24mm engines. A heavy duty BT -50 was cut to 3 3/4" for the engine tube. The tubing was marked at 1/4" for ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 Build Part 5 Coupler (2010-08-14)

I didn't want to use the plastic coupler that was molded to the nose cone. Making something close to the original would take a little extra work. The Enerjet assembly drawing shows a blow-molded ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 Build Part 6 Painting Plan (2010-08-16)

Painting the back end of the 1340 will be a bit tricky. Here's a dry fit of the fin can. In the end, the fin can will be white. The inside diameter of the fin can is slightly wider at it's back end. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 Paint Schemes Part 7 (2010-08-17)

Bob (Initiator001 from YORF ) said it would be okay to show his three versions of the Enerjet 1340. Thanks Bob! From left to right: This prototype version was seen on the cover of the Enerjet flyer ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 Build Monokote Trim Part 8 (2010-08-17)

I was lucky to find Monokote Trim today at a local hobby store. The only gold sheet they had was old. I hoped the bends and creases wouldn't show on the finished model. The aluminum sheet looked ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 build Monokote Trim Part 8 (2010-08-17)

I've already placed the 1/2" band of aluminum trim on the lower end of the body tube. The fin can was slid down to the 1/2" trim band. The largest aluminum trim is last, by now I've had practice for ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Enerjet 1340 Build Finished! Part 9 (2010-08-17)

Here's the model FINISHED! Well Almost - Where is that old decal sheet of Enerjet logos? [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Reviews: Three Nike Smoke-like objects (2011-01-27)

This post describes: a Quest Nike Smoke modified for 29mm motors; a cloned, stretched Smoke with a functional nose cone; and some Nike Smoke parts merged with a Tiny Tim booster. Nike Smoke (29mm) ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Part 1 Parts (2012-05-01)

The original Centuri kit had an ST-13 tube, larger diameter than the BT-55 tube in the kit. The Centuri Phoenix Bird was 26.3", this reissue kit is 24" tall. The fins are based on the old Enerjet ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Screaming Eagle Background (2014-08-17)

Introduced in the 1973 Centuri Catalog, the Screaming Eagle was kit #KF-3 and sold for $2.00. The Screaming Eagle was released at the same time as another ARTF model, the Centuri Argus that used the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Rocketry Resolutions for 2015 (2015-01-01)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! A few things I need to work on in the new year: 1. Don't buy any more new kits! Avoid the Estes sales, you have Cosmic Explorers already. 2. Get my first 24/40 ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: RMS? Whaa . . . (2015-02-01)

I know, I've gone over to the dark side. Not really, I had launched a few Enerjet E engines in the late 1970s. I ordered this 24/40 reloadable engine casing for use in some heavier models that ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Coming Soon from Estes (2015-06-27)

Estes has some new kits unveiled in their Coming Soon page - CLICK HERE  A larger Maxi-Brute sized HONEST JOHN was shown at a past NARAM. This one is smaller, BT-60 based. To me, a more ... [Read More]

Rocketeer's Corner: Breaking news from the rocket vendors! (Part 2) (2020-07-29)

One of the best features of the NAR manufacturer's forum is that you are exposed to new ideas and products beyond your normal hobby experience. This was the case for me and vendor #6, Cris Erving of ... [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]

Model Rocket Building: NARCON Manufacturers Forum (2021-01-30)

The "virtual" NARCON is actually a great value at $25.00, considering you usually pay for  gas, hotel and food.  The Zoom style broadcast had some issues. T he format is fairly new to all ... [Read More]