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 Rocketry Product: Estes - Long Tom {Kit} (003016)

Model Rocket Building: Estes (Centuri) Long Tom Background (2016-11-27)

The next build is the Estes Long Tom, #3016 from the Estes Classic Series of kits produced in 2008. The Centuri Long Tom was introduced around 1971. This picture shows the 1972 Centuri catalog page ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 1, Parts (2016-11-28)

Here's the parts for the Long Tom build. This is another rocket I never got around to building when in my teens. I remember liking the looks of it in the Centuri catalog. Most parts are good, the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 2, Engine Mounts (2016-11-29)

If you've never built a two stage model before: The engine block (Part B) goes to the bottom of the booster. On the upper stage mount: The engine block goes to the top. It's very important to keep ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 3, Parts Prep (2016-11-30)

The nose cone was a little banged up! The tip wasn't round. One body tube end had a rough cut. Always check the tube ends and touch up with a sanding block if needed. The balsa adapter sides were ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 4, Coupler Prep (2016-12-01)

For a better slide into the upper stage tube, round off the top edge of the red coupler. Before doing the CA coat below, test fit the coupler in the main tube. Sand the coupler sides if needed for a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 5, Mount and Coupler Gluing (2016-12-02)

The sustainer engine mount got a Kevlar shock cord tied on beneath the upper ring. The long end was fed through the engine hook slot. The loop was pressed into the the glue fillet going around the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 6, Wood and Seam Fill (2016-12-05)

The fins are pretty interesting. They don't really "fit" together, the trailing edge of the sustainer fin isn't at the same angle as the leading edge of the booster fin. The sustainer fins have ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 7, Lug and Fin Positions (2016-12-06)

It pays to look ahead to the paint mask location before gluing on the lug. It's much harder to mask over the launch lug. On the top is where the instructions say to glue on the lug, 1 1/2" from the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 8, Fin Gluing and Alignment (2016-12-07)

The launch lug was glued on and got a fillet of Titebond M&TG. Before shooting the tubes with filler / primer, the fin locations got a thin line of masking tape. After the primer was sanded down ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 9, Sustainer Paint Mask (2016-12-08)

On the forums, some builders do three or fours coats of primer / filler, sanding between coats. I don't think that's necessary and adds quite a bit of weight to the rocket. After filling the wood ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 10, Black Paint (2016-12-09)

To be sure paint doesn't get in the back end of the sustainer- first small pieces of masking tape are set inside and around the tube end. A strip of paper towel is rolled up and pushed into the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 11, Screw Eye Install (2016-12-10)

To the left is the screw eye supplied in the kit. The threads are too small to effectively lock into the balsa adapter. On the right is the screw eye I replaced it with. It's the same length but the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 12, Shock Cord and Parachute Ties (2016-12-12)

The Kevlar shock cord is purposely short so it can't cut into the top of the body tube at ejection. The only way to tie on the elastic shock cord is to feed the Kevlar out the back end. The Elastic ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 13, Sustainer Decals (2016-12-13)

The large striped wrap goes all the way to the top of the upper tube. It's hard to see the the picture but the clear overcoat goes beyond the red and black edge. The inset picture shows the decal ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 14, Booster Decals (2016-12-13)

This is the booster after sanding down the rough spots of the first white coat. Hold the model up to a bright light and look for glue boogers and any raised areas in the fillets. After the paint had ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 15, Booster Decal Cheats (2016-12-14)

Here you can see the kit only supplied left side fin stripes. TIP: I picked up a trick on the Estes QCC Explorer build. Estes only supplied decals for one side of the intakes. Someone on the forums ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016 Build, Part 16, Booster Comparison (2016-12-15)

Here's how the booster came out. It still reflects the Centuri paint styles from when the kit came out in the 1970s. The inset picture shows a part of the face card art. The back end of the rocket ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom #3016, Finished (2016-12-16)

When you break it down, the Long Tom is simply a tall two-stager. It wouldn't have the same feel if the upper tube were gone and a nose cone topped off the larger tube. It's an impressive model ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Long Tom, Follow-Up - Sustainer Fin Locations? (2016-12-17)

At a recent Orlando R.O.C.K. launch, Glenn S. launched his Estes Long Tom. I looked at the fins and wondered why they were positioned up from the end of the sustainer body tube. On the left is my ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Long Tom Face Card - FINS! (2016-12-20)

After the post about the Long Tom fin position, BAR Geezer added a comment: " Did a little digging and I found a good picture of the original Centuri face card here: http://aeroconsystems.c ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Long Tom Fins - The Final Word! (2017-01-09)

With most all of the JimZ instructions back and available for viewing, I could finally check the Centuri Long Tom instructions to check the sustainer fin placement. While this step doesn't say the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Astro Baby Rocket Tips (2012-01-10)

Astro Baby (on TRF) is building his second rocket kit, the Estes Long Tom. Astro Baby's first name is Mel. Bear in mind, this is his second rocket build. I was amazed at the things he wrote about. ... [Read More]