All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Aerospace Specialty Products - Micro Jayhawk {Kit} (KJAY-MM)

Model Rocket Building: ASP Jayhawk Build Part 1 Parts (2011-01-01)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! Sorry, no posts yesterday, I had a full plate preparing for my cruise ship show. Had a great evening and audience reactions were positive. This is one of the four kits I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Jayhawk Build Part 2 Parts Prep (2011-01-02)

First up, the body tubes are sanded and roughed up a bit for better glue adhesion. The nose cone shoulder was a little wider than the body tube so I sanded the shoulder down to the body tube ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Jayhawk Build Part 3 Fin Marking (2011-01-02)

The tube marking guide was cut out and wrapped around the tube. It was too small and didn't match up. The drawings at the bottom of page two were full size. I extended the lines on the rear view ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Build Part 4 Cutting Fins (2011-01-03)

Instead of cutting out the main fin marking guide, I extended the outside edge lines of the fin template. I taped the styrene pieces on top of the guide. A strait edge and new blade was used to cut ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Build Part 5 Fin Prep (2011-01-03)

I rounded the styrene fins using 400 grit sandpaper on a sanding block. Here's the fins ready to be glued on the body tube. Before gluing the main fins take a look at the drawings. The leading edge ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Jayhawk Build Part 6 Fin Gluing (2011-01-04)

Gluing the styrene fins on this model was different. I held the fin in place with my left hand. A toothpick was dipped in thin CA (super glue) and touched to the rear of the root edge. A small ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Build Part 7 Fin Fillets (2011-01-04)

The instructions explain a great way to make CA fillets. A small drop of glue is set on the back of the fin joint. While the drop is still wet, drag the drop down the joint with the tip of a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Build Part 8 Fin Gluing (2011-01-05)

For easier alignment, draw a centerline down the middle of the side fins. Glue the side fins in place the same way you did the larger fins on the body. Apply a drop of glue and drag it down the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Build Part 9 Nose Weight (2011-01-05)

In step 6, you cut one of the the couplers to 3/4" and 1/8" lengths. The 3/4" length joins the two body tubes together. The 1/8" length is the engine block. The supplied Kevlar is very long. I cut ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Build Part 10 Engine Block (2011-01-06)

The Kevlar is fed through the lower assembly and tied to the 1/8" engine block. Using the remaining coupler as a depth guide, glue the engine block into place. The instruction placement of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Build Part 11 Nose Fins (2011-01-06)

I made a slit cut in the nose cone where the nose fins would sit. To widen the slit, I used the leftover styrene. I pressed it into the nose cone making sure it was in a straight line. This is both ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Build Part 12 Trim (2011-01-07)

The half round conduit line was glued oversize, hanging over the end of the body tube. It was easier to handle and get in line for gluing with it being longer. I cut it off a little long and sanded ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Build Part 13 Primer (2011-01-07)

The Micro Jayhawk with gray primer after sanding. The nose fins were glued into their slots after this first coat and sanding of the primer. Both sides of the Jayhawk before the orange spray is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Finished! (2011-01-09)

A Sharpie pen was used to mark the black nose. I couldn't figure out how to mask it, and hand painting would have left brush marks. I tried to use the included decals, but the printed images ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP Micro Jayhawk Decals (2011-02-28)

I emailed Aerospace Specialty Products and told them about the problem I had with the Micro Jayhawk kit decals. When I built the kit the decals dissolved when they were placed in water to soak. I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: The Big Fix, MMX Jayhawk Kevlar Replacement (2013-09-25)

The last time I flew the ASP MMX Jayhawk the Kevlar line broke. This will be an interesting fix. I have access to the low end, the upper attachment is still good. This would be better ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, August, 16, 2020 (2020-08-17)

It's been a month since my last "Lone Wolf" launch at the soccer field. My Summer plan is to always get out early before the temperature and humidity gets too high. Two MicroMaxx launches ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP MMX Jayhawk Build, Part 1, Parts (2021-02-24)

On the right is my original ASP MicroMaxx Jayhawk.  I've successfully launched it many times. It is truly a micro model rocket. Andy (from A.S.P.) sent me a new version of the kit. There are ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP MMX Jayhawk Build, Part 2, Parts Prep (2021-02-25)

Before sliding the couplers into the tubes - Round off the edges with some 400 grit sandpaper. The rounded coupler won't fold in the edge of the body tubes. On the left is the tube ends butted ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP MMX Jayhawk Build, Part 3, Cutting Out The Fins (2021-02-26)

CORRECTION :  On the template, the outside of the left and right dashed lines says "Root Edge". I took that to mean it was the root edge of the fins. I cut out the wrong part of the fin ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP MMX Jayhawk Build, Part 4, Fin Gluing & Seam Filling (2021-02-27)

Note : I've made a correction in the previous Part 3 post regarding the fin templates. Check Step 3 before cutting out the "wing" fins.    One of the launch lugs was longer than the other. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP MMX Jayhawk Build, Kit Corrections Already Made (2021-02-28)

I had some concerns and was a little confused when building the A.S.P. MMX Jayhawk. A quick email to Andy at A.S.P. got some easy answers. I was sent a pre-production kit. Before the kit went into ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP MMX Jayhawk Build, Part 5, Tunnel Shaping & Nose Weight (2021-03-01)

The tunnel piece has a rounded back to fit the curvature of the small body tube. The top needs to be shaped. I used 400 grit on a sanding block. On the right, I'm checking the shape looking at the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP MMX Jayhawk Build, Part 6, Shock Cord & Engine Block (2021-03-02)

The supplied Kevlar shock cord is longer than you'll need. I got a better idea of the length slipping the loose end through the body tube, letting it hang out the back.  1/4" of coupler is cut ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP MMX Jayhawk Build, Part 7, Paint & Decals (2021-03-02)

Paint is pretty easy -  Overall orange. The tip of the nose cone is painted black. I could have probably masked it but it is small.  This was one of the few times I pulled out my bottled ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: ASP MMX Jayhawk Build, Finished (2021-03-04)

This was a fun one! Not having to fill wood grain is welcome on a model this size. I didn't install the streamer, I'll just go with nose-blow recovery. The white ink and full color stars and bars ... [Read More]