New to the Forum and Aggressor Aerospace...Love The Company

[Jumpmaster1980]

Hey everyone,

I am new to this forum and this is my first posting, but I just wanted to state that a recent kit that I just built from Aggressor Aerospace has me hooked back on the hobby.

First, I am career Army and a leader in Cub Scouts. A few weeks ago my son (age 6) attended an event with his Cub Scout Pack and we were able to visit a NASA Space Center and shoot some rockets off. Prior to the event I pulled out my old Estes V-2 that I built three years ago and bought some new D engines for it, found a local hobby shop and picked a few Estes kits and built them with my son. We ended up getting a Mini Honest John (let him design the paint scheme) and a Mini Der Red Max (customized painted that one also). I told myself that I wanted to build me a kit of my own so I went looking for some military themed rockets and off Apogee Rockets found the AGNI-1 Kit so I bought it with some other aftermarket parts.

Review of the Kit (took my time):

BLUF: It came out awesome (at work now, but I will post some pictures later)

Overall: I painted it 90% like the picture in the package. I extensively looked at pictures of the Rocket online and made some minor changes. First, I worked on the nosecone for about a week to make it look like all one piece instead of the three pieces that it took to construct it. CHANGE 1: I ended up painting the tip of the nose cone a Bright red and the rest Black, then putting about 3 coats of gloss enamel clearcoat and went from 400-1500 grit sandpaper to smooth everything out, finally using some polishing compound to get a high scheen on it. With the rest of the body, I used three coats of grey automotive primer and sanded it until everything looked smooth and had to put some wood filler around the stabilizing wings. Instead of a Sand paint, I went with a Tamirya USAF tan Enamel, OD Green, and medium brown (all Satin) and used blue painter's tape to mask the camo patterns. Finally after letting everything dry a day (took me another week to work, not rush the tube), I sprayed two coats of Satin Clearcoat on the Body tube, minus the wing tips, which were still grey primed and taped off. CHANGE 2: I used a bright red to paint the tips of the stabilizing fins (saw a picture online), then sealed those. CHANGE 3: Used Apogee's Plywood engine mounts and put an engine hook in mine. CHANGE 4: I mounted the motor mount about 1/2 inch inside the tube and used a clay epoxy to seal it in the tube. CHANGE 5: I used a Kevlar Shock cord and made it the length of 2.5x longer than the tube and used a nylon 15 inch parachute instead of the Estes 18 inch plastic one. Ended up looking great.

- Instructions: Being as novice as I am, I pulled out my old V-2 instructions as a picture reference and started building the rocket using the Card Stock stencils for the wings, etc. After building the two previous rockets with my son, it got easier (like I said before I didn't rush, overall took me 2.5 weeks to complete, but initially they were a little confusing.

- Look: Rocket is a-typical of normal Estes ones and I like the uniqueness of it as well. The conduits alongside the tube, the short wings, and the nosecone give it a great look. Compared to the photos and schematics that I found online, it is a good scale representation.

-Flight: Well they is to come tomorrow because I am taking my son out shooting them. Little to say because of where I live, I have to drive about 2 hours to do so. I am expecting it to go well. I plan on using a C6-5 for the first day of flight and if everything goes well (I don't lose it or it explodes) I am going to buy some single-use Aerotech D motors for 18mm Rockets.

***What to see in the future:

1) My Active Action Review of the Flight
2) Photos

If everything goes well, my next project will be the the Aggressor Aerospace UNHA-3 (what name and product number to use on its paint scheme for those who have previously built it)?

Would like to hear anyone's comments

[mojo1986]

Hey everyone,

I am new to this forum and this is my first posting, but I just wanted to state that a recent kit that I just built from Aggressor Aerospace has me hooked back on the hobby.

First, I am career Army and a leader in Cub Scouts. A few weeks ago my son (age 6) attended an event with his Cub Scout Pack and we were able to visit a NASA Space Center and shoot some rockets off. Prior to the event I pulled out my old Estes V-2 that I built three years ago and bought some new D engines for it, found a local hobby shop and picked a few Estes kits and built them with my son. We ended up getting a Mini Honest John (let him design the paint scheme) and a Mini Der Red Max (customized painted that one also). I told myself that I wanted to build me a kit of my own so I went looking for some military themed rockets and off Apogee Rockets found the AGNI-1 Kit so I bought it with some other aftermarket parts.

