Model Rocket Building Blog 
Model Rocket Building Posts
Rocketry Product: New Way Space Models - Firecat {Kit} [2018-]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Background (2018-03-08)
The Estes Firecat was available from 1982 - 1984. This design shouldn't be confused with an earlier "Firecat" design, offered only to members of the Estes Aerospace Club. The big features were the ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 1, Parts (2018-03-09)I've built a New Way A-20 Demon before. It's a great kit and a change from the ordinary. This kit has that bulbous nose cone. What makes it fun is how it is built up. A balsa pyramid on top, four ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 2, More Parts (2018-03-10)New Way kits include sandpaper and an emery board for fin shaping, a nice touch. Long and short Q-tip style swabs are used to apply glue inside the body tube for the engine mount. The black ... [Read More]
Launch! Schoolyard, March 10, 2018 (2018-03-11)I should be driving to the NEFAR launch in Bunnell, FL - The club launch was cancelled, there is some maintenance work being done on the field. So, swap out some engines to lower power and head ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 3, Engine Mount (2018-03-12)This is the finished engine mount. It's layout is standard except for the "centering squares" and the thick engine hook retaining ring. Some 150 lb. Kevlar is tied under the upper centering square. ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 4, Nose Cone Taper Base (2018-03-13)The nose cone base taper was different. You'd think the designer would simply flip over a pyramid shaped nose one. The nose cone lower half is hollow, made up of four side pieces. Here's the first ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 5, Fitting The N.C. Shoulder (2018-03-14)Here's the before and after fitting the built-up base to the solid nose cone. On the left is before the top of the pieced base was sanded. The right side picture is after the top of the base was ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 6, Fitting The NC Base (2018-03-14)Here's a dry fit of the nose block, short tube and main tube. Do a dry fit can sometimes give you a better gluing order. The instructions have you glue the square base directly into the nose cone ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 7, Gluing Up the Nose Cone (2018-03-15)I tried the nose cone base on all four sides to find the best fit. The pencil line was a reference when the top and bottom were glued together. The body tube corners are slightly rounded. After the ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 8, Shroud Line Barbell Labels TIP (2018-03-18)The shroud line attachment strips are new and different. Tim at Apogee once called them "Nasal Strips". While they do look like the Breathe Right Strips, they are actually Jewelry Square ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 9, Shroud Line Tying TIP (2018-03-19)On the back of the small "Recovery Kit" envelope face card there is instructions for a shroud line knot. I tried the knot but it didn't work for me. This knot will slide up and cinch up around the ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 10, Engine Mount and Fin Grain Fill (2018-03-20)The engine mount is glued in with 1/8" of the engine mount tube extending out the back. The engine hook ends up being centered in a corner of the main air frame tube between the fin locations. The ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 11, Primer Filler Mask and Launch Lug (2018-03-21)The thru-the-wall fin tabs and a bit of the side wall of the fin got masked for the shot of filler/primer. I wanted the fillet area to be clear of the filler/primer for a better glue bond. The ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 12, Masking The Fins (2018-03-22)As suggested in the instructions - One side of fins 1 and 3 are red, one side of fins 2 and 4 are black. It sounds simple but it's not an easy mask. Trying to get a straight line around the edges of ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 13, Nose Cone Mask (2018-03-24)Here's how the fins came out. So far, so good! Masking the nose cone stripe was different. Scotch tape, brown masking tape and copy paper. When you pull the edge tape, lift it a little down and away ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 14, Decals - Uh Oh! (2018-03-27)Everything was great - until the decals! TIP : Always test the soak time and apply a decal (you probably won't use) on the model surface before using the "real" decals. I tried a test soak and ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4 Build, Part 15, Shock Cord Ties (2018-03-29)To be sure the Kevlar didn't extend beyond the body tube lip - It was pulled tight against the top of the body tube and the Kevlar marked with a Sharpie. This was fed out the rear, through the ... [Read More]
New Way Firecat 4, Finished (2018-03-31)This was fun, except for that minor glitch with the decals! These are very sturdy models, a bit heavier than a comparable sized rocket. The square tubes are thick! I was surprised how well it ... [Read More]
What Knot Is It? (2018-03-31)In an earlier post I showed the knot tying diagrams from the New Way Firecat 4 kit. I was a Boy Scout and tied my share of knots but that was years ago. I do remember the simple ones. ... [Read More]
The BIG FIX - New Way Firecat 4, Part 1 (2019-01-10)From the December 1, 2018 R.O.C.K. launch: "When I picked it up I noticed one of the upturned fins had torn off. A dent in the nose cone assembly told me it was hit from a snap-back ejection. The ... [Read More]
The BIG FIX - New Way Firecat 4, Part 2 (2019-01-14)I'll be spraying new white paint over existing white paint so there is no need for a complex mask. The root edge fillet and fin are still bare. With any luck, the Titebond M&TG will fill and ... [Read More]
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