All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Estes - Phoenix Bird {Kit} (3024)

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 2 Centering Rings (2012-05-01)

I mentioned I was going to change out the thin blue motor mount tube for a ST-7 tube. To fit the slightly wider (stronger) ST-7 tube, the center hole of the centering rings had to be made larger. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 3 Addendum Sheet (2012-05-02)

                      There are some confusing illustrations in the blue addendum sheet. In ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 4 Centering Rings (2012-05-03)

The notch for the engine hook wasn't high enough to allow for up and down movement. The rotary punch was used to make the notch higher.   I'd forgotten to make a notch for the Kevlar ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 5 Fin Prep (2012-05-04)

      To allow for the Kevlar line tied below the upper centering ring, a notch was filed into the corner of the TTW fin tab.       I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 6 Gluing Sub Fins (2012-05-04)

  To be sure the two piece fin had it's root edges in alignment -  1. The motor mount assembly was slid into the rear of the body tube with no glue yet. 2. The main fin was slid into ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 7 Rounding the Leading Edge (2012-05-05)

Only the leading edge gets rounded, I would assume that includes the forward "sub" fins. This "balsa" is very hard and the the rounded inside edge will take some extra time. I ended up using ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 8 TIP: Nose Cone Shoulder Fillling (2012-05-07)

  TIP: Here's another way to get a cleaner separation line at the nose cone shoulder and body tube joint. The nose cone from the Phoenix Bird kit was slid into a scrap piece of BT-55 tube ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 9 Gluing On Fins (2012-05-08)

After all the trimming and adjustments to the root edges here's the final fit of one fin. Enlarge the picture and you can see how the front and rear of the fin (root edges on the body tube) are ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 10 Epoxy Fillets (2012-05-09)

Before this step, the fins were filled and sanded with thinned Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler or CWF. For the fins, the CWF was thinned to a brush able consistency. The body tube seams were also ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 11 Epoxy Fillets (2012-05-10)

The epoxy fillets are smoothed out with the end of a 1/4" dowel.   I tend to start in the middle of the fin and work down. Then turn the body over and smooth from the middle up. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 12 Primer Tips (2012-05-11)

At a launch, you'll see plenty of rounded over edges on square fins. On the Phoenix Bird, only the leading edges of the fins are rounded. TIP: To protect the squared outside edges of the fins ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 13 Launch Lugs (2012-05-12)

I didn't glue the lugs on at the same time as the fins. There wouldn't be much room to apply the epoxy fillets on the fins with the lower lug in the way. The body tube was marked for the lugs on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 14 Lugs and Primer (2012-05-14)

The lugs got Titebond Molding and Trim Glue fillets. I try to "dress" the ends of the lug fillets by forming the tops ends with a toothpick. Instead of having a blob of glue at the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 15 Upper Name Bands (2012-05-15)

I really don't care for the new wood that Estes is using for their kit fins. I still suspect it might be tung wood instead of the traditional balsa.   It's harder than balsa and the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 16 Upper Name Bands (2012-05-16)

Draw a light pencil line down both sides of the body tube using the aluminum angle. Find and mark the center point of these lines. You'll be setting the edge of the "Phoenix Bird" name decal down ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 17 Fin Decor (2012-05-17)

Step 10 of the finishing instructions are vague about where to mask for the black fin area below the large chrome body wrap.   I masked higher up than needed, I figured the bottom ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Build Part 18 Main Body Wrap (2012-05-18)

This is the tough one! I like to work from the center out instead of edge to edge. A light pencil line was extended up from a fins root edge. The center of the wrap was marked with a pencil at ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Finished (2012-05-20)

      Lessons learned: This new, harder "balsa" may better withstand a hard landing but is difficult to fill and smooth. Self adhesive wraps will never ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Phoenix Bird Part 1 Parts (2012-05-01)

The original Centuri kit had an ST-13 tube, larger diameter than the BT-55 tube in the kit. The Centuri Phoenix Bird was 26.3", this reissue kit is 24" tall. The fins are based on the old Enerjet ... [Read More]