All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Estes - Klingon Battle Cruiser {Kit} (1274) [1992-1996]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 1, Parts (2015-12-08)

This should be a fun build featuring everybody's favorite - vacu-form plastic! This version came out around the year 2000, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the original Estes kit from 1975. Back then ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 2, Vacu-Form Parts Cutting (2015-12-09)

Many builders run into problems cutting vacu-form plastic pieces off the sheet. The main points to remember are - take your time, use a new blade and don't try to cut through with a single pass of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 3, Vacu-Form Parts Cutting (2015-12-11)

Make light cut passes until you can easily crack off the scrap sides. If it doesn't crack easily, lightly score it with your knife again. Work in small sections, don't try to cut the entire shape ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 4, Engine Mount (2015-12-12)

After all the cutting and sanding of the vacu-form parts, I needed a break and moved onto the engine mount. It's a typical 20/50 engine mount, the only typical thing on this rocket. The split 20/50 ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 5, Die Crushed Balsa (2015-12-14)

The 3/32" balsa is die cut. The cuts were very shallow, not even through to the other side. The only way to see the cut lines was to flex the sheet. You kids don't know how good you have it today ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 6, Filling Gaps (2015-12-15)

I didn't sand down the edges of the filler pieces that would fit into the bottom of the primary hull top. You can see how badly they fit into the vacu-form piece. The instructions say to sand and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 7, More Details (2015-12-16)

Two small detail pieces go on the underside of the primary hull. Why these couldn't have been made on the vacu-form sheet is beyond me. Check out the sanded "diamond " shape. I'll give it a try ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 8, Balsa Filling (2015-12-17)

I'm building two Klingon models at the same time. There is a LOT of balsa to fill. First up are the small detail pieces that go under the primary hull. Masking tape was set down sticky side up. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 9, Adapter Shoulder Filling TIP (2015-12-18)

The balsa adapter shoulders aren't sharp but rounded over. I've already done the wider base of the adapter, this post will show how to build up the top. On the left side, CWF has been brushed just ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 10, Hanger Side Pieces (2015-12-30)

These are the hanger side pieces before the flat base is glued on. I took this picture to show how thin the vacu-form walls are. After the flat plastic base (cut off the master sheet in Step 1) is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 11, Warp Drive Assembly (2015-12-31)

This shot from the instructions shows how the warp drive is assembled. A small BT-2 body tube is glued inside the two halves for strength. The line at the pylon cut out notch isn't straight. This ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 12, Warp Drive Assembly (2016-01-01)

The BT-2 tube was pressed into an oval shape to lower its height and allow the vacu-form half edges to meet. There are still some ball point pen ink marks on the edges. Before gluing the two sides ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 13, Access Boom Detail Piece (2016-01-02)

The small access boom detail piece fits over the lower BT-50 tube. I was surprised the instructions didn't mention sanding the bottom to fit the tube curve. There is a curve in the piece after it is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser, #1274, Build Part 14, Primary Hull Halves (2016-01-04)

The back end of the primary hull halves is cut out to wrap around the forward BT-5 tube. I found it easier to stand the half on end and score it from the inside. Wrap the BT-5 section with 220 grit ... [Read More]

Shroudlines: este tlhlngan may'Duj! (The Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser!) (2017-05-17)

A couple of days ago, James Helman (of NAR Facebook group fame) mentioned that he would like to build an old Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser. This simple statement resulted in a thread that covered ... [Read More]

Rich's Rockets: Estes Klingon Battle Cruiser (2018-07-03)

I think I have this right: there were some things donated to our neighboring club, MARS, and they chose to pass them on to the Syracuse Rocket Club, which met last night. “Things” mostly ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: BIG NEWS - Madcow Instructions! (2015-12-10)

You might have noticed only one blog post per day lately.  I've been busy . . . I'm proud to announce my association with Madcow Rocketry . I've been drawing up new assembly instructions for ... [Read More]