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Sport Rocketry / Scale Models / Saturn 1 and Saturn 1B
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 1 Parts (2010-11-03)
The parts are layed out on the cruise ship carpet. (I had intended to build this while on the cruise, but didn't bring any balsa filler!) The parts were all of good quality, typical of the Dr. Zooch ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 2 Prep (2010-11-04)The nose cone tip didn't last long. I'll have to build the point back up. I used Carpenter's Wood Filler straight from the tub without thinning. With the straight CWF it dries harder and stronger. ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 3 Prep (2010-11-04)The nose cone tip has been built up and sanded smooth. In Step 2 you are told to paint the upper tubes and adapter white. I decided to go ahead and fill the nose cone, too. Here's all four parts ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 4 Spider Beams (2010-11-05)The T-20 engine mount tube is marked for the eight spider beams. The spider beams support the fuel tank tubes to be rolled from card stock. In the picture the spider beam lines are extended down the ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 5 Rolling S-1 Tanks (2010-11-05)These tanks can take some practice to get right. You are only given four white tanks in the kit, I drew up extras from a sheet of white 110 lb. card stock. Simply draw up some boxes that are 2 9/16" ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 6 Rolling S-1 Tanks (2010-11-06)Rolling the S-1 tanks will take a bit of explanation. Start a pot of water boiling in a pan. After it boils, lower the heat to a low, slow boil. You want the water to steam. ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 7 S-1 Tanks (2010-11-06)The only way I've been able to get a good start on the tubes is to push and hold in the starting side with a straightedge. Push the inside edge down, start the roll and remove the ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 9 Engine Block (2010-11-08)Even though you are told to install the engine block (CR205W) in the next step, I though it might be easier to do it now. With the engine block resting against the top bend of the engine hook, it is ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 10 S-1 Stage (2010-11-09)Here the thrust structure tube is glued over the engine mount centering rings. The rear of the tube is glued flush with the rear ring. I decided to add white glue to the inside edge of the lower ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 11 S-1 Tank Placement (2010-11-10)The rolled tanks are glued into place. I sanded off a little of the overlapped card stock from the one black tank that'll sit against the engine hook. The thickness of the engine hook will raise ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 12 S-1 Tubes (2010-11-11)With all the tubes in place I wanted to make all the tops were in line before gluing them in place against the top centering ring. Card stock was wrapped around the tubes and rubber bands were ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 13 Fairing (2010-11-11)In Step 6, the CR2055F centering ring is slid down the top of the motor mount tube and a fillet is applied. Because of an earlier fillet, my 2055 ring didn't go all the way down flat on the top ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 14 Fairing (2010-11-12)The dried fairing was slipped down the body tube and left above the upper centering ring. Glue was applied to the upper edge of the ring and the fairing was slid down into the glue. Here's the upper ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 15 Body Wraps (2010-11-12)In Step 8, you are told to: "Apply the thrust structure paper wrap starting at a point where a white tanks meets a black tank." After a coat of spray adhesive, the wrap was set in place. Instead of ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 16 Fin Shaping (2010-11-12)Those "Stub" fins are narrow! The direction of the balsa grain doesn't help sanding very much. This picture shows a side view of the stub fin, the finished shape is on the left. The kit instructions ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 17 Fin Priming (2010-11-13)The fins grain has been filled with Carpenter's Wood Filler and sanded smooth. Here's the fins after spraying with gray primer. They are standing up on a strip of masking tape, with the sticky side ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 18 Nozzles (2010-11-15)I decided to jump ahead and work on the nozzles. They are cut out from a 110 lb. card stock pattern sheet. There is a larger "inner band" and a smaller band. The smaller