All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Estes - Mini Marz Lander {Kit} (1826) [1998-2002]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Background (2018-10-04)

Estes has produced three different versions of the Mars Lander. I did built an original, the big one that debuted in 1969. The body was almost 4" in diameter. It had spring loaded leg/fins. The legs ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 1, Parts (2018-10-05)

Here's how the kits were bagged in 1986. The back of the bag was printed, you couldn't really see what parts were in the kit. Parts seemed pretty good. I was surprised to see a streamer. I would ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 2, Engine Mount (2018-10-06)

Nothing out of the ordinary yet. A 1/8" notch for the engine hook and a wrap of tape for retention. The instructions have you open up the shock cord tie slit after the rings are glued in place. TIP: ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 3, Engine Mount (2018-10-08)

I didn't notch the upper centering ring for the engine hook, the fit would have ended up being loose. When the ring was slid down over the engine hook there was the right amount of friction fit for ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 4, Fin Center Prep (2018-10-09)

The die-cut card stock edges needed some cleaning up. I used a block with 220 grit sandpaper. Above shows the rough edges, the smoothed piece is below. The die cutting process leaves a crushed lip ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 5, Cutting The Leg Struts (2018-10-10)

The dowels are a bit rough. Smooth them out with 400 grit. The dowels were taped down and got a hit of filler/primer. Sanding followed leaving very little filler on the dowels. The instruction ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 6, Gluing Up The Struts (2018-10-10)

After the first strut dries you can match up the edges by sanding on a block. I'll usually cut the dowels a hair long so everything can be trimmed to size afterwards. The short dowel is a bit ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 7, Nose Cone Prep (2018-10-11)

The nose cone fits into a very short section of BT-60. There won't be much room for the wadding and streamer. There is a recessed line in the shoulder to set the cut. I used a razor saw to cut off ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 8, Primer and Leg Gluing (2018-10-12)

The engine mount is glued in, the nose cone slid in place for a shot of Duplicolor Filler/Primer. After sanding, the filler/primer was sanded down to the tube surface on the fin lines. The pencil ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 9, Leg Housing Side Fix (2018-10-12)

In the last post I mentioned how the leg housing sides weren't "Mirrored". You can see the raised area near the side housing root edge. This is a crushed area from the die-cutting. I haven't glued ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 10, Leg Housing Sides Fix (2018-10-13)

When I got to the last pair of fin housing sides I noticed they didn't match up! The last side was shorter than the side already glued on. This would lead to problems with the cover pieces that ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 11, Nose Weight & Bulkhead (2018-10-15)

The kit supplied lead weight weighed .15 oz. A standard Estes clay pat weighs almost .25 oz. For better adhesion I'll use enough clay to weigh the equivalent .15 oz., maybe a bit more. Like the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 12, Streamer & Undercoat Prep (2018-10-16)

The streamer is tied onto the shock cord, 2 1/2" from the top edge of the body tube. This is some 400 grit sanding, taking down the rough spots and small side ridges left from the Titebond Molding ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 13, Leg/Fin Details (2018-10-17)

The leg braces are die-cut from thinner card stock. There are some hold-down ticks that have to be cut through. Light sanding with 400 grit removed them. These could have been glued on earlier but ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 14, Old Decals (2018-10-18)

These decals are 30 years old. They could either transfer easily or break up because they are brittle. Normally I'd test the soak and transfer time on an image that wouldn't be used on the kit. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Part 15, Old Decals (2018-10-19)

The remaining decals got a shot of clear acrylic. This will make a film over the decals and hopefully hold them together. On the left is the decal that broke apart with no way to repair it. I took ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Mini Mars Lander Build #0881, Finished (2018-10-21)

This was a fun one, even with the flaky decals. I'm curious how it will recover with the streamer. [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TOP TEN BUILDS for 2018, Part 1 (2018-12-30)

Each year I look back on the builds and pick the Top Ten. These countdown from 10 to 1, from the worse to the best kits. Some choices are personal and might not agree with your experience. But, it's ... [Read More]