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 Rocketry Product: Estes - Payloader II {Kit} (3022)

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 1 Parts (2015-02-23)

  All the parts are standard and of good quality. For a while it was rare to find kits with clear payload section tubes. I'm glad to see they made a comeback.   Part of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 2, Replacement Parts (2015-02-24)

The body tube is a standard thin walled BT-50 and prone to bends and crimps. It will be replaced with a thick wall BT-50 from BMS. On the left is the kit supplied BT-50. The clear payload tube is ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 3, Long Nose Block and Engine Mount (2015-02-25)

The newer Estes kits have nose blocks that are 2" long. The old 50 tube nose blocks were 1" long. Even back then it felt a bit short with only 1/2" on either side. I'll compromise and cut this ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 4, Fins, Leading Edge Rounding (2015-02-26)

The leading edge of the smaller dorsal fin is already rounded. With a sanding block I'm sanding in a 45 degree "corner" into the larger main fin. Don't sand any more off the dorsal fin. Going ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 5, Fins, Leading Edge Rounding (2015-02-26)

The laser cutting didn't quite go through the back of the wood! Not a big deal, a sharp blade and straightedge freed up the fins. The instructions say to round the leading edges of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 5, Some CWF Filling (2015-02-27)

The shoulder edge on the replacement nose cone wasn't very sharp. I painted filler just over the edge. The clear payload tube was slid on and the tube edge pushed the CWF up into a bead. This ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 7, More CWF Filling (2015-02-28)

The nose cone fit is loose in the clear payload section. I'll build up the diameter the same way as the nose block with a coat of CWF. I kept the CWF away from the new, sharp lip. This will be ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 8, Gluing It Together (2015-03-01)

Mentioned earlier, the engine mount was recessed a bit more than directed in the instructions. This was so the model would rest on the trailing edges of the fins and not wobble on the extended ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 9, Primer and Sanding (2015-03-02)

    Once again the Tung wood grain is showing up. Grain holes showed up on the right side of each forward fin strakes. More filler and sanding! The hole in the shoulder base of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 10, Decal Redraw (2015-03-03)

I wasn't very happy with the kit decals. The black stripes that go between the fins had some rough edges. The Estes logo wasn't printed clean. The roll pattern was sharp though. I originally ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 11, Shoulder Painting TIP (2015-03-04)

Occasionally you see clear payload models at club launches. Chances are, the nose cone is painted off the model and the shoulder is also sprayed. The painted shoulder ends up  underneath the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 12, Masking (2015-03-05)

I don't use regular brown masking tape and won't pay a premium for the "boutique" hobby masking tapes. Scotch tape can give razor sharp lines and it's a lot cheaper. Scotch tape strips are set ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 13, More Masking (2015-03-06)

The top of the body tube gets a band of red, 1/4" down from the top lip. Again I used a strip of marked Scotch tape. The center area of the body tube was covered with a wrap of printer ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 14, Red Paint (2015-03-07)

The red was sprayed. I used the Rustoleum Metallic Apple Red. The only place I've found this red is at Ace hardware. This is great spray paint and very forgiving. When using this Rusto metallic, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 15, Decals (2015-03-08)

I had already redrew the decals for the slightly larger body tube I used. I ended up using the kit decals. The black strips are centered between the fins. Cut the end of the bands close to the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 16, Gluing the Nose Block (2015-03-09)

The instructions say to use plastic cement to glue the nose block in the payload section tube. I'll be using thin CA. If glue were applied as in the illustration it could push the glue up and fog up ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 17, Future Shine Over Metallic Paint (2015-03-10)

I was actually excited to find the Rustoleum Metallic Red at a nearby Ace Hardware Store. This was the same brand of paint that gave me such great results on the Quest Stiletto. On that model I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 18, Centuri Decal (2015-03-11)

An Estes logo on a Centuri design? I didn't center the Centuri logo and Payloader in the white space between the rear black strip and top roll pattern. Enlarge the picture and look for the pencil ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Finished (2015-03-12)

    A great, classic Centuri design. These pictures were taken before the "Centuri PAYLOADER " decal was added. The pictures don't show off the Rusto metallic red paint. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Payloader II Bids Amost Over on Ebay (2015-06-08)

Less than a day remains for bidding on the finished Payloader II model. At 24 hours to the closing there were no bids made. For the Ebay link CLICK HERE [Read More]