band slips over the top and ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 19 Nozzle Bands (2010-11-16)After trimming off the overhang, I did have to sand the bottom of the nozzle bands flat and smooth. To make a smoother edge of the nozzle, I hardened it up a bit. I set a small drop of thin CA on my ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 20 Nozzles (2010-11-16)After the glue has dried on the start of the Popielium band you can begin wrapping the line. Using a toothpick, white glue is applied down the line just 3/4" at a time. When the glue starts to set ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 21 Fairings (2010-11-17)Here's a tank fairing cut from the pattern sheet in the kit. While these are certainly usable as is, I wanted to get a better fit and a longer wrap around and to the center of the tanks. Please ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 22 Fairings (2010-11-17)Before any glue was used, I slightly rounded the fairing by pressing it into the heel of my hand with a dowel. Glue was applied to the back of the fairing piece, just around the edges. Long tweezers ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1SA-5 Build Part 23 Fairings (2010-11-18)Earlier I mentioned that I cut the new fairings a little wide. The widest part of the bottom overhung the body tube by a slight bit. After all had dried, I had to go back and carefully trim off the ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 24 Fin Masking (2010-11-18)To mask the fins, set them in place on the lower tube with the extended fin tip on the fairing. Using the color separation lines printed on the lower wrap, extend your tape straight across the fin. ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 25 Bottom Plate (2010-11-19)From Step 9B Subsection A - Amendment WB1074: The S-1 bottom plate is cut out and fitted. I cut out the "Engine Cut-Out" hole and test fitted it on a scrap piece of BT-20 before gluing it on the ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 26 Fin Gluing (2010-11-19)The larger fins are glued on the four printed lines. The stub fins center between those. If you masked the root edge before painting you should have a strong enough bond without cutting through the ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 27 Details (2010-11-20)Before cutting any of the dowel pieces, you might want to seal the wood. I used two coats of varnish, rubbed on with a paper towel. Lightly sand between coats. The sealed dowel "ducts" will look ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 28 Details (2010-11-20)The S-IV Ullage Motors are angled at 30 degrees. You should sand the end of a dowel to 30 degrees before cutting it to the 1/8" length. I printed an online protractor. You can find one HERE The ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 29 F.G.P Tips (2010-11-21)Step 9-A-prime: F.G.P. (Funky Glue Putty) I've never had much luck making the Funky Glue Putty for the Zooch kits. But, like everything else, you usually get better results if you keep trying! I ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 30 Lower LH2 Ducts (2010-11-22)The instructions don't give enough information about placement of the lower three LH2 ducts. You only make three dowels, 4 3/8" long. But it seems there are four places the duct dowels could go - ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 31 Upper LH2 Ducts (2010-11-22)Read the Scale mistake note below before doing what I did! I tried to sand an angle to the bottom of the retro rockets to match the top end of the lower LH 2 ducts. Be careful how much you sand, ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 32 S-IV Motors (2010-11-23)The S-IV motors are very small. You'll need tweezers to help get them into position. The instructions don't specify a color. When at the Meatball Rocketry site I saw they were red and white. Working ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 33 Details (2010-11-23)I explained earlier about my mistake on the retro rocket positions. These steps were done before I realized the error. I'm using a favorite glue transfer tool, the tip of a toothpick. A drop of glue ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build part 34 Nozzles (2010-11-24)Some of the silver paint was sanded off the bottom of the nozzles for a better glue bond. The inside of the nozzle bell was blackened in with a Sharpie pen. This is much easier than masking and ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Post 35 Antenna (2010-11-25)This is the back of an antenna panel showing the glue placement. The instructions show the panels cut apart, but I kept them in one piece for easier gluing. The antenna panels in place. I alternated ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 36 Nozzles (2010-11-25)I inserted an engine casing when gluing the nozzles to the bottom plate. There isn't much clearance around the nozzle bells and the engine. With the casing in place, it's a little easier to ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Build Part 37 Launch Lugs (2010-11-26)I decided not to make eight of the standoffs. After making the first one, seven more would be a lot of work. It's do-able, but at this point I really wanted to finish up the model. The lug and ... [Read More]
