Model Rocket Building Blog
Estes Gauchito Build #1279 OOP, BackgroundHere's another one of the X Prize kits, the Gauchito. This entry was from Pablo de Leon & Associates from Argentina. Gauchito means "Little Cowboy." The package face card says "Little Joe II styling." It's actually got Mercury Little Joe I fins, the top end looks like the Apollo Little Joe II. ...[Read More]
Estes Gauchito Build #1279 OOP, Part 1, PartsParts is parts! This is a little more than a 4FNC model. Parts are good, but I'll be upgrading some things. Lonnie B. told me the main module tube.tube is a BT-58, the same diameter as the 1/100 Saturn V service module tube. Parts of interest: This kit had one of the "spider web" print parachutes. ...[Read More]
Estes Gauchito Build #1279 OOP, Part 2, Finger Tab RemovalI like my models to stand up straight on it's fin tips! Do you really need that finger tab? "Score" the break point with wire cutters. Don't expect to cut through the engine hook with the wire cutters alone. Look close at the inset picture - you can see the lightly scored line. I use two sets of ...[Read More]
Estes Gauchito Build #1279 OOP, Part 3, Engine Mount PrepOn the left is the motor mount tube supplied in the kit. The seam gaps were wide and the tube felt weak. I cut a new BT-5 tube to substitute. The Mylar engine hook hold down ring had some cut burrs on both sides. With a new knife blade I was able to shave it smooth. The fins were laser cut but the ...[Read More]
Estes Gauchito Build #1279 OOP, Part 5, Nose Cone Fit, Tube End StrengtheningThe plastic nose cone base was glued in place with my standby glue - Beacon Fabri-tac. The fabric glue contains acetone and does a good job with some plastic to plastic and plastic to Kraft tube (body tubes) joints. DON'T use Fabri-tac glue to assemble a Mercury Redstone or Saturn V tower. Use a ...[Read More]
Estes Gauchito Build #1279 OOP, Part 6, Engine Mount Gluing & Fin MarkingThe die-cut centering rings required some sanding for a friction fit. On the right is a dry fit of the engine mount, the rear ring will end up 5/8" inside the tube. Shorter, stubby models sometimes need this recess for stability. The engine mount was set beside the tube to mark the centering ring ...[Read More]
Estes Gauchito Build #1279 OOP, Part 7, Nozzles & PaintThe four nozzles were sprayed metallic silver on both sides. Before gluing on the nozzle plate, the paint was scraped off using the backside of my knife blade. TIP: The fit of the nozzle plate was loose in the back of the model. Four small drops of glue were set inside the body tube. After the ...[Read More]
Estes Gauchito Build #1279 OOP, Part 8, Stickers!On the left is the die-cut sticker outline. Why not just cut it out on the color edges? You won't notice the clear areas as much. On the right are the corner tics for a tight border cut. A strip of paper was wrapped around the body tube for equal placement of the stickers. Below the "I" in the ...[Read More]
Estes Gauchito Build #1279 OOP, FinishedThis was a easy standard build with a little history. Once in a while it's nice to build a simpler model without any frustrating masking. The big surprise was the Rustoleum Copper spray paint. This paint could be used on a 1950s style sci-fi rocket with good success. This is my first try with the ...[Read More]
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