I Wish Manufacturers Wouldn't Do This, Part 3 . . .

PAPER REINFORCEMENT RINGS?

Paper tears and doesn't really offer any reinforcement to a hard shroud line pull at ejection.

Right out of the kit bag, the ring was already tearing from a rough punch tearing into the plastic chute.

I often replace the paper rings with Avery Plastic Reinforcement Rings, #5720.

I Wish Manufacturers Wouldn't Do This, Part 2 . . .

WEAK KIT SHROUD LINES!

They easily break when you give these strings a tug.

I often replace the kit supplied shroud lines with #10 cotton embroidery string. You can buy a large spool at a craft store. 

Try to break cotton embroidery string! Go ahead, I dare 'ya!

LAUNCH! R.O.A.R., Christmas, FL, October 25, 2025

I don't usually go to club launches in the Summer. The R.O.A.R. club skips meeting in the hot months.

First launch for me today was the new, New Way BLADE RUNNER with a B6-4.

Straight and stable to 250'. Not too high considering the drag of the blade fins. A good start to a windy day. Check out the launch rods angled to the East.  

Many experienced flyers have never seen a MicroMaxx model. 

This is the ASP SANDIA SANDHAWK using a 1/8A MMX motor.  Compare it's size, next to the girth of the Estes MAV.

While I cautioned how fast these are, this one was easy to follow through ejection and touchdown. The small chrome Mylar streamer made recovery easy. Estimated altitude was 75'.

My new dog - 

This was Dakota's first rocket launch - she did great!

A little startled by the first loud composite motor boost. After a few LPR launches the "whooosh" didn't phase her!

Dakota can be skittish around people she doesn't know. She warmed up to some (patient) new friends.

A Summer blog build,

The Estes MINI BOMARC first flight with an A10-3t. 

Some "coning" during boost, but overall as stable as a winged rocket gets. I would estimate the altitude to be 175'. Full 8" chute and no damage.

Another Summer build - 

The downscale (BT-50 based) AMRAMM was based on the Estes kit and information from the Alway book.

A B6-4 got it to 350' with a straight boost. If I remember correctly, a half ounce of clay weight compensated for the forward fins.

Winds were up to 15 mph - lots of open chutes drifted to the West.

I don't think any models were lost, the AMRAAM landed too close to the small pond on the property. It's closer to the marsh than the picture shows.

Four up, four recovered with no damage.

I had hoped to launch the LTV Scout and Centuri Skylab - it was too windy to risk those rare birds.

New Way Blade Runner, Finished

I was looking forward to building this!

It should turn heads at the next club launch.

The blade fins make for a very clever design. 

The ring covers the fin/strake glue joint.

It took a little extra effort to fill and paint, but the finished look is worth it.

Big, Clean graphics.

Three colors and an easy mask.

My favorite new design this year!

New Way Blade Runner, Part 16, Vinyl Trim

A strip of black, self-adhesive vinyl is supplied to go over the color separation line.

TIP: The masking line paint ridge could show under the vinyl so I lightly sanded the paint ridge with some 400 grit wrapped around a Q-tip. Don't sand too wide, just knock down the paint ridge. 

On the left,

Fold back the backing to position just the start of the wrap.

On the right,

The wrap in place. Start and finish the wrap on the launch lug side.

New Way Blade Runner, Part 15, Decals

The short ring tube wrap decal could be cut in two for easier application.

More bars between the white and gray paint.

Dry fit - Notice the faint pencil line extending from the fins. Every other vertical black line lines up with the five fins.

Wet the body where the decal will be positioned.

The same wrap decal from the side - after soaking -

Slide just the first black bar off the backing paper and position it down the pencil line.

Continue sliding the paper off the decal as you wrap the decal around the tube. With any luck the decal will meet and line up on the other side.

New Way Blade Runner, Part 14, Decals

The ring was slid down the strakes from the top. I didn't use any wood glue.

After the ring was in place, I set a small drop of CA glue at the top of the joint. A Q-tip was close by to pick up any excess glue.

These decals were printed using a laser printer on laser/clear waterslide decal paper.

These took 25 seconds of soaking before they slid off the backing paper.

Double check the decals against the face card picture before cutting them out.  

These horizontal blade fin bars are set down and centered on the fins.