Semroc 1/70 Saturn 1B Wraps (2014-03-02)Frank Claunch has drawn up Saturn 1B wraps for the Semroc 1/70 scale kit. Here's an example from the Second Stage Bottom PDF: It took a year for Frank to put these amazing drawings together. These ... [Read More]
1/70 Scale Saturn 1B at ERockets / Semroc (2016-07-08)Looks like the Semroc / Estes Saturn 1B is back! On YORF, Rraeford caught it yesterday - To see the listing, CLICK HERE StephanJ said it best: " I think this is a major milestone. The 1/70th ... [Read More]
Semroc Saturn 1B Available! (2016-07-16)ERockets has announced the return of the Semroc SATURN 1B Kit! There is 30 kits in stock - CLICK HERE This is the large, 1/70 scale model based on the old Estes kit. To see the Semroc ... [Read More]
Saturn 1B Designations (2018-12-15)The Saturn 1B had changed a bit in it's history. I'm basing my build on the AS-205 Apollo 7 version. This one had the most detail and still kept the alternating black and white H-1 engines in the ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 1, Parts (2020-11-27)The 1/100 scale Saturn 1B has arrived - A perfect shelf companion to the 1/100 Saturn V. Here's the front and back of the kit box. Notice the white Redstone tanks at the bottom, this is the Skylab ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 2, More Parts (2020-11-28)For me, this part is the highlight of the kit. I've built a few Saturn 1Bs over the years, the scalloped shroud has always been a difficult construction step. In the old Estes 1/70 scale version, it ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 3, Tube Seam Fill (2020-11-29)I'd recommend filling the tube seams before assembly. It is difficult to fill the seams after they are glued in place. The eight booster tubes end up too close together to reach the seams. With the ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 4, Engine Mount (2020-12-01)There will be some posted steps that might seem out of order from the instruction sheet sequence. I tend to prep some parts before they come up in the assembly steps. Here's all ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 5, Engine Mount Finish & Fin Prep (2020-12-02)TIP: If you place the centering rings as shown in the instructions, you might add a drop of glue over the top of the engine hook bend slit. This is an "old school" thing, seen on instructions in the ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 6, Fuel Body Tubes Primer/Filler (2020-12-03)I did dry fit the fuel tubes in scalloped tank shroud. This is one of the best new parts in the kit! A very good fit. The eight fuel tubes needed a shot of Duplicolor Filler/Primer after the CWF was ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 7, Fitting Low Wrap (2020-12-04)The instructions say to trim off the bottom of the lower, narrower wrap to 1/32" below the corrugations. The top picture is the before - I've marked the 1/32" cut with pencil lines. Below is after ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 8, Adhering Low Wrap (2020-12-05)The 3M 77 adhesive will hold the wrap down, but the joint seams can lift. I squeezed a drop of medium CA glue onto some scrap cardboard. A toothpick was dipped into the CA glue and transferred, ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 9, Tower Assembly (2020-12-06)I'm not building in the order of the instructions. I'll be bouncing around a bit - One side of the tower has alignment pins, The other side has alignment holes the pins fit in. ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 10, Tower Nozzles & Clay Weight (2020-12-07)The escape tower nozzles were slipped together. Liquid glue was brushed over the top of the "X" joint. Two clay weight "pats" are included in the kit. Together they weighed just over 1/2 oz. The ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 11, Fitting The Larger Middle Wrap (2020-12-08)TIP: Tape down the wrap before doing any straight edge trimming. You don't want it to slip under the straightedge and end up with a bad cut. When cutting the thin vacu-form wraps, it's not necessary ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 12, Upper Wrap GOTCHA! (2020-12-09)GOTCHA: After the middle wrap is in place - Don't immediately adhere the upper wrap using the single pencil line drawn down the body tube. On my two builds, I found the longer tunnel would not ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 13, RCS Nozzles - Little GOTCHA! (2020-12-10)Jumping around and jumping ahead - Don't cut the wire anchor slot yet - more on that later. This post is just for the RCS nozzles. Drilling by spinning a knife blade tip will make the holes ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 14, Display Engines (2020-12-11)Before gluing the nozzle spacer tube onto the low plate - These can be hard to center accurately. Center it visually, then trace around with a pencil. Check to see if the circle tracing is ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 15, Wire Anchor Slot, Part A (2020-12-12)This is one of the trickier parts of the build, bending and inserting the wire anchor. The upper section parachute will clip to this anchor for recovery. You are supplied with a length of brass ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 16, Wire Anchor Slot, Part B (2020-12-13)Okay - Here's a weird one - Instead of leaving an open slot after the wire is glued in, I cut a thin vertical hinge in the body tube. Think of the slot as having two sides. One side of the ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 17, Fill Anchor Slot & Prep RCS Nozzles (2020-12-14)The wire anchor slot needed a shot of filler/primer and smooth sanding. This tube had already been filled with CWF and shot with filler/primer. This was the final fill. I did mask around the anchor ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 18, Tunnel Mask & Capsule Tower Paint (2020-12-15)The Antennas have raised vertical yellow bars. I wasn't sure about masking these, they would be a bear to hand paint. I figured I'd try to Scotch tape mask them Scotch tape is set on a plexiglass, ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 20, Gluing On All The Booster Tubes (2020-12-17)Jumping around again: The centering ring with the small hole in it is glued even with the bottom of the core body tube. That small hole designates it goes on the bottom. TIP: Don't make you ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 21, Starting The Black Color Mask (2020-12-18)The main upper body was spray painted gloss white. Three coats of paint, lightly sanding between coats 1 and 2. Masking over corrugations isn't easy. I wish I could take credit for this ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 22, Outlining The Mid Section (2020-12-19)The Ultra Fine Point Sharpie end nibs appear to dry out quickly. Keep a piece of paper handy to get the ink flowing again. The picture shows many scribbles from restarting the ink flow when ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 23, Spraying The Mid Section Tube (2020-12-20)On the left is the mid section mask after the gloss black is sprayed. The tape was set down the middle of the wide Sharpie ink outlines. I used a combination of brown masking tape and grocery bags ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 24, Outline Lower Body (2020-12-22)The four painting pictures can be confusing. TIP: It's not mentioned in the instructions - starting from the left side, every picture (going to the right) is a quarter turn of the model. ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 25, Painting Lower Body & Gluing RCS Nozzles (2020-12-23)The black areas on the lower body has been outlined. Notice the interior surfaces have been masked. If paint got on the inside of the scalloped shroud, it might drag and mark the white tubes ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 26, Masking & Painting The Fins (2020-12-24)I used the height of the black/white body separation line to draw a mask line on the fin sides. I stacked some CD cases to get close to the correct height. A piece of cardboard between the cases got ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 27, Painting The Fins, Outside Edge Color Separations (2020-12-25)TIP: When the tape on the leading edge tape was lifted, the paint line was rough. A Mister Clean Magic Sponge was wetted and wrung out. Wipe a Q-tip on the damp sponge, picking up some of the ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 28, Engine Hook Notch (2020-12-26)A notch is needed in the low centering ring to allow engine hook movement. The notch location is set between two of the booster tubes. Slide the engine mount in place and mark the width of the hook ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 29, Scalloped Fairing & Centering Rings (2020-12-27)I applied a small fillet and removed the