Estes Star Speeder #1366 Build, Part 5, More Parts Prep

I'm still trying to get all the parts ready for the build. Some have to be made up like the large toothpick gun, others are fabricated from existing parts.

The kit has a single nose weight, what Estes once sold as #NCW-1A. It was a lead washer and weighed .12 0z.
You won't find a lead washer weight these days. I went through my supply of washers and found two when combined weighed .13 oz. Close enough!  

At the rear of the engine mount is a split 20/50 centering ring. You could probably order split rings from Semroc but it's easy enough to make with a sharp knife.

TIP: Make your split cuts like on the left away from the inside and outside seam joint. Don't make a cut over a wrap seam shown on the right.

Remove a wedge about 1/8" wide, a bit wider than the engine hook.
To clean up the cut you can sand the ends with a sanding block.

On the right is the finished split ring, ready for assembly.

Estes Quinstar #7241 Build, Part 9, Removeable 18mm Mount

The 24mm BT-50 tube and ring are glued into the center hole of the cage.
Glue was dripped down the side walls and the tube slipped into place with the centering ring (engine block) at the top.

Glue together the 18mm mount as shown in the instructions but the top 20/50 ring is left off. That ring is already inside the BT-50 now in the cage.

A rubber band was used to keep the split ring ends down and against the body tube wile the glue dried.

The open top of the BT-20 mount slides into the 10/50 centering ring at the top of the BT-50.
I had to rub down the burrs on the inside of the centering ring so the top of the BT-20 tube would slip in easier.




Here's the 18mm mount in the 24mm tube. It's not glued in, but slipped into the 20/50 ring already in the top of the BT-50 tube.
The rear notched ring is flush with the end of the BT-50 tube.

A small strip of tape would wrapped around the back end to keep it in place. The fit is pretty tight, it might not even need the tape.
The ejection charge would blow out the top, it might not kick out the engine mount.