TLP Pershing #K046 Build, Part 15, Shroud Seam Fills

When filling and sanding the seam filler you've got to be careful!

The overhanging edge of the above shrouds will be sanded down slightly when the filler is sanded.
After the first round of filler sanding some CA glue was brushed over the upper shroud lips only. This still left the card stock shroud below unsealed so the thinned CWF would adhere to it.

A wrap of masking tape was set down at the raised lip to keep the second coat of CWF on the lower shroud recess.
The picture shows the filler after the first coat was sanded.

Don't sand through the shroud where it is directly on the interior centering rings! With the ring underneath it's easy to thin the card stock skin.

Here's the mask and third coat of CWF filler.
It is layed down thicker at the raised lip and tapers down about 1" below that.

Replacement Altimeter

I just had a nice talk with Christine at Estes.
I called to see about a return authorization number for my Estes Altimeter. I've launched it five times without much success.
The last flight registered "0 ft."

Christine asked a few questions about how I used it. I know she was trying to see if I was just a kid trying to get free merchandise.
"Were there holes punched in the payload sections?"
I explained I followed directions.
She told me there was only five Altimeters replaced last year!

She asked for my address and we talked for a moment about other people I used to know at Estes.
Christine said it wasn't necessary to send it back, she'll send a new one out in a week to 10 days!
I've heard good stories about Estes Customer Service. A few years back I tried to contact them about a few bad engines I never got a response.
You've got to call the number on the Estes Website on the Contact Page.

TLP Pershing #K046 Build, Part 14, Low Shroud Fit and Trim

I wanted to use very little white glue on the centering ring / shroud joint.
To remove most of the glue a Q-tip end was "sharpened" by rolling between my fingertips.






It would be very hard to remove most the glue, the joint is very tight and hard to get to.

A little glue was applied to the tip of the swab and rolled into the joint. Use just enough glue to set the ring, too much and it could shrink up the shroud making a recessed "Coke Bottle" ring seen from the outside.
Later CA glue will be brushed on the outside of the entire shroud. That will help bond everything and toughen up the card stock shroud..

The third shroud slides over the top of the BT-101 tube.
The kit instructions imply that just the edge of the third shroud fits over the top of the tube. I think mine slid down more than what it should.

The upper pencil line is the top of the BT-101 tube.
I'm going to take a chance and cut the shroud on the lower line.
This will make less of a ridge at the low shroud joint.






The pencil line was extended around the shroud and the edge carefully cut off.
The new fit is better and the overhanging joint will be less noticeable.

Estes Mercury Capsule

From the 1964 Estes catalog:











This picture is from a recent Ebay "Lot" listing.
I'd never seen the capsule before. The printed graphics weren't much!
It's missing the rear balsa "heat shield" adapter.

From the Semroc repro kit instructions:

"The Estes Mercury Capsule was released in the 1963 catalog and was sold for many years. It was not a true scale of the Mercury Capsule, but was a fun addition to an “experienced” rocket to have a nose cone and payload section that was a little different.
The Mercury Capsule was introduced as Catalog #PSM-1 for $1.00."

The larger, low card stock shroud area was hollow and could be used as a payload section. The shroud was held in place with pins that went through the shroud and into the low balsa adapter.
A rear reduction shroud could fit the body tubes available in the early 1960s.

TLP Pershing #K046 Build, Part 13, Shroud Rings and Fitting

TIP: Enlarge the picture at the right to see the slight notch recess cut into  the outside of the centering ring.
The notch allows for a better fit underneath the glue tab overlap. It'll be hard enough to fill this raised tab without it being any higher than it needs to be.

Under a bright light you can see how high the interior ring sits.
You can also check if the ring is level. My ring was almost level, I didn't want to push my luck and press it in too hard.

OOPS! I made a big mistake here.
Push the third shroud into the bottom end of the second shroud BEFORE you glue the final lowest centering ring in place.

You can't slide the third shroud over the glued on ring!
I had to pull it off the ring. Luckily the glue fillets were still wet.
The third shroud was nested into the bottom of the second then the ring was slid up and glued into position.

Estes Suggestions From TRF

John Boren from Estes (Jumpjet of TRF) asked for product suggestions:
"Maybe someone can start a positive thread on what people believe Estes should produce, and no, the B14 motor isn't going to happen. Lets see if you can get 20 people to agree on the exact same thing, and I'm not talking about 20 people wanting the same discontinued kit being brought back. Think new and exciting stuff that more than .1 percent of the fliers out there might be interested in. I'll read the thread and maybe I'll "Learn Something" as stated on the NCIS New Orleans TV show."

