New Estes Banshee Kit

I thought this one looked familiar!

It's (sort of) an upscale (ST-7 to BT-50) of the old Centuri wedge finned Bandito!

Here's the cardstock wedge fins assembly.

To see the instructions: CLICK HERE

"Cut out the eight holes as well?

Carded BANDITO Build Part 2 Fins

After "soft folding" to be sure your crease is right down the center line,
burnish the fold using the back end of a Sharpie to make a sharp crease.

Your wedge fin should look like the inset picture.
Notice the fin hasn't been cut out yet.

Open the creased fin to cut the details.



Score the glue tab (upper center) before cutting.

Cut the small retaining ring notches first. You can freehand cut the small cuts and use the straightedge for the longer ones.
Cut the glue tab and fold on the dashed lines.

Finally cut out the fins on the outside lines.



When the fin is first creased the root edges will be rounded.

Pinch the upper end of the creased leading edge to coax it into a sharper wedge shape.

Carded BANDITO Build Part 1 Fins

I recently released a new carded model PDF for a downsized Centuri BANDITO. The big Bandito design feature were the wedge fins.
This build does require some extra care, especially when forming the wedge fins.

Patreon members can email me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and ask for the Bandito PDF.
Make two prints of the PDF, one on 20 or 24 lb. paper for the body wrap. 24 lb. paper will look better.
You'll need a BT-5,  just under 8.6” long. The printed body wrap goes over that.
The second print is 110 lb. cardstock for the fins. There are plenty strong when made from 110 lb. stock.
The Nose Cone is a Semroc BC-522P, 2.14” tall. This is the closest profile available for the downscale.

The fins are printed out on 110 lb. white cardstock.
Don't cut them out yet! You'll need to score them first.
BE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE CLEAN BEFORE ANY FOLDING!

I'm using the rounded metal back side of a single edge razor blade to score a line down the dashed centerline. Put a few layers of masking tape over the sharp edge (now facing up) so you won't cut yourself.
I'm not cutting halfway through the cardstock to make the fold. The backside (not sharp side) of the blade is pressed into the cardstock, embossing a line for an smooth rounded fold.
Carefully place your straitedge down the center before using the blade back.
Score all three fin centers before cutting them out.

After scoring the centerline:
Cut the fins out oversize, outside the border lines.
It's easier to fold the fins with some extra card stock outside the sharp tips.

Don't fold a sharp crease yet.
Using just your fingertips lightly fold down the scored line making sure your fold is centered.
The sharp fold comes in the next post.