Semroc IQSY Tomahawk Build Part 14 PDF Details

Using the N.A.R. scale data (Thanks Brian!) I've drawn up the black band (with the telemetry antenna and bolts) and fin plates.

This picture to the left is a .jpg of the full size PDF.

Don't enlarge this .jpg to use on the model!

If you are a Patreon supporter, email me at:

oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and I'll send it to you free!

Mention the Tomahawk PDF in your request.

This was a Deci-Scale 1/10th scale model, so the scale data measurements were simply divided by 10 and drawn up.

If you request the PDF print, enlarge the view and you can see the bolts are round with a six-sided hex recess) in the middle.

Please note: This is a scale drawing, as I could possibly get. This PDF is meant to be an extra enhancement for the Semroc kit.

The bolts are supposed to be silver, on the PDF they are gray. I don't own a Alps printer to get that silver print.
If you are looking to make a Tomahawk with a "closer to scale" look, let me know, I'll send you the PDF.

Easter = Egg Loft Capsules!

Recently I got an email about the blog:
"Write about new stuff - we've been building rockets for years and you write about things I already know!"

This blog isn't necessarily aimed at the master builder, or someone who has "been there, done that."
Not everything in this blog is new, just some ideas that I've picked up along the way. I hope that some are picking up a useful tip here and there.
A new builder may not know about making egg capsules from these plastic Easter eggs.

I picked these up at Hobby Lobby. Retail was $.77 for six and they were on sale for 40% off of that! Forty-seven cents for six eggs? You bet I picked up a package.

These are 3" tall by 2" wide, perfect for a large sized egg.
I've also seen true scratch builders use these for cheap nose cones.

Down the road, I hope to build an egg lofter using using one of these plastic eggs.

Semrock IQSY Tomahawk Build Part 13 Fin Plates and Telemetry Wrap

I pressed a piece of paper into two facing root edges to get the (body tube span) width of the fin plates. It was right around 5/8".

Using the scale data I started drawing the fin plates, bolts and the telemetry antenna wrap.


Using scale data from four different sources I found that:

• Three fins are white, one fin is black.
• The flush telemetry antenna is centered between the black and white fin.
• The bolt heads on the nose cone and telemetry section are aligned with each other
• A fin plate without the center line (three bolt centers) goes between the black and white fin. The rear line of the plate is.187" from the end of the tube.
• As near as I could figure, alternate the three and four bolt center plates between the fins.

Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter Article

My article on Advanced Finishing Tips was posted yesterday in the latest Apogee Peak Of Flight E-Zine.

The suggested paint scheme for the DynaSoar LexxJet is a classic but hard to pull off using masking tape and a spray can.

In the article I show how to get better results using MonoKote Trim sheets.

Keep an eye out for other building tips incorporated in the article.

Check it out at the Apogee website HERE, Click on "Download the latest issue #281"

Thanks to Tim VanMilligan and the Apogee crew for an impressive model in the air and on the display shelf!

Semroc IQSY Tomahawk Build Part 12 Fin Placement

Here's the lug placement after fillets, priming and sanding.

Before spraying the gray primer, thin masking tape strips were set over the fin alignment lines to leave bare tube for a better gluing surface later.

All four fins are in place.

A thin fillet was applied. the instructions tell you to keep the fillets small. The real Tomahawk fins were bolted down with no fillet or fairing.

The model is ready for the white undercoats.

Model Profile Semroc Nighthawk

It was designed by Gene Street and available from Estes from 1967 through 1973. The catalog number was K-34.

I can remember seeing this boost glider for the first time in the second Estes 1969 catalog. When I got into rocketry, Estes ran out of the standard color cover catalogs. They released a 8 1/2" X 11" black and white edition with the catalog pages reduced. But the Nighthawk stood out even when shot down to half it's catalog listing.

If a boost glider could be called "sexy" this would be the one they were talking about.

Check out the wings - you can see the airfoil on the wing tips. It took some time to sand, I don't think I could have pulled it off when I was 13.

The pod connection was tricky. That dowel has to fit correctly into the front of the glider. Add the trapezoid side alignment pieces and you are in for a building challenge.

The front fins on the pod are used for trim during the boost. They are on a thin aluminum hinge sandwiched between two outside pieces of balsa.

I have yet to fly this one!

Semroc IQSY Tomahawk Build Part 11 Launch Lug

The body tube was marked for the four fins and launch lug.

The rear of the fins are glued .150" from the end of the body tube.

I decided to use a forward wrap of masking tape around the body tube and align the front fin tip along this tape edge.

After I had glued the first fin in place, I realized I should have glued the engine mount in beforehand. I wanted the engine mount end to be flush with the rear of the main body tube to more closely match the scale drawings.

With one fin already in place the mount was glued in. The flat bottom of my sanding block was used to press it in place and insure it was flush and even.

I did a little more backtracking after gluing that first fin in place.

The instructions tell you to glue the launch lug 1/2" from the back end of the tube. This is a smaller diameter, ST-8 body tube. I could foresee that fillets around the lug would be hard to make with the fins in place.

I removed the one fin I had already glued in place to add fillets to the launch lug.

If I were to do build this model again, I would glue the lug farther up the tube.

After it was glued and fillets applied, I realized this lug placement would be in the way of the reinforcement plates! I'll make adjustments to the plates so they'll fit around the lug later.