All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Custom Rockets - Nomad {Kit} (10054)

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 1 Parts (2011-09-26)

Hard to believe, but I haven't built a Custom Rocket before. They've always seemed to have some of the lowest prices in the industry. Pretty amazng, considering they are made and assembled in the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 2 Parts Prep (2011-09-27)

On this build I'll concentrate on how to prep the parts, before gluing. Your internal construction will be stronger and all parts should fit better. Your finished model will have better structural ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 3 Engine Mount Parts Prep (2011-09-27)

The first step of the instructions don't mention notching the centering rings for the engine hook. You should cut a recess notch. Otherwise, the hook could press and deform the tube out of round. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 4 Ring & Tube Prep (2011-09-28)

In Step 4, the large "disks" (5060 Adapter Rings) are glued to the main BT-50 body tube. The outer BT-60 tubes are to be glued on later. Past experience tells me to glue the rings to the outer tubes ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 5 Gluing the Centering Rings (2011-09-28)

These 50/60 centering rings fit inside the edge of the BT-60 tubes. Apply a line of glue inside the tube edge. Be sure the rounded lip is facing inside the tube end. With the square cut side of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 6 Internal Ring Fillets (2011-09-29)

Apply a fillet by transferring a drop of white glue from the end of a rounded dowel. Smooth out the fillet with the rounded end of the dowel. You should be able to do 1 1/2" of the fillet at a time. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 7 Nose Cone Disk (2011-09-29)

The nose cone disk is next. The instructions say to cut it out with scissors but I think you'll have better control with a sharp hobby knife. Trace around the outside of the disk with a pencil. It's ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 8 Nose Cone Disk (2011-09-30)

Smooth and round up the edges using a sanding block. In the picture, the edge on the right side has been smoothed over, the left side has not. One of the centering rings is used for a shoulder and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 9 Nose Cone Disk (2011-10-01)

After pressing the centering ring into the disk lip some excess contact cement might show. I used a sharpened dowel end to roll the glue off. Keep at it, it'll come off in small rolled beads. Just ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 10 Nose Cone Disk (2011-10-02)

For the strongest joint, I used 15 minute epoxy for the nose cone bulkhead gluing. It was mixed then applied with a toothpick around the edge and down inside the dome a bit. Keep the epoxy off the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 11 Dry fit (2011-10-03)

Here's one of the reasons I didn't glue the rings to the BT-50 tube using the measurements shown in the instructions. With everything dry fitted at the specified measurements, you can see the small ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 12 Spraying The Silver (2011-10-04)

From the instructions, this is how you are directed to mask the model. Everything is first painted white. You mask as shown and spray the silver. If you were to paint it this way, you would end up ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Built Part 13 Change Of Plan! (2011-10-05)

As it turned out, my mask line was too short and the brown tube was peeking out from under the centering rings! I'll take the easy way out and use some trim MonoKote on the interior tube, something ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Build Part 14 Sticker Trim (2011-10-05)

Instead of cutting down the dotted lines, I cut off the dotted lines between the panels. Set the panel edge into the body tube / root edge then over the rest of the fin. These are hard to get lined ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Custom Nomad Finished! (2011-10-06)

This is a great looking model, reminiscent of the old Centuri Skylab with it's square solar panel fins. It's definitely a Skill Level 3 build. There is some building challenges with the vacuform ... [Read More]