excess with a Q-tip. You don't want the glue to get in the way of the centering ring position. You can use a little more glue on the bottom ring. The ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 30, Command Module Mask & Shroud Line Harness (2020-12-28)It isn't pictured here, but I did do quite a bit of touchup to the white and black mask areas. I'll add 20 minutes time below for the touchups. The umbilical is painted silver. I used ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 31, Gluing On The Fins (2020-12-29)Most builders would glue on the fins in order of the instructions, mask and paint afterwards. I thought this would be too difficult especially in the tight fin root areas. This is why I painted the ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 33, More Decals (2020-12-31)I understand these are "camera focus" markers. They are tiny! You don't want to be fishing these off the bottom of your decal soaking dish. TIPS: Your soak water shouldn't be deep. ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 34, Antenna Gluing (2021-01-01)I still have a paper wrap around the body for protection while handling. The antennas are set to the side of the glue area and a pencil line is drawn. Do the same on the right side - draw a line ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 35, Upper Shock Cord Sling, Glue Sections Together (2021-01-02)GOTCHA : You are supplied with a long piece of shroud line to tie up the upper body recovery harness. Try to break the string with a tug - I found mine too weak to be trusted with a strong ejection ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 36, Shock Cord & Launch Lugs (2021-01-03)A standard tri-fold mount is to the shock cord and the 18" chute on the lower body. TIP : With a pencil, mark the shock cord 2" from the top of the tri-fold mount. Use the pencil mark as a ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Finished (2021-01-04)This one was a good build adventure. There have many improvements over the original 1/100 scale Centuri kit format. It took a little over 28 hours to assemble and paint. Most builders would glue on ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B Paint Patterns (2021-01-08)Here's some detailed four sided views of the Saturn 1B. This is for the SA-205 version, with the alternating black and white tanks. Still a good reference, courtesy of Apogee: CLICK HERE Note ... [Read More]
Saturn 1B Build Book Available! (2021-01-25)A disadvantage of a blog build is it goes from finished model back to start! If you wanted to follow and build along, you'll end up scrolling back to the first post. But . . . ... [Read More]
Fire and Forget - GOODBYE! (2010-07-10)I went to the monthly NEFAR launch in Bunnell, Florida. The Fire and Forget rocket was one of my first out of eight launches today. The RSO read my description: "Anyone who finds it can keep it to ... [Read More]
The End of SEMROC? (2010-08-11)I'm sure by now most have read this thread: http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?p=123088#post123088 It's a sad day for rocketry. After all the good will shown at the recent NARAM, Estes/Cox ... [Read More]
Ranger Ray's Rocket (2010-10-28)This is my last entry while on board the ship. I'll start again when I'm home on October 31. Here's another I printed out last year. This long cruise gave the opportunity to put it together. This is ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Part 8 S-1 Tanks (2010-11-07)Here's all six of the white rolled tanks. The best four will be used on the model. The last two are still drying on the dowels. Only one dowel is supplied with the kit, I had another left from ... [Read More]
Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 FINISHED! (2010-11-27)Dr. Zooch Saturn 1 SA-5 Here's the mid body with the launch lug standoff. All the fins and nozzles. This was another great build from Dr. Zooch . I learned quite a few things in the process. Next ... [Read More]
Saturn Towers (2011-06-21)I've built a lot of towers over the years. For comparison, here's the Saturn towers from various kits. On the upper left is the BT-20 based Dr. Zooch Saturn V tower. It's really a silhouette tower, ... [Read More]
Semroc Defender Build Part 1 Parts (2011-11-08)This is another one of those "one day" rockets. I first saw it in the Centuri catalog when I got started back in 1969. I thought it was a big model back then. A three engine cluster and almost two ... [Read More]
Saturn 1 and Defender Comparison (2011-11-09)It looks like the Defender took it's design profile from the Saturn 1 series from the early 1960s. The white fin strips running between the black engine tubes give the illusion of the alternating ... [Read More]
