All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 1 Parts (2013-02-08)

I bought this one off EBAY for about $10.00. In the mid 1970s I built and flew many of the MPC Miniroc series - except for the ASP and this one. This kit was billed as a "customizer kit". It ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 2 Parts Prep (2013-02-09)

Here's extra "parts" many never noticed in the MPC Minirocs kits.   Molded into the sides of the blister packaging are small nozzles and canopies. The inset picture shows the vacu-formed ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 3 Fin Prep (2013-02-10)

Newer kits tell you to stack the fins and sand them together. With laser cut fins and there shouldn't be any difference in the fin sizes. Sure you should sand off the burnt edges but there is no ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 4 Engine Mount and Kevlar (2013-02-11)

The Taurus l used a cardstock Stine Shock Lock. This makes for a tight fit in the 10mm body tube. I'm concerned the parachute and shock cord might get caught up on it during ejection. This model ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 5 12" Parachute? (2013-02-12)

The enclosed 12" parachute is too big for a model this size. 8" diameter would be better, by mistake I cut this one down even smaller! I simply cut straight lines between the the intersecting ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 6 The Tubes! (2013-02-13)

I had forgotten how great the MPC tubing was! The tubes have a thin white outer layer. When you first see the tubes you probably think they are poorly made. They aren't smooth as other kit tubes. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 7 Fin Gluing (2013-02-13)

These fins are small! I haven't built a BT-5 based model for a while. The trailing edges are flush with the end of the body tube. You've got nothing to line up the back on, the fin covers the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 8 Undercoat Paint Mask (2013-02-14)

The "booster tubes" will be painted separately and glued on afterwards. A thin line of masking tape was set down just short of the top of the booster tube length. The model was set down a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 9 Paint and Decals (2013-02-15)

I would have liked to paint the rocket like the face card, silver with black fins. Masking any metallic paint can discolor the metal finish, so the fins won't get a shot of black. The booster ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus - 1 Build Part 10 Decals (2013-02-15)

I didn't want to do another mask for the white under color of the roll pattern. A piece of white (sprayed) decal paper was cut into a rectangle, long enough to do a full wrap around the tube. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Taurus Finished (2013-02-16)

  This is a pretty slick looking BT-5 sized model. A black fin would have looked better but I didn't want to risk masking over the aluminum., or any other metallic paint. I wish the ... [Read More]