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 Rocketry Product: Estes - Low-Boom SST {Kit} (7289) [2020-]

Model Rocket Building: New Estes Kits & Release Dates (2019-10-13)

On Facebook, Jesse Ulibarra posted pictures from the Estes booth at the Rocky Mountain Hobby Expo -  On the upper left - The Low Boom SST, to be released February 2020 On the right - the LEO ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 1, Parts (2020-02-24)

Here's another new kit design from Estes. It's BT-55 based and uses the interceptor nose cone. It's a builder's kit, some extra time will be spent on the jet engine assemblies. All the parts - ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 2, Parts Prep (2020-02-25)

I've mentioned this before - Laser cut parts are cut at an angle. The top of the sheet is the fine, narrow cut line, on the bottom of the sheet the line is wider and diffused. The thicker the balsa ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 3, Gluing Up The Wings (2020-02-26)

The two piece large wing was glued up against a straightedge. On this pre-production kit, the root edge wasn't quite flat. Not a big deal, the glued up root edge could be sanded flat with a block. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 5, Jet Engines Assembly (2020-02-28)

Before adding the stringers, the assembly top and bottom were sanded smooth. Use a sanding block here with 220 grit sandpaper. The small stringer notches are cut square by the laser. These have to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 6, Jet Engines Assembly (2020-02-29)

The curved side supports are glued on both sides of the center strut. After the supports were in the correct position, tweezers held them tight on the sides as the glue set up. Here's my first CWF ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 7, Jet Engines Assembly (2020-03-01)

Here's a dry fit of the upper card stock cover piece. Notice how the center is higher than the sides. On the left is the front view, on the right is the back view. The card stock piece overlaps a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 8, Jet Engines Assembly (2020-03-02)

I trimmed off the card stock from the front of the engines but left the overhang on the rear. I simply thought it looked better that way. Here I'm rounding the edges on the front of the intakes. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 9, Wings & Tail Cone (2020-03-03)

I know, I've been bouncing around on this one - Back to the wings. The wings and rudders were sprayed with filler/primer after they had a coat of CWF and sanding. There are two rudders shown - ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 10, Tail Cone Forming (2020-03-04)

The centering ring with the "O" burned into it is the larger disk, the one that fits into the top wide end of the shroud. For a better fit and no edge bulge, a slight taper (at the same angle as the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 11, Wings & Tail Cone Fitting (2020-03-05)

The tail cone and body tube joint got a shot of filler/primer. The middle rudder (top) fin goes right down the seam joint. I set the wing against the body tube and tail cone to check the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 12, White Paint & Decal Color Match (2020-03-06)

I did a test fit of the jet engines. Some cleaning up of the gluing slots made for a good fit. Before the body was painted an overall gloss white, the engine gluing slots were masked off. The tape ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 13, Masking The Engine Top (2020-03-07)

I was building this model before the new 2020 catalog came out. In the catalog and on the website more views were shown later on. I made a few guesses as to how the engines were masked. In the face ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 14, Paint Touch-ups & Engine Decals (2020-03-09)

After the tape was pulled I did have some clean up to do. Here on the engine front some maroon paint was carefully scraped off with a new blade. The decals are printed close to each other on the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 15, Body Air Stream Decals (2020-03-10)

The layout of the decals on the decal sheet is confusing. Each long "airstream" wave decals are in two pieces. GOTCHA - there are two top and two bottom curved lines. The top two-piece line is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 16, Remaining Decals & Engine Gluing (2020-03-11)

The remaining decals are set on the nose cone. Double check before setting down the black squares, they are different sizes. These should fit into the squares molded into the nose cone. The engines ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Finished (2020-03-12)

The finished look is good. If I were to make another, I'd be tempted to add a clear coat to the decals before transfer onto the model to get them a little thicker and  maybe prevent stretching. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Low Boom SST Design Cues? (2020-05-03)

This post is not meant to knock the design of the new Low Boom SST kit from Estes. It is a sleek model. I've been in this hobby for many years and sometimes notice similarities and maybe some design ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Low Boom SST #7289 Build, Part 4, Jet Engines Assembly (2020-02-27)

I'll be dedicating a few posts to the construction of the jet engines. These are the most involved part of the build.  At the top is the middle piece, below are the right and left sides. TIP: ... [Read More]