Semroc Defender Build Part 9 Fin Strips (2011-11-15)The fin strips are white and go between the three internal engine mount tubes. I would guess the Centuri designers were trying for a Saturn 1B look. These fin strips will be painted white before ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch March 17, 2012 (2012-03-19)You can see how many cars were lined up for the Tampa TTRA launch on March 17. Sorry, no launch shots yet! Lonnie Buchanon preps his new, larger Angry Bird for a drag race with my PIGASUS . Both had ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch July 21, 2012 (2012-07-22)It was HOT today in Plant City, Florida at the monthly Tampa TTRA launch. Hot enough to where you'd rather sit under the shade of a tent than chase rockets. Here's my RED MAX waiting for a ... [Read More]
Meatball Rocketry Website (2013-06-01)The Meatball Team won the scale competition at NARAM 50. Stop by their website and find out why! You'll find Plenty of scale information and build tips. http://meatballrocketry.com The articles on ... [Read More]
Saturn 1B Fairring Shroud (2014-02-09)On TRF, Marwady is doing a great, clean build of Semroc's 1/70 scale Saturn 1B HERE Gary at VCP is making a 3D printed fairing shroud: HERE The picture at the left shows how the fairing looks when ... [Read More]
Air and Space Museum, San Diego (2014-05-19)While the ship was docked in San Diego I took a shuttle to Balboa Park. I'd heard of the Balboa Park for years but had never been there. It was a great surprise! I stopped in at the Air and Space ... [Read More]
Estes Suggestions From TRF (2015-01-20)John Boren from Estes (Jumpjet of TRF) asked for product suggestions: "Maybe someone can start a positive thread on what people believe Estes should produce, and no, the B14 motor isn't going to ... [Read More]
What Should SEMROC Bring Back? (2015-02-28)Forum posts have already been suggesting what Semroc should initially produce. Most everybody wants parts. In 2012, Carl McLawhorn posted and let TRF readers know what were once the ... [Read More]
The Most Difficult Kit - Ever! Part B (2015-04-15)From those dowel sticks you made three sides for the complete tower. The long side piece is only about 2" long. After the tower was glued on you cut slits into the top of the capsule. Glue in ... [Read More]
Textbook Rocket Launch Today! April 18, 2015 (2015-04-18)From TRF, April 17 - Textbook Rocket Launch - Space Center Houston Tomorrow UpcyclingTextbooks.org threw out a design challenge for builders here to create launchable rockets made ... [Read More]
New Estes Kit Hints? (2015-08-17)From a John Boren post on YORF: Keep this just between you and me But I've uncovered a WHOLE bunch of old nose cone blow mold tooling and IF they are usable by our vendor ... [Read More]
NARAM Manufacturer Forum - New Products (2020-07-28)I tried to get i n on the virtual NARAM Manufacturer's Forum last night, but the NARAM website wouldn't load! Here's some of the comments from TRF this morning from some who did see it: ... [Read More]
Decal PDFs For Patreon Support Members (2020-08-13)Here's a list of the Print at Home PDF decals available to Patreon Supporters: PATREON DECAL PDFs ESTES Estes Green Eggs Scrambler K-37, #1237 Decal .pdf Makes the Estes Green Eggs kit ... [Read More]
Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, Nov. 29, 2020 (2020-11-30)I know! I'll get back to the Estes Saturn 1B build tomorrow - This morning was overcast and almost cool! Even though I couldn't see any blue sky, these schoolyard launches would still be below the ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn V New Fairing Reinforcements (2020-12-07)On the Facebook Model Rocketry Fanatics page, Steven Carricato posted a parts picture from his new Saturn V and Saturn 1B kits. I noticed something interesting. In the center of the ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 19, Long Tunnel Fit & Glue (2020-12-16)There are recesses molded into the top and bottom of the long tunnel. Set the tunnel into the flat areas on the top and middle wrap and check the fit. GOTCHA: On my two builds, the recesses under ... [Read More]
Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 32, Decals! (2020-12-30)The instructions don't mention this - The rocket is still painted with gloss paint to allow a good adhesion of the decals. Note I didn't glue the silver Service Module tube onto the ... [Read More]
Where's the TOP 10 List? (2020-12-31)At the end of each year - I post a Top 10 list, grading the best (and not so great) builds from the past year. It's coming up in a few days. I figured those building the Saturn 1b wouldn't ... [Read More]
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