Estes Black Brant XII, Kit # 9723 Build, Part 2, More Parts

LOTS of balsa!

Here's the balsa for the lower stage fins.

On the left is the tabbed central core (Part K) of the laminated fins.

In the middle and on the right are the outside laminations (Parts L & M). 

Launch lug standoff pieces are in the center.

The second stage fins, 

The tabbed center core (Parts N) is on the left.

The two middle sheets are the laminations. (Parts O & P)

On the right side is the seventh balsa sheet with the tunnel pieces and the "U" detail pieces.

The upper stage fins are molded plastic, well detailed.

There is a 1/4" wide elastic shock cord. Beneath that is Kevlar! Kevlar in an Estes kit?

Two 1/4" launch lugs

A green retention ring

29mm engine retainer rings.

A ESTES name decal.

Here's a better look at the plastic upper stage fin.

Kevlar

The upper nose section is a one piece blow molded tube section and nose cone.

The parachute and shroud line tie point on the adapter lug is reinforced. A new design, much stronger than earlier loops.

Estes Black Brant XII, Kit # 9723 Build, Part 1, Parts

Oh boy - The blog is back!

Well, on occasion anyway.

Here's the new Estes Black Brant XII, Kit # 9723.

This is a single stage, TALL rocket at 54.6".

The recommended engines are a E16-6 and F15-6. Soars up to 1050 feet.

This is considered a EXPERT build.

You'll spend a lot of time shaping the two lower sets of laminated balsa fins. It is painted in six different colors.

"Originating in 1957, the Black Brant was created as a result of the research conducted at the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment (CARDE). CARDE’s initial purpose was to research and test anti-ballistic missile systems and long-range communication. 

The Black Brant XII is a result of this development. It is a four-stage system that consists of a Talos 1^st stage, Taurus 2^nd stage, Black Brant 3^rd stage, and a Nihka 4^th stage. The Black Brant XII’s design allows for it to carry anywhere from 1000-pound payloads to a 500km altitude to 250-pound payloads to an altitude of 1400km. The Estes Black Brant XII model rocket is a 1:14 scale replica." 

Here's what comes in the box - Balsa is in the next post.

There are quite a few new molded parts.

The first part of the blog build will be a flying version. I am building four of these for Estes, two flying versions (less detailed) and two show models.

More in the next post . . .

A Page From My Hometown Newspaper

 

A page from my hometown newspaper, the Watsonville, CA Register Pajaronian from December 1975.

A group of aerospace modelers met for a weekly launch at a nearby school. I would call the nearby city airport each launch day to let them know.

The Gemini Titan is mine. Using only 6 volts, only one of the two engine cluster ignited. It veered and landed hard before the ejection charge. I asked the reporter not to comment on that flight.

Who would have guessed that 50 years later this would be a full-time job building show models for vendors!

Back Building!

I thought I had finished up the blog on June 30. I was going to build a few wooden ship models. 

Well, that didn't pan out - yet.

I'm back building a few rockets.

Did you ever sand off your fingertips? Ouch!

I found myself with more time on my hands than I wanted. I had plenty of time to practice Piano and Accordion but something was missing. I'm not one to sit on the couch and stare at the TV for hours and hours.

So - a compromise. I'll blog when a vendor kit is built. That'll still keep new products on the blog. Finished vendor models are sent back and won't fill my shelves with models that seldom fly!

After a build is completed, there may be a break until the next vendor build arrives.

I won't say what's coming up - yet. I am building something.

Occasional Post? A Lost Rocket Parachute?

I know I said the blog was "finished", but I might do some occasional posts or builds - Just not everyday!

This was too interesting to pass up.

When walking to check my mailbox, I saw something familiar in a planter. Red and white plastic.

Closer examination showed it was one of my Odd'l Rockets parachutes. What I found is on the left set next to a new parachute. It may have landed on a roof, eventually fell to the ground and was chewed up by a lawnmower.

It had to be from one of my "lost" models launched from the small schoolyard two streets to the West.

It seemed thinner than the original 1 1/2 mil plastic. It had started to degrade and felt thinner.

The Blog Is Done!

This will be the last blog post!

Over 7,500 posts over almost 13 years! The blog will remain online until the folks at Google decide to delete it. I've been thinking about this for a while. 

Odd'l Rockets are still in production. 

I'll continue to build show models for the manufacturers. 

Odd'l Rockets kits and supplies will still be found through your favorite online vendors. Pigasus and Little Green Man kits are available again!

I ask that you do not distribute my decals, templates or carded models until I decide where they will end up. I still retain all Copyrights (ownership) of my original art and instruction sheets. Please - No kit production or copies of the PDFs. I won't tolerate someone simply "copying" and making a profit from my work.

What will I do with my build time?

I have a few wooden model ships I'd like to tackle. You think the old Estes Mercury Redstone (K-41) escape tower was tough? "Plank on bulkhead" models require plenty of patience and time. I hope to attend club launches after the Summer heat is over.

To those who supported the blog through Patreon and Paypal donations - a BIG Thank You! The donations are appreciated and always went directly towards the builds. 

I learned a lot! - I hope you picked up a few things, too. 

Thanks for reading!

Jay Jarris' Mini Honest John Kit Bashes

KITBASHING: Creation of a new model by combining elements of multiple commercial kit models.

For everybody that bought multiples of the Estes Mini Honest John when WalMart was clearing them out - Here's some ideas on how to customize all those extra kits!

 

From Jay Harris' post on Facebook - 

"They haven’t been back on sale for a while on Walmart but when they were, 

I bought a bunch at $3.13 each! The Estes Mini-Honest John. I used each kit to build something scratch unique!"

E12 Power HJ

The Estes EAC Firecat

Nike HJ Ajax

Nike HJ X

Nike HJ Concept

Nike HJ Hercules

Buck Rogers 13mm