From the top, the most popular, "*" equals 1 suggestion or vote -
As best I can tally the suggestions, here's what readers were asking for,

(11 votes) VIDEO (Cineroc or Digital Video) ***********
(10) UPSCALES (of Classic Designs) **********
(10) PARTS **********
(9) CANADA (And Other Country) SHIPPING *********
(9) RETRO REISSUE KITS *********
(5) MORE PSII KITS *****
(5) PLASTIC NOSECONES (More Styles) *****
(5) A3-6T ENGINE *****
(4) BUILDER’S KITS ****
(4) MORE BULK ENGINE CHOICES ****
(4) PHOTOGRAPHY (Still Pictures) ****
(4) THICKER WALL TUBING (BT-5 and BT-50) ****
THREE VOTES EACH:
1/100 SATURN 1B, BETTER ALTIMETER, ELECTRONICS, MAXI BRUTES, 18mm CLUSTERS.
TWO VOTES EACH: 
PSII CLUSTERS, BIGGER ROCKETS, BALSA NOSECONES, RC BOOST GLIDER, BUILDER KITS FOR E16 &F15 MOTORS, NEW ENGINES, 38MM ENGINES, SCALE KITS, EASIER IGNITERS, BETTER SHOCK CORDS, NIGHT FLY (LIGHTED)  PAYLOAD SECTION, GLIDERS, CENTURI SUPER KITS, WIRELESS LAUNCH CONTROLLER
ONE VOTE EACH:
DOWNSCALES, GOONIES, ROCKET GLIDER, 24MM B ENGINE, RTF SCI-FI, 29MM BP ENGINES, MINI BRUTES (Retro), WADDING AND IGNITERS WITH ENGINE PACKS,  EXOTIC KITS (builder kits), LARGE ENGINES, NEW METAL FIN JIG, LAUNCH RAILS,  CIVIC OUTREACH PROMOTION, CAMERA QUADCOPTERS, METAL TUBE CUTTER, 1/100 SPACE SHUTTLE, VACUFORM KIT, 4" ATLAS MERCURY, COX SHUTTLE, 18MM D, UNIQUE RECOVERY (HELICOPTER), BETTER PARACHUTES, INCLUDE SNAP SWIVELS IN KITS, 50S SCI-FI KITS, BETTER INSTRUCTIONS, MORE PART INFO, ROCKSIM IN INSTRUCTIONS, UPSCALE APOLLO CAPSULE, MARS SNOOPER III PSII.

Mr. Boren was wanting to see 20 people to agree on the same thing. Well, he got eleven votes for video and 10 for upscales and parts!

Everybody has their favorites but personally I'd like to see:
Stronger walled BT-5, BT-20 and BT-50 tubes, builders kits, upscales, parts, A3-6t engines and a better altimeter.
Video is very easy with the cheap 808 Spycams. After the failed Estes Astrovision video system, I doubt they would try that again.

Launch, Schoolyard Soccer Field, Jan 18, 2015

I haven't launched anything in a month! Christmas holidays, wind and the cruise kept me away. When I got up at 7:00 a.m. there was no wind - until I walked over to the schoolyard. 

To test the system the first launch was the FlisKit MMX SHREW.
This was an older brown plastic casing MMX engine.
Not as high as previous flights, maybe 25 feet. Big deal! The streamer did eject and it landed without damage.

The Odd'l Rockets prototype FLARE was actually third in the air with a A10-3t engine. Too fast for a picture it peaked at about an estimated 200 feet up.

The wasted engine of the day . . .
The MPC CADET CRUISER was a disappointment.
The (recommended) Estes A8-3 only got it to 30 feet! The model fell sideways and was on the ground a second before the ejection charge went off.
I checked the finished weight and without an engine my model is 2.15 oz.
Maybe I got a bad A8-3? I'll try it again at a club launch with B6-4 and C6-5 engines before I make conclusions. The engine does hang 3/4" out the back. Maybe that might effect the C/G?




The wind was starting up. The launcher was moved to compensate.
The Estes REFLECTOR was launched with an A8-3 to about 225 feet.
I used the Estes ALTIMETER again. I checked it after the flight and it read - 0 feet! It's not me, I follow directions and knew how to put it in record/flight mode.
I've got a bad altimeter. It is going back to Estes for replacement.

More wind, the launcher was moved again - good thing!
My best flight was the Estes NIKE APACHE with an Estes B6-4.
The launch was textbook with apogee about 325 feet.
Anticipating drift, I had cut a small spill hole in the parachute.





It drifted 150 yards landing just outside the Soccer field fence on a grass landscape berm, a few feet from the street.
A little damage was found, the leading edge of one fin was dinged when the upper body snapped back. I was just glad it didn't land in the street or get run over.

Three good flights out of five launches.