All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Estes - Sidekick (7287)

Model Rocket Building: Estes Sidekick #7287 Build, Part 2, Prepping The Rings (2020-01-06)

The rings are glued together making three thick figure 8 rings. I used my #11 blade to carefully and cleanly remove the launch rod holes. Be aware of the launch rod holes being in line throughout ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Sidekick #7287 Build, Part 3, More Ring Prep and Tri-Fold Mounts (2020-01-07)

The launch rod hole was rounded using a sharpened dowel. Press lightly and rotate the dowel. The outside edges were sealed with some medium CA. After it dried  the edges were sanded smooth. For ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Sidekick #7287 Build, Part 4, Gluing The Centering Rings (2020-01-08)

This build is being done for Estes, so it should match the face card paint pattern. I thought it would be tough to mask the orange and yellow fins after they are glued on, so these will be slid into ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Sidekick #7287 Build, Part 5, Paint, Shock Cords & Streamers (2020-01-09)

The black paint was scraped off the low end to glue on the engine retaining rings. I used the Beacon Fabri-Tac glue here for a strong bond between plastic and the Kraft tubes. The shock cord was ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Sidekick #7287 Build, Part 6, Upper Flame Decal (2020-01-11)

The second set of decals that Estes sent were a darker, richer shade of orange. I wanted the NC paint to match the orange in the decal. Remember, under the flame decal will be black paint. Even with ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Sidekick #7287 Build, Part 7, Decal Color Touch-up (2020-01-12)

From the last post -  The color match is close, but not exact. The flame decal is a little lighter than the nose cone paint. TIP: Some of the orange paint was sprayed into a small plastic cup. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Sidekick #7287 Build, Finished (2020-01-13)

On the upper left, the engine retainer was glued on using the Becon Fabri-Tac glue. It is perfect for plastic to Kraft tube joints. This model was built for Estes. The fins are glued only at the ... [Read More]