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  #1  
Old 12-19-2008, 12:59 AM
scigs30 scigs30 is offline
Master Modeler
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,261
Default Estes Space Shuttle Columbia Build

Well, we are in for some wet weather, so I figured it was time to start on another rocket. I just finished watching a documentary on the shuttle so I pulled this kit out to build. I have already built the Mini Shuttle and booster rocket with shuttle. This should be a fun build, and hope to start painting again after X-Mas.
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  #2  
Old 12-19-2008, 07:20 AM
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tbzep tbzep is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,610
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Weather? I thought you lived around San Diego....24/7/365 fun and sun.

Looking forward to seeing the build. How many kits are left in your quest to fill the 1979 catalog?
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  #3  
Old 12-19-2008, 11:41 AM
Green Dragon Green Dragon is offline
AL Swackhammer , power freak
 
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Location: New York
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I have one of those, partly built, but missing the nosecone..

don;t suppose anyone has a spare ? lol

~ AL
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  #4  
Old 12-20-2008, 11:26 AM
scigs30 scigs30 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
Weather? I thought you lived around San Diego....24/7/365 fun and sun.

Looking forward to seeing the build. How many kits are left in your quest to fill the 1979 catalog?

We are having a wet winter, go figure. I have to paint in the garage, so the temp and humidity has to be just right. Also I have purchased all the rockets from the 1979 catalog that I wand to build. I think there are only 3 or 4 I ended up not buying just because I new I would never build them. I just did an inventory of all my Estes rockets and I am close to 300 vintage and some new kits. My plan is to build everyone before I die, so I hope I live awhile. In the near future I will take some pictures of my collection and post them.

Sorry I don't have a spare shuttle nose. I have one more kit but it is sealed in a package. I will keep my open on Ebay and the thrift stores.
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  #5  
Old 12-21-2008, 07:27 PM
Rustee Rustee is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Great White North
Posts: 220
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The Space Shuttle is always a great kit,it's iconic. I bought a starter set this summer that's all foam with a booster tube. So I'm at my parent's place in the sticks and the booster got caught in a tree...couldn't shoot it down with a .22 so we cut down a 40-foot birch to get it,undamaged! (use lots of clay in that one). I'm tackling a Master's Series Space Shuttle soon,hope I don't screw it up! That one is probably a Shelf Queen only. Good luck on the build.
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  #6  
Old 12-21-2008, 10:41 PM
scigs30 scigs30 is offline
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That master shuttle kit is a lot of fun. I built it some time back and it was a challenge. The hardest part was the shuttle. Mine came with damaged plastic so I had to use a lot of Testors putty to fix the nose. I did fly it and it flew real nice. The shuttle comes down a little fast, but other than that it is a nice flyer. Here is a link to that build. Hope it helps.
http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/show...t=space+shuttle
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  #7  
Old 12-21-2008, 10:45 PM
scigs30 scigs30 is offline
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I have the balsa all sanded and glued together. This is an older kit so I had some slight depressions and damage to the balsa. I used some thinned Micro-Fill to repair the balsa. The parts fit nice and tight and so far an easy build. I will take a picture in the next few days before I prime the bird. I am going to try to keep the weight down by applying 3 coats of balsa sealer, one coat of grey primer. I will sand the grey down on top where the white goes and sand the grey smooth on the bottom where the black goes. I will then shoot a coat of flat white on the top only , followed by a coat of gloss white. The bottom and trim will be black.
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  #8  
Old 12-22-2008, 10:40 PM
scigs30 scigs30 is offline
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I have the shuttle all built and ready for a coat of grey primer. I sealed all the balsa with 3 coats of Aerogloss balsa sealer and the balsa is grain free. The kit wood is light, almost like contest balsa for model airplanes. I am guessing this was hand picked by Estes at the time to keep the rocket light. I used regular Elmer's white glue for everything except the plastic pods. On those I used tube cement. The paper piece that is inserted in the rudder is not glued in yet. I will glue that in tonight. The weather has put a damper on my painting, as you can tell I still have the Apogee in the background waiting for black fins. This is another fun build from the old Estes, kind of hard to clone because of the nose.


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  #9  
Old 12-23-2008, 06:13 AM
marslndr marslndr is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Boston
Posts: 168
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The shuttle is great! I've always wanted to build this. I have the masters shuttle and should build it. Too bad no one has molded an aftermarket nose cone.

Love the Christmas village.

Mark
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  #10  
Old 12-23-2008, 08:16 AM
scigs30 scigs30 is offline
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I am going to the families house for the holidays, so I will be gone until the New Year. Looks like my rockets will have to sit on the shelf until I get back to paint.
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