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 Rocketry Product: Vashon Industries - Valkyrie-2

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie 2 on Ebay (2014-04-10)

  This one brought me back! I bid on this one - up to $150.00, that's a lot for me. I didn't get it, the winning bid was over $281.00. This is a rare one, unbuilt with launcher and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Background (2018-08-26)

Anyone who has followed the blog knows I've been trying to find a Vashon Valkyrie 2 rocket. I've given up on a few Ebay bids when the price got too high. It was one of the first rockets I ever ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 1, Opening The Box (2018-08-27)

There were several variations on the Vashon boxes. The Valkyrie 2 came in a long box. My Sears box had a full color overlay. This "801" package is printed in black. On the right side is a fold of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 2, Parts (2018-08-27)

As I mentioned earlier, there was plenty of extra parts. The picture above shows what parts may have come in the original #802, Valkyrie 2 starter set. There was no Freon (liquid propellant) in the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 3, Parts (2018-08-28)

My original 1969 Vashon starter set included a shiny chrome Mylar parachute. This box included a shiny one and this orange and blue printed parachute. The color chute was 11 3/4" wide from flat to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 4, Parts (2018-08-29)

I have mentioned before, I found my three rocket binders when we were clearing out my Mom's house. All the instructions from every kit I built are there, including that first Vashon Valkyrie 2. On ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 5, Prepping the Parts - Launcher (2018-08-30)

There were three dowel legs, 3/8" diameter x 8" long. One leg was broken, the grain in that leg runs diagonally. It was probably broken when pressed into the tight base holes shown below. The fit ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 6, My Original Vashon Launcher (2018-08-31)

I honestly don't know how I still have this. This is my original Vashon Starter Set launcher base. It's been stored for years. The other rocket parts are nowhere to be found. The two pieces simply ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 7, Cleaning Up The Metal Parts (2018-09-01)

I remember using NEVR-DULL batting to clean up a brass bed. I don't know what is in it, but it cleans up most metals, but not rust. A piece of the wadding material is sitting on top of the can. All ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 8, Balsa Nose Cone (2018-09-02)

I could use one of the Styrofoam nose cones, but my original Valkyrie had a balsa cone. Vashon changed to Styrofoam nose cones later in kit runs. My balsa cone from the Break-Away kits is very close ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 9, Filling The Balsa (2018-09-03)

The fins got a coat of CWF and sanding. On the left is the follow-up coat of Duplicolor Filler/Primer . On the right is the filler/primer sanded using 220 grit. This removes almost all of the gray ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 10, Red Paint (2018-09-04)

Only the nose cone and fins are painted on this one. I'll be using gloss red, just like the catalog cover picture. This is a rare model there the fins are painted off the model. The root edge gets ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 11, How's It Work? (2018-09-05)

There's been a few questions about how the Vashon rockets work. For a manual launch:  The plug is pushed into the nozzle. The "Safety Pin" is pushed through small holes in the plastic nozzle ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 12, Fin Rail Prepping (2018-09-06)

A fin marking guide was printed from the "Tools" page at payloadbay.com. The seam was lined up right above the fill valve. The fin location lines were marked with a fine point Sharpie. The lines ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 13, Fin Rails and Placement (2018-09-07)

The fin rails are cut to match the angle of the fin leading edge. The launch lug also glues onto the engine body. The supplied lug is 4" long, probably too long for this model. I cut it down to 2 ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 14, Fixing The Rails (2018-09-07)

The back end of the interior ridges are lightly trimmed to allow the fins to slide in. Uh-oh! The fin rails are off the model. I tried to slide the fins in, but the fit was too tight. The glue on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 15, Black Trim and Fin Attachment (2018-09-08)

I wanted to match the trim on the old Vashon catalog cover. I'm sure they used auto trim tape for all the black lines. I used my standby, Contact Paper blackboard vinyl. Strips were cut to a 3/16" ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 16, Parachute A (2018-09-09)

Here's the instructions for the parachute assembly. You are supplied a 12" square piece of 1/4 mil Mylar. This is the very thin Mylar, a lot like the emergency blanket material you can find in the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II Build, Part 17, Parachute B (2018-09-10)

There were enough round tape disks to attach all eight lines. I was surprised to find out the Mylar disks were still sticky and usable! I tied a knot at the ends of the four lines. The knot was set ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Vashon Valkyrie II, Finished (2018-09-11)

I finally got a Vashon Valkyrie II! Every rocketeer has a model from their past they want to rebuild. This was fun and brought back a lot of memories. I'll pick up a separator/timer somewhere down ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TOP TEN BUILDS for 2018, Part 2 (2018-12-31)

There's a two-way tie for fifth position in the countdown. (I can't take all this excitement!) 5. Estes CITATION PATRIOT You gotta love a big, dumb rocket! Okay, not really dumb. This reissue ... [Read More]