New Estes Gemini Titan Kit

It's about time!

Estes has just released a new "expert build" 1/48 scale Gemini Titan kit.

27" tall, 2.5' diameter.

Two C5-3 engine cluster, 350 foot altitude.

I had built the original K-22 kit in the early 1970s. The engines were slid into widened cardstock nozzles.

This new kit has (removeable for flight) scale nozzles. A finned cluster mount is slid in, turned and locked in place. A 24" rip stop parachute is included.

The online catalog page: CLICK HERE

To see the instructions: CLICK HERE

Estes Mini Arcas, #2441, Part 13, Shock Cord & Streamer

When forming a paper shock cord mount, I like to form the glued up mount to fit the inside of the body tube.

Estes has developed new plastic, self-adhesive shock cord mounts for the BT-50, BT-55 and BT-60 tubes. The BT-20 and BT-5 tubes are too small. 

Note the pencil mark on the rubber cord to be used as a depth gauge, 1" down inside the tube.

I use tweezers to insert the paper mount to the 1" depth before pressing the glued mount to the inside of the tube.

The chromed mylar streamer had rough cut ends. 

For easier placement of the clear tape, the upper end of the streamer was lightly taped down to my work surface.

Estes Mini Arcas, #2441, Part 12, First White Coat

The first white undercoats always show the glue blobs you didn't smooth out before spraying.

On the left - One side, very rough fillet areas.

On the right - I wish they all looked this good! There would be less work before final paint sprays.

Something I don't think I mentioned earlier - Look close at the balsa grain. It doesn't run down the leading edge line. The grain is parallel to the trailing edge.

Here's one quarter view after sanding with a well used piece of 400 grit. All the glue boogers have been lightly sanded to surface.

I'm going to try a "shading" decal to give the impression of diamond shaped fins. More coming up . . .

Two Stage Water Rocket?

 

I've launched a few single staged water rockets - 

This video shows a two stage water rocket 

with a parachute for the booster - 

CLICK HERE

Hairspray Powered Rocket?

It looks like a water rocket, but the propellant and controller are much different!

I'm sure this doesn't follow the NAR Safety Code, but interesting.

To see  the video: CLICK HERE

Estes Mini Arcas, #2441, Part 11, Fin Support Gluing

That score line is open, I had to fill it with some CWF applied using the tip of a knife blade.

On the right side, the filler is sanded to surface.

Note the pencil marks, they are just inside the length of the fin supports. I also marked the high points of the tail cone/body tube joint.

Glue is set down in between the pencil lines and the fin support pressed in place.

The fit of the supports isn't tight into the root edge, not as close as I'd like. Glue fillets will help fill the gaps.

Estes Mini Arcas, #2441, Part 10, Fin Gluing

 

The paper fin marking guide gave perfectly spaced fins. 

Part H (fin alignment and spacing tool) fit very well.

With the fin notches in line with the tail cone/body tube joint -

The trailing edges are about 3/32" from the end of the tail cone.

The fin support pieces should fit tightly into the root edge corners.

Go light with the glue fillets to allow a close fit of the support pieces to come.