With 120 grit wrapped around the NC, I found that the spin motors could be sanded down very efficiently. A little too efficiently, apparently. Balsa to the rescue!

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__________________
Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org

Now for the fiddly bits. I'm not crazy about the launch lug locations, but don't really have any better ideas at the moment, so built and mounted the launch shoes per directions. The lower shoes, even after sanding to the BT contour, need to span a gap on the TC, so I glued slivers of balsa to the center. After further sanding, this provided a much better gluing surface. I used medium CA for these and the upper shoes, after a little sanding of the plastic. This makes a solid bond between balsa and plastic, though it grabs a bit fast. The balsa looks pretty icky at this resolution, but sanding sealer and primer should improve that.

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__________________
Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org

Next up, the motor bands. I copied the pattern sheet to heavier Cardstock, cut them with with an Excel # 11 blade, and used my trusty Sears leather punch for the holes. This Punch was my fathers, purchased sometime in the 60s. The heavier stock required the bands to be a bit longer.

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__________________
Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org

I decided to go fairly stock for the launch lugs, trying to keep this build true to the kit, with two minor changes. Both lugs were upgraded to 1/4", the ones from eRockets are thin, so the visual impact should be minor. The lower lug mounting seemed a bit fragile, so I lengthened it and glued a balsa standoff under the aft end. A 1/4" launch rod was used to align the fore/aft lugs.

It's a bit unusual that the design has the rocket not quite parallel to the rod - I guess that's the way the actual missile was?

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Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org

Looking good.
I'm looking forward to what the finished weight comes out as.
The stock Estes kit was supposed to have a finished weight of 14oz, and their finished weights were always highly optimistic.
If it comes in under 20oz I would consider it great.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

Thanks. Exactly 14oz after adding the motor band, including chute. Just primer, paint, and decals to go.

__________________
Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org

I am enjoying this thread.

I have one I pieced together. somebody sent me the fins and Christine (R.I.P.) sent me a nose and tail cone.

I don't remember why she did that.

Anyway, I like how you are doing the details!

__________________
"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run"

http://sandmandecals.com/

I like how you’re doing the fins!

__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

I used 3M Bondo gray primer for the HoJo base coat, which is the best stuff I've found for fast drying and sandability. It took a few cycles of primer and sanding to get things reasonably smooth, though not perfect. The color coat was Tamiya Olive Drab spray, which took nearly 2 cans. It's now at 14.8 oz. I've never used Tamiya sprays, they're really nice (but expensive). Even though it's a flat, the surface seems much smoother than Testors flat spray. The peel-n-stick decals adhered well without a gloss coat, all it needs now is a light dull-coat to take the shine off the decals.

The weight is a bit on the high side for an E18, but should still be OK, ~40fps off the rod, and 480'. An E28 will be better at ~50fps.

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__________________
Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org

Paul, you did a really nice job on that.


Joe