All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Centuri - Vector-V {Kit} (5032, KB-2) [1972-1981]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V Research, Part 1 (2020-05-14)

I had picked up three Estes Viking kits on clearance a few years back. The Estes Viking used the same fin shape idea from the original Centuri Vector-V kit from 1972. Seeing the Viking fins inspired ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V Research, Part 2 (2020-05-15)

The Centuri Vector V was 12.8" tall. The upper ST-7 tubing above the card stock shroud is 6" long. The engine mount tube was 3" long. The BT-20 tubing is a little smaller in diameter but will work ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 1 Parts (2020-05-16)

The parts were assembled using Estes diameter tubing and the nose cone from the Viking kit. I thought I could use the Viking BT-20 tube, but ended up cutting some BT-20 tubes I had. I could have ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 2, Decal Draw (2020-05-17)

The kit decals were a single color - black. These should be easy to print! The scanned online decals were okay, but I wanted some sharper images. The one tricky decal is the body wrap intake ducts. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 3, Those Viking Fins! (2020-05-19)

You could use the Viking fins, but it turned out they were a little short. I'm building two different Vector Vs with different fin positions on each. One model will have the longest fin side glued ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 4, Nested Shroud (2020-05-20)

I went to payloadbay.com and printed two shrouds in the "Tools" section. Punch in the outside diameters for a BT-20 and BT-55 x 1.3" tall. Look close and you can see two shrouds, one stuck inside ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 5, Engine Mount (2020-05-21)

For a time, Centuri produced smaller diameter kits with a two-piece main body. A lower 3" engine mount tube and a longer upper tube. TRIVIA: This is speculation on my part, but it seems the Centuri ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 6, Fiber Fin Edges (2020-05-22)

TIP: Card stock fin edges can be sealed and slightly rounded with a bead of glue. A line of white or yellow glue is run down the edge. Use the side of your finger to smooth the round bead and remove ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 7, Vane Cutting (2020-05-22)

The vane strip is an interesting size, 1/16" thick x 6" long x 1/6" wide. I cut the strip from some basswood. Basswood grain is tight but can still be filled with a shot of filler/primer. On the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 8, Coolant Vane Base (2020-05-23)

In the original kit, Centuri had you cut the vane coolant pattern off the thin 20 lb. paper instruction sheet. I wanted a little more visual relief so it was redrawn to fit the BT-20 and printed on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 9, Vanes & Design Placement (2020-05-24)

Here's how the seven vanes look, placed evenly around the pattern base. There's good reason why I didn't glue together the upper and lower segments. I could try two different placements of the vanes ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 10, Shock Cord & Lower Body Paint (2020-05-25)

The Kevlar shock cord was tied around a second, upper engine block. An outside layer of the block was peeled off to fit the inside of the coupler. The Kevlar end was slid into the upper tube, don't ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 11, Black Paint & Decals (2020-05-26)

Here's the mask for the black vanes. This picture shows the upper vane placement This is the vane mask for the lower placement near the top of the shroud. The picture on the right shows how to pull ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, First Build Finished (2020-05-27)

This was billed as a "Customizing Kit" giving the builder many choices on fins, vane position and decals. I even put the Centuri decal on one build, it seemed appropriate this time. [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Second Build Finished (2020-05-28)

The second build is in the catalog color and decal scheme. I'm a little more partial to the first build and color variation, the one with the wide span fins. Here's both builds for comparison. [Read More]