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 Rocketry Product: Estes - Sky Hook {Kit} (8) [1963-1988]

Model Rocket Building: Sky Hook Build Part 2 (2010-08-05)

I've always like the look of the Sky Hook fins. There's subtle angles, a rounded trailing tip and a very small concave notch where the trailing edge meets the body tube. The instructions tell you to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sky Hook Build Part 3 (2010-08-06)

The fin on the left has been filled with Carpenter's Wood Filler and sanded smooth. The fin on the has been stained with Walnut wood stain. Contrary to what some believe, Carpenter's Wood Filler ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sky Hook Build Part 4 (2010-08-06)

Here's the nose cone - filled, stained and hit with two coats of the clear. After it sets up for a day or two, I'll start with the mask and gloss white. Believe it or not, I found the original sheet ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sky Hook Build Part 5 (2010-08-10)

Here's the back end of the body tube after sanding down the primer. That launch lug seems long but that is what originally came with the kit. I'm not sure how I'm going to glue the fins on yet. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sky Hook Build Part 6 (2010-08-10)

For the nose cone mask I've gone back to cutting some Scotch tape on my patio window again. I set my compass to a circle size that matched the three fin spacing on an ST-7, or as close as I could ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sky Hook Build Part 7 (2010-08-11)

Here's how I cut the mask for the fins. I'm back at the patio door glass, the fin is taped to the outside of the glass. This is a simple way to see its shape and (hopefully) cut a mask that will fit ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sky Hook Fins Part 8 (2010-08-11)

Here's the fins glued to the already painted body tube. I roughed up the paint over the fin alignment lines for better adhesion. The root edges were tacked in place with white glue. After that ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sky Hook Build Lettering Part 9 (2010-08-11)

This is from the original Letraset rub-on lettering sheet I used on my Sky Hook entry from 1972. They still rubbed on, but not very easily. 24 point type is actually too small for this model, but it ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Sky Hook Build Finished! Part 10 (2010-08-11)

Here's how it looked when sent to the Estes Craftsmanship Contest back in 1972. If I were to enter in a contest now, the lettering would be at least 30 point for this size of model. Instead of ... [Read More]