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Model Rocket Building Blog 
Model Rocket Building Posts
Rocketry Product: Custom Rockets - Solar Explorer {Kit} (10052)
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 2 Engine Mount (2012-10-21)
I don't like how far the finger tabs extend beyond the back end of the model. I first saw this tip on TRF, I believe Doug Sams posted about it. TIP: Cut off the finger tab as shown. You ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 3 Engine Mount Kevlar (2012-10-22)Here's the engine mount finished - up to now. I was surprised to see the instructions telling you to slide the rings in place, up to the pencil lines. (Both rings are set 1/2" from each end.) ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 4 5055 Centering Rings (2012-10-23)One side of each of the 5055 centering rings will be exposed. You'll save yourself a lot a sanding and filling problems now - if your sand them smooth now before gluing. Look close at the ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 5 5055 Centering Rings (2012-10-24)The instructions direct you to glue the 5055 rings onto the body tube then glue the BT-55 tube over the top. I'd recommend gluing the rings inside the BT-55 and sanding the rings flush and even ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 6 Nose Cone (2012-10-25)TIP: To insure your nose cone base fits well against the top of the BT-50 tube, sand the base flat before gluing in the shoulder. The edge of the molded base is usually a little ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 7 Nose Cone (2012-10-25)Sorry, no posts tomorrow. I'll be in transit going back to Orlando from a cruise. The nose cone base was slightly wider than the BT-50 tube diameter. It was sanded down while in a scrap ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 8 Filling Tube and Lug Seams (2012-10-27)I've noticed that the narrower the body tube seams is, the CWF stays in better when sanding. I have the best luck using a slightly thicker mixture of CWF on the body tube seams. When ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 9 Balsa Fin Filling (2012-10-28)On the forums, some have asked what Carpenter's Wood Filler looks like when it's dry. It is "grainy" and shows the brush strokes. This rough surface is a good guage to tell if the ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 10 Fin Priming (2012-10-29)In this picture, the CWF has already been sanded down with 400 grit on a block. All the flat surfaces and edges were sanded flat. Here I'm just "kissing off" the rough corners of the leading ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 11 Fin Gluing (2012-10-30)While the instructions don't get into any detail about gluing the outside fins - Alignment of the top of the "T" fins should be straight and centered. The masked strip is your gluing surface for ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 12 Fin Fillet TIP (2012-10-30)A line of Titebeond Molding and Trim Glue was used for the inside fillets. Lonnie Buchanon gave me this tip: TIP: Be sure your fingernails are trimmed close when you smooth a fillet in a ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 13 BT-55 Section Gluing (2012-10-31)In the next few posts I'll refer to the lower body tube assembly (BT-55 and 50/55 Centering Rings) as the BT-55 section. The BT-55 section will slide over the lower BT-50 body tube from ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 14 BT-55 Section Gluing (2012-11-01)With the BT-55 section in place, slide it to 3/8" from the end and mark with a pencil. Slide the BT055 section away from the pencil line you just drew. Run an even line of glue forward ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 15 Coupler (2012-11-02)The two BT-50 body tube sections are joined with a 1" long coupler. I thought this coupler was a little too short. A 2" long coupler was made out of some scrap BT-50 tubing. That blue piece was ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 16 Fin Gluing (2012-11-02)The fins are glued 3/8" from the front and rear of the BT-55 section. A straight strip of masking tape was set down at the 3/8" mark for position of the front leading edges. The front and ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 17 Fin And Lug Gluing (2012-11-03)The instructions have you glue the two short lugs centered between two fins. They are glued 1/4" from the top and bottom of the BT-55 section. I don't see any reason for this, I'd rather have ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 18 White Undercoat (2012-11-03)This is the nearly complete Solar Explorer after the first coat of Rustoleum gloss white. This is a great looking - LONG - BT-50 based model. As with most of my models, the entire model gets a ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 19 White Coat Sand (2012-11-04)Look at your first white coats under a strong light from all angles. Any specs of paint or glue blobs should be sanded down now before any more paint coats. Under the lower 50/55 ring was some ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 20 White Coat Trouble (2012-11-05)The humidity has dropped in Florida! I was looking forward to the cool weather and faster paint drying times. I had done two light coats of the Rustoleum 2X gloss white. I was following up ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 21 Stick On Decals! (2012-11-06)I hate stick on decals! It would have been easier to scan and print out a set of water transfer decals, but I went with the stickers supplied with the kit. These were very well laid ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 22 Decals Bands (2012-11-07)The decal bands were a little bit of a problem. I tried to set the lower red band against the joint of the 50/55 tube. The fillet got in the way! The end of the band wouldn't close evenly. ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 23 Sticker Decals (2012-11-07)Those wrap around bands were set down first for a reason. You'll be setting the Solar Explorer name stickers centered between them. Mark the centers of the name decals before taking them off the ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 24 Sticker Decals (2012-11-08)Look close and you can see the center pencil marks. The upcoming numbered strips are being fitted into some concave joints. These are the tough ones to place, I saved them for last after getting ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 25 Sharpening the Mask (2012-11-11)There was a little bit of white along the body tube edge at the top of the sticker. When the two tubes were coupled together, you could a bit of the white and the color separation wasn't as sharp ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 26 Loose Ends (2012-11-12)The shock cord seemed a little short for me, they usually are. Rather than cut a new piece of elastic, I simply tied on another scrap piece. A square knot was tied and with about 3/8" of loose ... [Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Finished (2012-11-13)This is a great looking model at a great price. All was great except for the short coupler and stick on decals. This should be a good flyer for the soccer field launches. Lessons ... [Read More]
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