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 Rocketry Product: Estes - Boosted Bertha {Kit} (1946) [2019-]

Model Rocket Building: Two Of My Estes Builds At Show (2019-06-25)

Randy Boadway posted some pictures on Facebook -  Two models I built for Estes are already making the rounds, here displayed at  The Hobbytyme Show. Randy and Blaine show off the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 1 Parts (2019-10-10)

Estes has had many Big Bertha variations over the years, now a two stager! I've seen a few two stage Bertha flights on the forums over the years, it's now in a kit for all. Lots of balsa and decals! ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 2, Fin Prep (2019-10-11)

I was curious about the fins, if they were the same as the regular Big Bertha. I went to Jim Z's and printed up the Big Bertha fin template. Setting the kit fin on the older template - it's pretty ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Booster Bertha 2nd Stage Retainer Ring (2019-10-12)

In a comment from Boosted Bertha build Post #2, Openroad asked: "I’m curious about how the engine retainer holds up on the sustainer - how many flights will it take for the booster mo ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 3, Booster Engine Mount (2019-10-12)

Two engine blocks go in the booster stage - One at the top of the engine as usual, the second is glued even with the top tube edge to help direct the flame into the sustainer engine nozzle. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 4, Upper Stage Engine Mount (2019-10-13)

Sometimes you can clean up the burn marks from the laser cut process. TIP: Try a white eraser first, not a pink eraser. A pink eraser leaves behind a pink color. If that doesn't work, try an old ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 5, Filling Balsa & Tube Seams (2019-10-14)

I was building two of the Boosted Berthas so I had a lot of balsa to fill. Notice I don't apply filler to the booster fin TTW tabs. The inset picture shows no filler on the root edge. The body tube ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 6, Fin Marking & Booster Mount Gluing (2019-10-15)

Join the booster and sustainer segments with the coupler . . . No glue yet. TIP: Instead of using the wrap-around marking guides, use the booster fin slots to mark the upper stage fin locations. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 7, Booster Fin Gluing (2019-10-16)

TIP: Mark the back end corner of the fins so you can easily see it when set up even with the end of the body tube. The booster fin slots were a little tight. This might be because I fill the fins ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 8, Fillets, Fill & Undercoats (2019-10-17)

When you get good at applying fillet glue you won't have much to smooth out with a finger. The upper picture is the glue line applied, the bottom picture is the smoothed fillet. I'll usually do one ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 9, Masking The White Fins (2019-10-18)

There is one white fin on the booster and one white fin on the second stage. I used my standard (marked) Scotch tape. Masking over the rounded leading edge can be tricky. A strip of tape is rolled ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 10, Engine Retainers and Shock Cord Mount (2019-10-19)

Here's the Boosted Bertha before decals. Orange overall, one white fin on the booster, one white fin on the second stage. That seam fill at the joint of the booster centering ring and body tube came ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Part 11, Decals (2019-10-20)

GOTCHA: The checkerboard decals were too wide to fit between fins. One of the squares had to be cut off. Check twice before setting down the white fin tip decals. The angle has to match the shape of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Boosted Bertha #001946 Build, Finished (2019-10-21)

There you go - A great variation on a classic design! This one went back to Estes, I've already seen a posted picture of it at NARAM - 61. This will be a popular kit for Estes, made even better with ... [Read More]