Estes USS Enterprise Build #1275, Finished

The picture above shows the Enterprise connected to the long "recovery probe", required for stabile flight. Note the dowel "finger" set over the top of the large disk.

This design had to be a stable flight challenge for the Estes designers. For me, it was a visual disappointment. 

The underside showing the clip on recovery probe. Painting it black doesn't camouflage the addition.

Will I ever launch it? Probably not. Even with internal plywood reinforcements it's delicate and would have recovery damage. I wouldn't want to repair cracked vacu-form plastic.

I know, the bead of glue on the radar dish is too large.

The decals ended up being a mix of originals and reprints.

To be honest - I'm glad this one is finished!

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 53, Loose Ends and "Probe"

I did my usual paint scrape of the engine hooks. 

Near the motor, that paint would blister and chip off.

On the recovery probe, the end of the engine hook was also scraped.

The Midget style nose cone gets two of the old style lead weights.

You'll need them for stability.

A SC-2 rubber shock cord is only 18" long. I replaced it with a much longer elastic cord.

I attached the 18" parachute to the shock cord, about 4" away from the screw eye.

Here's how the recovery probe clips onto the BT-20 tube at the underside of the assembly.

Slip over the coupler and lock the engine hook into the slit cut into the lower BT-20 tube.

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 52, Assembling The Assemblies!

This was one step I took very carefully.

Contact cement is applied to both parts to be joined. If it dries, the two glued surfaces can grab immediately!

I thought if I didn't let the cement totally dry there would be some extra time for adjustments.

I quickly applied a bead of cement to both sides and immediately pressed the two assemblies together.

Visually line up as best as you can from the front - Check the equal spacing of the propulsion units above the disk top.

- and the rear.

Hold both assemblies tightly together as the glue dries and sets up.

I'm glad this one is winding up . . . 

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 51, Replacing Lifting Decals!

Before starting this build I ordered replacement decals from cmrproducts.com. You're probably asking: "Why didn't I use the new decals?" 

Some of the CMR decals were blistered, shown on the right. Not all of the decals, just some. I kept them just in case.

That chipped yellow circle was replaced. 

Before soaking, I cut it where it lays over the raised hull seam. This gave a much better fit.

One of the red arcs was lifted off the surface.

Both arcs were replaced.

Most of the larger decals were fine and holding. 

The skinny line decals weren't staying down.

On the left is the before, the red line is lifting while the other one broke off and is short.

On the right is the replacements.

I also painted the raised beacon dome silver.

Sorry, no build post today -

I celebrated a birthday on May 15! My Sister and her husband flew in from Oklahoma. I spent the past few days showing them Orlando destinations. The Enterprise build will finish up tomorrow -

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 50, The Last Decals!

Two red line decals are cut close to the ink so they will fit close to the raised seam joint. These were brittle and one broke off at the end.

I still have to paint the beacon dome silver.

You may have noticed I haven't glued the primary hull disk to the secondary body assembly. I remember building this one in the 1970s. It was difficult to place the decals with the disk attached to the lower body assembly.

Here's the disk bottom with all decals in place.

And the top - 

These old decals will get some Future floor finish brushed on  with a Q-tip.

It's almost finished!!!

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 49, Still More Decals

This disk gave me problems! I should have cut it in half before soaking like the other round decal.

I figured I'd set it down, let it dry, then slice at the edge of the overlap.

When cutting with a razor blade, the cut line chipped.

Things were good up until now!

These thin arc line and window decals were tricky.

It took some visual spacing and luck.