All Rocketry Blogs

Rocket Dungeon: "I fell into a Burning Ring of Fire".... (2018-04-21)

First off, I want to thank Art Applewhite for this cool birthday present. I love saucer-like AND spinny rockets, so this fits me too a tee! The Ring of Fire is Art's latest kit and, as Art states, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Alien Scoutship Flying Saucer #5325, Build Background (2020-08-12)

"The first flying kit of a flying saucer ever produced!" A well engineered design. Stable (but labored) boost. At apogee, the model flips over and descends landing on three wire antenna legs. Glow ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 1, Parts (2020-08-13)

Here's the home prints. Again, to get the PDFs,  CLICK HERE  and go to post #21.  The major and minor shrouds (on the left) are printed on 110 lb. card stock. The rings and the C and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 2, Laminations (2020-08-14)

The printed side of the cereal box cardboard should be lightly sanded to remove some of the printing and glossiness. This will remove some of the ink so it won't show through the overlay. It also ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 1, Parts (2021-01-24)

Here's an interesting model. High drag saucer shape.  It could be a great two stage rocket for a small field. The kit face card says it will reach 150 feet! I'd probably fly it with the A10-0t ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 2, Forming The Shrouds (2021-01-25)

The cardstock shrouds have a separate inside glue tab for a smooth outside joint. Rough up the glossy surface with some 400 grit sandpaper before applying glue. With a sanding block, square up the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 3, Saucer Bases (2021-01-25)

The saucer bases have many holes to keep it lighter and slots for the fin tabs. Cut through the hold down tabs and remove the dots and rectangles. Some probably might think I go overboard trimming ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 4, Saucers Assembly (2021-01-26)

A test fit of the tube in the ring gave a loose fit.  A bead of glue was set on the inside edge to make the diameter a bit smaller and the fit tighter. Don't glue the tube in yet, the dried ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 5, Leg Prep (2021-01-27)

Be careful when doing test fits of the card stock fins. Look close at the tab, the outside layer of the cardstock has peeled back. I put a little bit of glue on the tab ends and burnished them down. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 6, Disk Bevels & Lunch Lug Prep (2021-01-28)

You'll get a better fit of the shroud if the low disk edge is angled. On the left I'm not sanding. The shroud is just sitting on the ring and base - no glue yet. I'm using the shroud to get an idea ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 7, Shroud Gluing (2021-01-29)

It takes very little glue to adhere card stock to card stock. Just be sure there is glue on all the contact points. After the edge sanding/tapering in the last step, Notice the fit of the tapered ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 8, Rings & Fin Gluing (2021-01-30)

After the glue has dried, sand the top joint to even things out. Here's the assembled two saucer sections,  the tops - And the bottoms. This is one of those instances where I extend the fin ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 9, Engine Blocks & Launch Lugs (2021-01-31)

The instructions show the two yellow spacing tubes taped together. They are pictured pushing the lower engine block in place. I simply glued the lower engine block in the bottom, even with the end ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 10, A Fix & Masking For Gluing (2021-02-01)

In a previous post comment, Openroad mentioned he had encountered this same concern: While doing some test fitting, the short area next to the fin tab flexed and showed a wrinkle. I thought this ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Part 11, Assembly & Decals (2021-02-02)

After the assemblies were spray painted, the tape strips were removed. The gluing lines left open cardstock for better glue adhesion. The filler on the ring joints finished pretty well. Glue was ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Twin Factor #7250, Build, Finished (2021-02-03)

No balsa in this one! All cardstock, Kraft tubes and a plastic nose cone. The rocket seems smaller than you'd think. The yellow and black décor is a good, high contrast. The nose cone is painted ... [Read More]