All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Estes - Protostar (7260)

Blast From The Past: I Have Re-Considered (2018-05-15)

Howdy Folks! In a previous post I stated that I am not going to do a build series on the SteamPunk Protostar, but I have since changed my mind. "Why, BlastFromThePast?", you ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 3 (2018-06-06)

Where else but on the BlastFromThePast blog can one find two simultaneous build threads? Yep, as the Lunar Patrol project winds down, it's time to get started on that Steampunk version Estes ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 4 (2018-06-07)

A couple of weeks ago, I worked up a concept sketch of how I envisioned the Steampunk Protostar would look.  This image was originally posted on one of the forums, so I deem it necessary that it ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 4 - Fin Prep (2018-06-11)

It's time to fire up the BlastFromThePast workshop and get started on the Protostar build. I must first emphasize that I don't usually build a kit in the order laid out in the instructions. Bad me! ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 6 - More Fin Prep (2018-09-12)

Now that I have finished posting about re-unions, Flatcats, and Canopii, I can finally get back to the Steampunk Protostar build series that was started way back in June... Today's rocket building ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk ProtoStar #7, Still More Fin Prep (2018-09-13)

"The power of the Mighty D Engine compels you....The power of the Mighty D Engine compels you....The power of the....." Oh !....Yes.....AHEM......Protostar...... The next step in fin p ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #8, The Motor Mount (2018-09-14)

The next phase of the Steampunk Protostar build is the motor mount/tail sub-assembly. To start off, the main mount parts are put together in accordance with the kit instructions, so I ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #9, The Plastic Tail Section (2018-09-17)

Now that the core of the engine mount is completed, the next step is to prepare and install the plastic tail cone that came with the kit.  After carefully cutting it away from the molded ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #10 - Finishing Up The Engine Mount / Tail Section (2018-09-19)

I don't have a lot of confidence in the use of cardstock centering rings for motor mounts.  Especially for withstanding the thrust load of a D or E engine. Back in my old fleet days, I had an ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #11, Just Nosing Around.... (2018-09-21)

The next part of the build is to prepare the model's nose. A quick aside - I'm trying to train myself to abandon some of the model rocketry terminology that was engrained in my brain back in the 70s, ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #12 - Like Peas In A Pod..... (2018-09-25)

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, It's time to proceed on to the Protostar kit's fin pods. The first step, of course, is to cut away the bases of the three noses used for the pods, per the kit instructions. ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #13 - Designing The Pod Ends (2018-09-26)

In the spirit of adhering to the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid), I have opted to make the rear pod pieces in an easy-to-turn hemispherical shape with a short glue base. The initial step of ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #14 - Preparing The Pod Stock (2018-09-27)

Now that the design of the pod end is established, it's time to grab a piece of balsa stock and mark it for cutting out the turning blank. Hobby Lobby carries a good selection of balsa blocks, ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #15 Mounting The Stock For Turning (2018-09-28)

Whenever I turn a nose or tail section for a model rocket, the stock usually get mounted to the lathe's face plate attachment.  Spindle turning between centers doesn't work ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #16 - Taking Some Balsa Wood For A Little Spin (2018-10-02)

Now that the balsa stock for the tail pieces is mounted, its time to take it upstairs to the BlastFromThePast garage - the dwelling place of  the wood lathe. After mounting the face plate and ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #17 - Finishing Up Those Pods (2018-10-05)

I am a slacker. I got so immersed in this portion of the Protostar build that I totally neglected getting out my cel phone and taking the usual photos of some of the various operations involved in ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #18 - Making Custom Marking Guides (2018-10-10)

Now I have arrived at the part of the Steampunk Protostar build where I can cram the kit instructions into the glove box, make a sharp right turn off of the normal 'Model Rocket Interstate', kick the ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #19 - Marking The Parts (2018-10-12)

Moving right along on the Protostar..... Marking the body tube.... I have made two marking guides for the Protostars's main tube. One is for the fins and launch lug, the other for sectioning off ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #20 - Re-Visiting The Fins (2018-10-29)

Even though the fins for the Protostar are going to be completely covered with riveted panel detailing, I will still fill the grain and sand them out.  The panels are to be made from ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #21 - Let The Detailing Begin ! (2018-10-30)

Now it is time to start the good stuff - super-detailing the Protostar's freshly completed fins with the application of riveted panels.  To accomplish this, I intend to use a method which I have ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #22 - Detail Papering A Fin (2018-11-01)

This morning, work was begun on applying the first bit of detailing to one side of a Protostar fin. With the riveted panels separated, the first order of business was to make the matching cutouts ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Prorstar #23 - More Fin Detail (2018-11-06)

Today's build post centers around making details that will simulate riveted metal strips on the fin leading edges. The first step is to make a template to be used to trace the required six ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar #24 - First Fin Attachment! (2018-11-08)

This morning, I managed to glue the first completed fin on to the Protostar body tube. With this done it gives the appearance that I'm building an actual model rocket rather than a ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 25 - Back To Work (2019-03-15)

After an extended time away from this build, I finally got busy last night and completed construction and attachment of the third main fin. Now I can start on the pod attachment, launch lug, and ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 26 - Not Your Everyday Launch Lugs (2019-04-02)

Hi, Blog Readers, You might just be wondering why I should devote an entire build post to a mere, lowly launch lug. If this were a build of a standard, run-of-the-mill model rocket, that would be a ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 27 - Building The Launch Lug Standoffs (2019-04-24)

Now that the launch lugs themselves are completed, it's time to fashion the fancy standoff mounts. To start off, two scrap pieces of 1/8 thick balsa are laminated together. Once dry, four standoff ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 28 - A Riveting Tail (2019-04-29)

Taking a step away from the launch lug construction, the next procedure in the build is making the riveted panels for the body tube. Each section of the tube will be done separately wit ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 29 - Finishing Up The Launch Lugs (2019-07-05)

After doing a little bit of work on the Protostar body tube, I am now turning attention back to finishing up the launch lugs. The first order of business is to apply some CWF to the lug stand-offs. ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 30 - A Smoke Vent For a Space Rocket! (2019-07-16)

Questions on a typical doctor's office Patient Medical History form: Q:   Are you a smoker? A:  "Only when I'm on fire!" Q: How Long? A:  "Until somebody puts me out!" Because ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 31 - Smoke Stack Mounting Plate. (2019-08-03)

As with the launch lugs, the smoke stack will be attached to its own plate to mount on the rocket body.  Construction is very similar to that of the lug mounts - a piece of laminated balsa ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Steampunk Protostar, Part 32 - "A Little More Air, Please!" (2019-11-18)

The backyard deck build is finally finished! Phew, what a ride.... Attention can now turn back to model rocketry, the long running Protostar build in particular. This weekend saw the completion of ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Binge-Building At The Blastfromthepast Shop! (2020-08-31)

 Even though I have not been doing any model rocket flying as of late, things have certainly not been idle in the work shop. The Viking re-build is complete: those flimsy card stock fins ... [Read More]