Model Rocket Building Blog
Estes Leo Space Train Inspiration?On The Rocketry Forum, Andrew K (BSNW) posted: "Pretty sure the Leo Space-Train is copy of this... https://www.space.com/boeing-withdraws-darpa-military-space-plane.html Which is pretty darn cool. Too Bad they canceled the program. I hope Estes comes out with more real-world ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 1, PartsThis is an impressive BT-60 based model. Many online comments thought it might be a pop-pod boost glider, but it has standard 18" parachute recovery. If you build this model and wish to paint it like the face card - Be aware of any tricky masks and consider painting assemblies separately before ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 2, Prepping & Gluing Up The WingsThe wing pieces are 3/32" thick. All laser-cut balsa edges are cut like a "wedge", a wider line at the top, thinner at the bottom. To be sure your pieces butt-up close and tight, square up the sides with a sanding block. These end pieces will be dealt with later. I wouldn't bother trying to square ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 3, Wing Joint SupportsLook to the inside corner of the wing and stabilizer joint to see Part N, the wing reinforcement piece. You'll need to shape these two pieces. Here's a closeup of the inside wing joint part right off the laser cut balsa sheet. The sides are sanded down at a 45 degree angle on both sides. On the ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 4, Strips & Small ActuatorsSquare up and smooth the hardwood strips, Parts O. The pre-production kit I received had balsa strips. The kits now have basswood strips. 1. Round the sides of the strips. 2. Taper the ends profile with the sanding block. 3. Round the top sides. Check from the flat back side to make sure the ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 5, Top Engine Pod SupportsThe Upper Engine Pod Supports are two pieces of laminated card stock. Glue three sets of two pieces. Before the glue sets up, Check the alignment of the pieces against the body tube. I'm not gluing the pieces onto the tube, just pressing down making sure both pieces are in line. The visible sides ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 6, Gluing Up The WingsThe three wing pieces were glued together after initial filling. (The pictures 1 & 2 shows a test fit before the CWF was applied.) Do a test fit of the "I" and "J" pieces to check the width when set over the wing center. GOTCHA: Look close - I had to add a shim to get the "J" piece to the ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 7, Upper EngineThe new design nose cone was pretty clean, the seams didn't require any filling, just sanding until smooth. The right side shows the engine mount in the BT-60 main tube. The end got a shot of filler/primer to fill any remaining tube seam. The two part "S" rings were cleaned up, but not too much ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 8, Small Top Engine Supports & Nose Cone PaintFrom the earlier post: The two Part "R" supports were glued together. The outside visible sides got a bead of wood glue to round and hide the joint. The glue bead was sanded after it dried. In the lower right - Even after spraying the first gloss white coat, the sides were still rough. Some light ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 9, Masking The WingsI can get pretty good results using Scotch tape for masking. But - your surfaces have to be smooth, fillets and balsa grain filled to get a clean separations using any masking tape. The outside M & L vertical stabilizers are half white, half gray. The color separation runs right down the ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 10, Masking Black Wing Leading EdgesTo match the face card and catalog pictures, this will be an involved mask. The underside is all black. The wing was already painted gloss white. The lug was painted gloss black. No real reason for pre-painting the lug it would have been black in the end. The lug gluing area was scraped for a good ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 11, Details & DecalsThe actuators (Parts P) were glued onto the wings and stabilizer sides. Paint was carefully scraped away for gluing. The locations are laser cut into the wings. I'm jumping ahead here - The small dot recesses were blacked using a fine point Sharpie marker. The kit I received was pre-production, ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285 Build, Part 12, Another Mask & Gluing It TogetherThe black on the underside is extended back, down the tube from the lines already masked on the nose cone. This was my first build, the second and third builds had the black extended all the way to the back of the main body tube. The gray support assembly, parts H, I, J and K were glued ...[Read More]
Estes Leo Space Train #7285, FinishedLots of pictures of this one! A lot of details to cover. The tough part of this kit are forming and filling the small actuators. To match the face card color scheme, I do recommend painting the colors separately before the glued assembly. This is an impressive model, the new C5-3 motor should fit ...[Read More]
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