All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Estes - Interceptor {Kit} (1250) [2008-2011,2019-]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build, Background (2016-06-13)

We first saw the Interceptor on the cover of the 1971 Estes Catalog. Graphically the cover was pretty exciting, placing the finished model over an eclipse. It showed us just enough to raise ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 1, Parts (2016-06-14)

Most parts were good - some were just okay. The plastic parts were very well molded. The 18" parachute was in a pattern I hadn't seen before. I'm building two Interceptors. One kit BT-55 was ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 2, Engine Mount (2016-06-15)

The face card is an actual picture of a finished model build, not a CG image. The wind pod "root edge" is raised off the outside edge of the wing. I'll try to get a better fit here. I'll be using my ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 3, Engine Mount (2016-06-16)

To find the length of the swab tube, do a dry fit of all the engine mount parts. For now I used the Mylar ring to hold the engine hook in place. The instructions have you glue the upper ring flush ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 4, Tube Fix (2016-06-17)

The crimped tube was cut in two at the center of the bent area. The black coupler seemed loose so a wrap of copy paper was glued over the outside to widen the O.D. Note the pencil mark to align the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 5, Fin Gluing and Shaping (2016-06-18)

The instructions say to round the leading edges and taper the trailing edges. I can't see any reason to taper the trailing edges. This heavy model won't gain any extra altitude by airfoiling the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 6, Wood and Tube Seam Filling (2016-06-19)

Thinned CWF was brushed over the fins before gluing onto the body tube. Look close, the wood grain is raised. This might lead to additional filling later on. Here's a good example of the inside ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 7, Primer and Fixes (2016-06-20)

After the Primer/Filler was shot, some balsa grain remained. Enlarge the picture to see the open pores. CWF was rubbed into the grain and sanded smooth. Another primer coat followed with more ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 8, Engine Mount Gluing and Nose Cone Seams (2016-06-21)

TIP: Glue the engine mount in BEFORE marking the tube for the fins. It's easier to simply glue the mount in without worrying about lining up the engine hook with the launch lug line. Glue in the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 9, Fin Gluing (2016-06-22)

The fin lines were marked and the glue lines were sanded down to the tube. The sanded area was wide enough for the fin width and glue fillets. After sanding off the pencil lines they were re-drawn ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 10, Fin Gluing (2016-06-23)

Here's all the fins in place, viewed from the rear. The six fins are not spaced at 60 degree intervals. Note the wing fins are not evenly placed but slightly below the center line of the body tube. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 11, Fillets (2016-06-24)

The fin root edges were glued on with yellow Carpenter's Glue. I don't initially use much, this way I can remove and re-position the fin if it ended up out of line. A fillet of Carpenter's Wood Glue ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 12, White Paint Sanding (2016-06-25)

After filling with CWF and sanded down primer/filler I had a lot of raised grain. This really shows up on the first white undercoat. In addition to the raised grain there was some open grain pores ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 13, Parachute Fix Tips (2016-06-26)

After a good tug, the shroud lines on the pre-assembled parachute seemed pretty strong. The reinforcement disks were peeling off! They also tore easily telling me they were paper. The disks will be ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 14, Wing Pod Gluing (2016-06-27)

The two piece wing pods were glued on with the Beacon Fabri-Tac Glue. If any of this thick glue squeezes out, wipe it away immediately. It is a bit gummy going on and dries hard. After drying, the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 15, Masking The Wing Pod (2016-06-28)

There are a lot of root edges and nooks to get paint on evenly. As careful as I was to get full coverage there was still a few spots near the wing pods that didn't enough white paint. Rusto 2X ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 16, Painting The Wing Pod (2016-06-29)

Plastic grocery bags were used to cover up the rest of the body. Near the pods you can see the brown masking tape that goes on after the Scotch tape and holds the bags on the body. Here's one of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 17, Antenna and Tail Cone Painting (2016-06-30)

You can paint the tailcone off the model. This will save you from any masking around all the raised vanes. Some masking tape was rolled around the shoulder. The overhanging tape was slit a few times ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 18, Oh, Those Decals! (2016-06-30)

The instructions say to start applying the bottom decals first. The Bottom View was a bit confusing, the image was flipped. You'll definitely want the USAF and stars and bars decals on the opposite ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 19, More Decals (2016-07-01)

From the Estes instructions you can see how the long decal splits by the yellow bar. Neither side is actually centered at the word space. I probably should have set the yellow band down ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 20, Oops, More Decals! (2016-07-02)

I couldn't figure out why this decal was so tall. It didn't make much sense why it would roll over onto the sub fins. I set it place and made a fingernail crease at the lower fillet. The decal was ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 21, Canopy Decals and a Fix (2016-07-04)

I sure some are thinking - "Why so many posts on the Interceptor decals? The decals were one of the big features of the kit - two big sheets. Next to the Citation Patriot, few kits had this many ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 22, Pod Decals (2016-07-05)

The wing pods were painted fluorescent "Rocket Red". The spray paint came from Ace hardware. As mentioned earlier, I thought the color was more of an orange than a red. Looking at the catalogs, I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 23, Misc. Details Part A (2016-07-06)

Sometimes I build two models at a time. The better of the two will be sold on Ebay, the other becomes part of my active fleet. I'll be keeping the model with this wrinkly nose cone. TIP: Paint on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Part 24, Misc. Details Part B (2016-07-07)

This was interesting, I didn't notice until the clear coat was being applied. The recommended engines are set into a decal. You'd have to look twice to find them. I used the Beacon Fabri-Tac glue to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Interceptor Build #1250, Finished (2016-07-08)

This was and still is a great design. While the overall look is strong, the decals really make the model. I was surprised, my finished weight was 3.8 oz. a little less than the face card weight of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Upcoming Estes Releases - (2018-10-20)

On TRF, Turbofireball posted this: My local hobby shop showed me this info today regarding new Estes kits: EST-0865 Mini Mean Machine Model Rocket Kit (Skill Level 1) $14.99  EST-1250 ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Interceptor - It's Coming Back! (2018-12-11)

  Dan Winings posted the news on the NAR Facebook page: Estes knows their best sellers - To see the the Estes Website listing: CLICK HERE   Looks like Estes might be using ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: A Late, But Cool Christmas Gift (2021-01-11)

 Because of Covid precautions a couple of weeks ago, we missed a few family members at our Christmas celebration. Yesterday, we were finally able to get with them for a 2nd Christmas at the ... [Read More]

RocketReviews.com Blog: Some Great Online Rocketry Deals (2012-12-21)

Amazon currently has a few Estes kits at 50% or more off the MSRP. Visit the Rocketry Deals Finder for links to the kits.   Bellevue Hobby Center is offering the Estes Interceptor E kit ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sirius Interrogator Build Finished (2013-07-13)

From the Sirius website, David Miller wrote this about his line of kits: . . . "These really are the sort of things I loved to build in the "Golden years" of Estes and Centuri, and I am trying to ... [Read More]

Rocketeer's Corner: Pics from Saturday's launch... (2017-10-01)

Duane's Estes Make-It-Take-It leaves the rod on an A8-3 (Click to enlarge). Saturday's launch did not just involve the TARC Geezers; quite a few other folk joined us at Pegasus, many bringing ... [Read More]