Old (Original) Mars Snooper Instructions

With the upcoming Super Mars Snooper kit from Estes - you might find this interesting. 

When Estes releases the kit, a build will follow on the blog.

On the Estes Model Rocket Facebook page - 

Mark DiGregorio wrote: 

"When I first got into rockets at 10 years old there were no laser cut fins, you would have to cut a pattern from a piece of balsa sheet! I also remember building escape towers with one piece of dowel glued together on a template in the directions, had to make the spike by hand! Also had to cut chute out and put lines on with a sticker, things have gotten a lot easier since 1966!"

This prompted many responses, one from Mike Meyer:

"When I got into Rockets we had to harvest the balsa wood . . ."

James Zelewski (Jim Z's Plans) proved them right with a link to the original Estes Mars Snooper instructions.

Before it was a kit, The Mars Snooper was just an instruction sheet, Estes Industries Rocket Plan #25. To see the entire file: CLICK HERE 

      

The fin pods in the kit were first cut and formed from a balsa nose cone stock.

Simply cut the block into quarters,

Rough carve,

and sand round. Easy, peezy!

Glue onto outside edges of the two main fin pieces.

Check out the shock cord mount!

Make your own coupler, cut slits and weave the shock cord through the cuts. 

" . . . you may use the standard shock cord mounting procedure familiar to most every model rocketeer"

Glue the mount into the top end being sure to recess it 5/8" for the adapter shoulder. Sheesh!