Building The Card Stock Downscale Centuri Hornet Part 1, Parts

If you haven't built a card stock model before, why not give it a try?
These require no filling or painting unless you choose to add a balsa nose cone.
The laminated card stock fins are stronger than balsa and actually feel more like a plywood fin.
These are cheap! Mess up a part? Simply print off another.
The techniques on the Hornet build can be applied to other card stock models.

To build the model you'll need:
1. Two PDF Hornet prints (One 110 lb. print for the fins, One 24 lb. print for the body and launch lug cover)
2. Cereal Box Cardboard
3. Glue Stick
4. 8" length of BT-20 body tube
5. 1/8" X 1.25" launch lug (LL-2A)
6. Long plastic Nose Cone from the Estes BC-20 four pack (no filling!) or an equivalent balsa cone 2 3/4" to 3" long. The Semroc BNC-20G4 balsa nose cone is also a good choice.
Other standard rocket building tools


First, rough up the printed side of the cereal box cardboard.
The printed side is lightly sanded with 220 grit sandpaper.
This will make a better glue bond on the ink "sealed" side.
Be ready, this'll kick up a lot of sawdust!

With your straightedge and knife, cut off a sliver from the longest side.
One edge will need to be straight.
This cut edge will be the inside of the leading edge laminate fin.




Study the 110 lb. fin print.

Notice one side is larger than the other.
This insures full color coverage when the fins are cut out.
Dashed lines are folds, outlines are cut lines.
Down the middle is a dashed line. That's the leading edge fold covered in the next blog post.