White or Yellow Glue?

When I starting building model rockets in 1969, 

white glue was recommended in the Estes kit instructions - that was all we had in our house.

Centuri recommended white glue or their own "Superbond" yellow glue. Centuri Superbond was actually rebottled and relabeled Titebond.

When I got back into the hobby in 2005, I started back building with white glue. Over time, I switched over yellow glue. I still use white glue for carded rocketry where outside fillets are visible.

I copied the following information after an internet search:

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Key Differences Between White and Yellow Wood Glue

Setting/Working Time: Yellow glue sets faster (5-10 minutes) than white glue, making it better for quick clamping, whereas white glue allows for longer, more complex assemblies.

• Sanding/Finished Texture: Yellow glue dries harder and is much easier to sand without gumming up the sandpaper. White glue stays slightly softer and can become gummy, making it harder to sand properly.
• Heat Resistance: Yellow glue has higher heat resistance, which is beneficial when sanding, as the friction from sanders can cause white glue to soften and turn sticky.
• Cleanup and Water Resistance: Both clean up with water, but yellow glue is generally more water-resistant (often water-resistant rather than water-soluble) compared to white glue, which is generally water-soluble.
• Color/Appearance: Yellow glue dries slightly translucent (often a yellow-tinted amber) whereas white glue dries clearer.
• Application: Yellow glue is thicker, which helps with gap-filling, whereas white glue is often thinner and is commonly used for school projects or hobby work. 

Estes Mini Arcas, #2441, Part 14, Finally! Gloss White

After three passes of gloss white and sanding - 

allowing 48 hours between coats - 

I finally have a decent finish of the tail cone and fin support pieces.

After 48 more hours I'm going to attempt the complex red mask!

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 33, Priming The Recovery Probe

Initially I was just going to spray the long "recovery probe" black.

In the mid 1970s, I was disappointed with the long, unsightly extension. 

There was some tight and shallow body tube seams that could probably be filled with a good shot of filler/primer and sanding.

This probe will be painted flat black "so it won't be as noticeable on the launcher". HA!

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 32, Things To Fill

After spraying the shite undercoat, pinholes showed up in some of the glue fillets.

The intercooler fillets needed some sanding.

A crack showed up at the top of the secondary hull.

This was closed up with CA glue.

How did I not see this?

The seam on the retainer ring was pretty obvious.

CWF filled the seam and sanding followed. 

Then, another white undercoat.

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

Back to the Enterprise! 

I took 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