Review of the Kit (took my time):

BLUF: It came out awesome (at work now, but I will post some pictures later)

Overall: I painted it 90% like the picture in the package. I extensively looked at pictures of the Rocket online and made some minor changes. First, I worked on the nosecone for about a week to make it look like all one piece instead of the three pieces that it took to construct it. CHANGE 1: I ended up painting the tip of the nose cone a Bright red and the rest Black, then putting about 3 coats of gloss enamel clearcoat and went from 400-1500 grit sandpaper to smooth everything out, finally using some polishing compound to get a high scheen on it. With the rest of the body, I used three coats of grey automotive primer and sanded it until everything looked smooth and had to put some wood filler around the stabilizing wings. Instead of a Sand paint, I went with a Tamirya USAF tan Enamel, OD Green, and medium brown (all Satin) and used blue painter's tape to mask the camo patterns. Finally after letting everything dry a day (took me another week to work, not rush the tube), I sprayed two coats of Satin Clearcoat on the Body tube, minus the wing tips, which were still grey primed and taped off. CHANGE 2: I used a bright red to paint the tips of the stabilizing fins (saw a picture online), then sealed those. CHANGE 3: Used Apogee's Plywood engine mounts and put an engine hook in mine. CHANGE 4: I mounted the motor mount about 1/2 inch inside the tube and used a clay epoxy to seal it in the tube. CHANGE 5: I used a Kevlar Shock cord and made it the length of 2.5x longer than the tube and used a nylon 15 inch parachute instead of the Estes 18 inch plastic one. Ended up looking great.

- Instructions: Being as novice as I am, I pulled out my old V-2 instructions as a picture reference and started building the rocket using the Card Stock stencils for the wings, etc. After building the two previous rockets with my son, it got easier (like I said before I didn't rush, overall took me 2.5 weeks to complete, but initially they were a little confusing.

- Look: Rocket is a-typical of normal Estes ones and I like the uniqueness of it as well. The conduits alongside the tube, the short wings, and the nosecone give it a great look. Compared to the photos and schematics that I found online, it is a good scale representation.

-Flight: Well they is to come tomorrow because I am taking my son out shooting them. Little to say because of where I live, I have to drive about 2 hours to do so. I am expecting it to go well. I plan on using a C6-5 for the first day of flight and if everything goes well (I don't lose it or it explodes) I am going to buy some single-use Aerotech D motors for 18mm Rockets.

***What to see in the future:

1) My Active Action Review of the Flight
2) Photos

If everything goes well, my next project will be the the Aggressor Aerospace UNHA-3 (what name and product number to use on its paint scheme for those who have previously built it)?

Would like to hear anyone's comments

Hey, welcome back to a great hobby! Looking forward to any pics you can put up of recent builds and future launches!

Joe

[Daddyisabar]

On the UNHA 3 I just used Krylon gloss white and a little Testors brush on blue. It would have looked even better if after a through drying I used Testors matte finish to take off the sheen and protect the decals, but I was too lazy and flew it shiny. I did not put on the rocket nozzle "beads," way too small and time consuming and I was not going to enter it into a scale contest, just a sport flyer. I did put a tad more nose weight in and flew it on E12's, E9s and a composite F24 motors. Not a kit for a beginner but it looks like you can handle it. Drilling out the balsa nose cones is the hardest part and takes some patience. Epoxy in that nose weight and forget about those tiny scale fins!

[Jumpmaster1980]

Thanks for the replies

Could someone explain how to post my pictures? I read the "how to" and my pictures cannot be posted.

[mojo1986]

Thanks for the replies

Could someone explain how to post my pictures? I read the "how to" and my pictures cannot be posted.

As I recall the system will accept a wide range of file types but puts a restriction on size. With most cameras today the file size is of little consequence and high density photos are the order of the day. I run a Mac and open my photos in Preview and then crop them to reduce the file size below the maximum allowed here. You can also do that with Paint.

[Jumpmaster1980]

Finally Figured this out. Sorry for the background, but had to photo them before my daughter got them.

From Left to Right: Estes V-2, AGNI-1, Mini Honest John (son designed paint job), Mini Max (made my own paint job), finally my son's first rocket the Taser (Plastic fins kept falling off so I made my own...nothing special with this one).

The V-2 and AGNI-1 both have Kevlar Shock Cord and Nylon chutes.

[frognbuff]

Jumpmaster - thanks so much. There is NOTHING I like more than seeing a well-made model! I'm frantically trying to replenish the stock of kits at Apogee. The KZ-1 is now ready to ship as well (see that thread).

I'll keep 'em coming as best I can - just keep building them so beautifully!

-Scott
Aggressor Aerospace

[Jumpmaster1980]

Jumpmaster - thanks so much. There is NOTHING I like more than seeing a well-made model! I'm frantically trying to replenish the stock of kits at Apogee. The KZ-1 is now ready to ship as well (see that thread).

I'll keep 'em coming as best I can - just keep building them so beautifully!

-Scott
Aggressor Aerospace

Scott

Thanks I appreciate it. The AGNI-1, Mini Max, and Mini Honest John were my first attempt at model rockets in 2-3 years.

