Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 31, Fillets and Paint Prep

Back to the Enterprise! 

I've had a break from the frustrating Enterprise build. That, and the Arcas paint is drying.

I actually got a good fit of the pylon braces in the tube slots. There is still a seam gap though.

Wood glue fillets will fill any gaps.

More glue fillets followed where the supports met the vacu-formed secondary hull halves.

A dowel with an engine casing was glued into a dowel for a painting wand.

The front coupler was taped off to keep out paint. 

Onto the white undercoats - fingers crossed!

Waiting For The Paint To Dry - Upcoming Projects

I'm usually a few build posts ahead - but not right now!

Each sanded white coat has been evened and smoothed out the tight rough areas.

Spray and wait two days. Sand and spray again.

While the paint dries -

I've got a few ideas for future projects - 

I'm getting estimates to 3D print the finned BT-50S nose cone in the Sandpiper kit.

This one reminds me of  a downsized Jayhawk.

I suspended the build of the Starship Enterprise when I couldn't find a proper light gray paint.

I remembered using the Insignia White Tamiya paint on the Aerotech Astrobee D build. 

While the picture shows it as a cream color, it's actually more of a very light gray.

Another upcoming build - 

I just received the latest kit from New Way model rocket kits!

This design has some 1950s sci-fi vibes!

New Estes Gemini Titan Kit

It's about time!

Estes has just released a new "expert build" 1/48 scale Gemini Titan kit.

27" tall, 2.5' diameter.

Two C5-3 engine cluster, 350 foot altitude.

I had built the original K-22 kit in the early 1970s. The engines were slid into widened cardstock nozzles.

This new kit has (removeable for flight) scale nozzles. A finned cluster mount is slid in, turned and locked in place. A 24" rip stop parachute is included.

The online catalog page: CLICK HERE

To see the instructions: CLICK HERE

Estes Mini Arcas, #2441, Part 13, Shock Cord & Streamer

When forming a paper shock cord mount, I like to form the glued up mount to fit the inside of the body tube.

Estes has developed new plastic, self-adhesive shock cord mounts for the BT-50, BT-55 and BT-60 tubes. The BT-20 and BT-5 tubes are too small. 

Note the pencil mark on the rubber cord to be used as a depth gauge, 1" down inside the tube.

I use tweezers to insert the paper mount to the 1" depth before pressing the glued mount to the inside of the tube.

The chromed mylar streamer had rough cut ends. 

For easier placement of the clear tape, the upper end of the streamer was lightly taped down to my work surface.

Estes Mini Arcas, #2441, Part 12, First White Coat

The first white undercoats always show the glue blobs you didn't smooth out before spraying.

On the left - One side, very rough fillet areas.

On the right - I wish they all looked this good! There would be less work before final paint sprays.

Something I don't think I mentioned earlier - Look close at the balsa grain. It doesn't run down the leading edge line. The grain is parallel to the trailing edge.

Here's one quarter view after sanding with a well used piece of 400 grit. All the glue boogers have been lightly sanded to surface.

I'm going to try a "shading" decal to give the impression of diamond shaped fins. More coming up . . .

Two Stage Water Rocket?

 

I've launched a few single staged water rockets - 

This video shows a two stage water rocket 

with a parachute for the booster - 

CLICK HERE

Hairspray Powered Rocket?

It looks like a water rocket, but the propellant and controller are much different!

I'm sure this doesn't follow the NAR Safety Code, but interesting.

To see  the video: CLICK HERE