Model Rocket Building Blog
FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 1, PartsI've built one of these before, it is one of my favorite MMX models. A reliable, high flyer. My first HoJo has over 20 flights and is showing it's age. The kit parts are high quality. The body tube is supplied long and will be cut to size. I was surprised, decals are not included. Not a ...[Read More]
FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 2, Engine MountHere's the parts for the HoJo engine mount. You'll need a MMX engine casing to place the engine block. The engine block center is removed. Be careful, it peels out like a Pillsbury flaky biscuit. The engine casing extends out the back by 1/8". I slid the engine block in place with no ...[Read More]
FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 3, Engine Mount KevlarThe MMX kit Kevlar seemed a little thin. I've had this thin cord burn through before. I replace it with thicker Kevlar. A simple overhand knot was pressed into the glue fillet. The instructions suggest gluing the mount in so 1/8" of the tube sticks out the back. The engine already ...[Read More]
FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 4, Fin ShapingGlue the small launch lugs to the standoffs. When setting parts this small it helps to use tweezers. I found it easier using very little white glue. Once that dried, fillets were added. There isn't any light laser cut lines down the centers of the fins. You'll have to draw them on with pencil. ...[Read More]
FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 5, Fin ShapingUse a sanding block to shape these diamond shaped fins. This the top edges first. Don't thin it to a "razor edge", leave a little of the squared top. With the edge black you can see how thick the edge is and make adjustments when sanding. When sanding down the front edges you will automatically ...[Read More]
FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 6, Primer, Fin Gluing and PaintThe fins and lugs were stuck down on their root edges for a shot of primer. The body tube was set on a dowel end for a primer coat. The kit supplied marking guide ends didn't quite match up. I made my own marking guide out of a wrap of paper, folded in quarters. The body tube was sanded and ...[Read More]
FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 7, Decal Re-DrawI drew up some decals the first time I made the MMX Honest John. These were a downsize of the old Estes kit decals I didn't space them accurately, there was a lot of cutting apart and moving separate pieces. This time I did a paper wrap around the widest point of the older HoJo nose cone. This ...[Read More]
FlisKits Honest John FinishedOn the left is my older Fliskit Honest John, it has 21 flights. On the right is the new replacement. Since the first Honest John build in 2010, my decals are turning out better. The ink is darker and more dense. I was hoping the nose cone decals would fit the diameter but they still had to ...[Read More]
FlisKits Honest John Build, Part 8, Mask and DecalsWhoops! This one should have gone in earlier - after Part 7 and before "Finished". After a day or two I'll get them in order. Here's the mask for the black paint. The same is repeated on the other side. The body wrap decals were added. This row of bolts starts right at the top of the lug ...[Read More]
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