[Jumpmaster1980]

AGNI-1: Got a lot of attention on the flight line today. First launch I launched it on a B6-4 and it did not go very high, but it was a test run. Everything deployed great. I switched the 18" parachute that came with it for a 15" nylon chute. Second Flight I used a C6-5 and it landed kinda hard and a wing came loose and I lost one launch lug on the flight rod, however it flew great. Those two things were my error. It is currently in the repair stage. Once again, I love this rocket. Thanks Scott. I can't wait till my wife lets me buy the UNHA-3 from Apogee.

Taser: Lost the Rocket after second launch ever. I got a little more frisky and put a C6-7 in it second flight and it literally flew away. After the day, i spent an hour with my son looking for it and chalked it up for a lost. It was my daughter's favorite rocket (She loves the color yellow). When I got home she cried and asked "Where it my Yeddo wocket." So it looks like I will have to buy it again.

[luke strawwalker]

Sorry to hear it...

That's the thing with using bigger motors, especially in combination with larger parachutes-- never a good combination. Always fly to conditions as well... if it's windy or your field is surrounded by crops, tall grass, houses, trees, etc., better to fly on a smaller motor. If the wind is up, it's usually best to fly on a smaller motor.

Best of luck! OL JR :)

[frognbuff]

Here's a fun model I will NOT be selling - the North Korean ICBM.

[frognbuff]

Here's another one where I went all out. This is the North Korean "Musudan" IRBM, complete with Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL)! Again - probably not going to be a kit unless I can master the "finless" rockets described in one of the Apogee Rocketry newsletters. I can tolerate a few holes in the airframe, but not clear plastic fins. Blech!

The TEL is scratch built from wood and styrene plastic, with wheels and tires stolen from the ARII Scud kits, and a few detail parts borrowed from other kits. The missile cradle can erect, and I used a telescoping antenna for the "hyrdraulic ram." Not pretty enough to grace the pages of "Fine Scale Modeler" magazine, but I think it looks cool.

[frognbuff]

Front view.....

[luke strawwalker]

Nice stuff...

What about slide-in rear fin units?? Sorta like Dr. Zooch "Flame fins" but clear plastic instead... removable for display...

I like the NK ICBM... Clear fins or no...

Later! OL JR :)

[Jumpmaster1980]

Front view.....

Those are both awesome. It would be nice if the finless rockets would fly well so you could sell them because I would buy those in a heartbeat. I don't know what it is, but the North Korean and Iranian (both have helped each other's missile programs so there are many similarities) really fascinate me.

[Daddyisabar]

Here's another one where I went all out. This is the North Korean "Musudan" IRBM, complete with Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL)! Again - probably not going to be a kit unless I can master the "finless" rockets described in one of the Apogee Rocketry newsletters. I can tolerate a few holes in the airframe, but not clear plastic fins. Blech!

The TEL is scratch built from wood and styrene plastic, with wheels and tires stolen from the ARII Scud kits, and a few detail parts borrowed from other kits. The missile cradle can erect, and I used a telescoping antenna for the "hyrdraulic ram." Not pretty enough to grace the pages of "Fine Scale Modeler" magazine, but I think it looks cool.

Go-Go Gas Dynamic Stabilization! Fin less scale ballistic missiles with no fins or even the need for a launch rod. Just a few holes, a recessed motor and your off. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy! It works. . . Right? :confused:

[frognbuff]

Go-Go Gas Dynamic Stabilization! Fin less scale ballistic missiles with no fins or even the need for a launch rod. Just a few holes, a recessed motor and your off. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy! It works. . . Right? :confused:

That's what the tech report from Apogee says. Has anybody tried it? I definitely will, at some point. The reason the Musudan and NK ICBM won't become kits is the nose cones are a combination of custom parts and hand carving. Maybe a 3-D printed cone would make a viable kit, but no way I'm doing it in balsa!

[Jumpmaster1980]

You would definitely probably need a 3d printer and that is expensive, but it would be another GREAT One from you.

[luke strawwalker]

I dunno.. from what I hear, 3D printed stuff needs a LOT of work... great technology, but not quite "there yet" from what I've read...

If you have the prototype cone, why not use it to make a mold and resin cast the cones for the kit?? Dr. Zooch had a guy do some for his run of "Vanguard Eagle" kits that had a complex nose cone/spacecraft shape for his version of the X-prize rocket... They were great...

From what I understand, the guy made the molds, poured in resin, swished it around to get a good, thick, even coating on it, and then poured the resin off, so it's hollow like a blow-molded cone... if you make several rubber or silicone molds, one batch of resin can make multiple cones at one time... if it looks thin, pour in more later and swish it around for a second coat...

Something to think about anyway...

Later! OL JR :)

[Daddyisabar]

That's what the tech report from Apogee says. Has anybody tried it? I definitely will, at some point. SNIP

If you dare to go over to that other Forum there are at least three threads going on the GDS subject. This is the one I am trying to fly.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?126772-Help-me-gas-dynamic-stabilization-you-are-my-only-hope!

Be careful though. Playing with too much bad GDS rocket science over there can get you burned and banned! :D