Cosmodrome Nike Apache

[JAL3]

It was then back to the booth again where fluorescent red was applied in very light coats building up to give the red color. The photos make it look much more red than it does in person.

 

[KerryQuinn]

JAL - it is looking great - can't wait to see the final product.

I was just putting the second coat of KILZ primer onto my own Nike Apache.

By the way - do you have any scale data for a Nike Apache? I am working on this rocket as my Nartrek scale project and need to pull together a set of scale data.

 

[JAL3]

JAL - it is looking great - can't wait to see the final product.

I was just putting the second coat of KILZ primer onto my own Nike Apache.

By the way - do you have any scale data for a Nike Apache? I am working on this rocket as my Nartrek scale project and need to pull together a set of scale data.

Thanks.

I suspect that I have data in ROTW or one of the supplements but I don't have specific knowledge of it. I'm just working from the kit. My ROTW is at the office and I'd be glad to take a look tomorrow.

 

[rockets2000]

Looks great John! I have a question about Kilz. I put the first coat on my S2000 rocket today and it went on super thick. So thick that it started bubbling. After a few seconds, it smoothed itself out for the most part. It still needs major sanding.

The question is, is this normal for Kilz, or did I not prepare the surface well enough? I sanded the BT with 150 to get the rough spots and seams, then went over again with 320. Wiped with a moist paper towel and let dry for an hour or so before I applied the Kilz.

Also, is it necessary to let it dry for a day before the second coat?

 

[JAL3]

Looks great John! I have a question about Kilz. I put the first coat on my S2000 rocket today and it went on super thick. So thick that it started bubbling. After a few seconds, it smoothed itself out for the most part. It still needs major sanding.

The question is, is this normal for Kilz, or did I not prepare the surface well enough? I sanded the BT with 150 to get the rough spots and seams, then went over again with 320. Wiped with a moist paper towel and let dry for an hour or so before I applied the Kilz.

Also, is it necessary to let it dry for a day before the second coat?

my experience with Kilz is that it always goes on thick. That's part of the reason that that I have some lazy finishing habits; I let the Kilz do some of the filling. Your process sounds reasonable and is actually a bit more conscientious than mine.

As to the drying, it does dry slowly. You need to wait at least a day before sanding. A thick coat or high humidity means you wait a couple of days. I wouldn't worry too much about the waiting for second coats, though. As long as it is dry to the touch, I go for it.

 

[TheAviator]

Looks great John! I have a question about Kilz. I put the first coat on my S2000 rocket today and it went on super thick. So thick that it started bubbling. After a few seconds, it smoothed itself out for the most part. It still needs major sanding.

The question is, is this normal for Kilz, or did I not prepare the surface well enough? I sanded the BT with 150 to get the rough spots and seams, then went over again with 320. Wiped with a moist paper towel and let dry for an hour or so before I applied the Kilz.

Also, is it necessary to let it dry for a day before the second coat?

I would avoid using water at all costs to clean off your rocket. Something my dad showed me is called tack cloth. It looks like cheese cloth but it has a light adhesive on it that won't stick to your model but will pull up little bits of crud (sanding residue, dust, etc.) that are on it. A little goes piece a long way. You can get it at Home Depot, Lowes, and the like in the painting section (duh!).

 

[JAL3]

A few days later the masking came off. You can definitely see the difference between the reds but its not unpleasing. I was also thrilled that there were no runs.

 

[JAL3]

With the painting done, I could turn my attention to the last item of construction: the launch lug. The kit came with a pair of tubular 1/4" lugs. I made the decision early on that I wanted to substitute a linear rail lug so the originals were not put in place. The linear lug would need, however, a spacer to clear the transition, just like the tubular lugs would have needed. I traced the outline of the lug on a scrap of balsa and then used a razor knife to cut it out.

 

[JAL3]

I then held the balsa spacer against the lug and used sandpaper to make the outline conform better.

 

[JAL3]

The location on the Nike BT chosen for the lug had some of the paint scraped away and then a hole was punched through it to make for a better epoxy bond.

 

[JAL3]

A few drops of 15 minute epoxy were then mixed and spread on the back of the spacer and the spacer was set in place on the BT. The spacer was then clamped into place.

 

[JAL3]

A couple of days later I had a chance to take the clamps off. The rail lug was then set on top of the spacer and the screws were used to mark the balsa. The lug was then removed and the screws were turned through the balsa and the BT and then removed.

 

[JAL3]

Some epoxy was then mixed and brushed onto the back of the lug and poked into the screwholes. The lug was then set in place and the screws driven in.

 

[cosmodrome]

John,

This has been a great build thread. I'ts always good to see someone else's building techniques. When you're all done with it can you post some pros and cons of this build. I'm always looking for ways to improve a design or incorporate good ideas into other kits.

 

[JAL3]

John,

This has been a great build thread. I'ts always good to see someone else's building techniques. When you're all done with it can you post some pros and cons of this build. I'm always looking for ways to improve a design or incorporate good ideas into other kits.

Thanks. I actually have a few more baby steps to take but its almost there. If all goes well, I'll give it a try on Saturday.

I'll be glad to post a list but I need to think about it. My experience has been a good one and the blunders have been strictly my own.

 

[JAL3]

The decal work is seemingly simple on this one. There are 2 "United States" strips of text. They are mounted on opposite sides of the Nike with one having the text run up and the other run down. These turned out to be stickers instead of decals but the quality was good. I peeled the back off, set them in place and then burnished them.

The instructions made mention of one more decal that went on the Apache stage. I have no idea what it is supposed to look like because I cannot find it. Let me hasten to add that this might be MY fault and that of my chaotic work area.

 

[JAL3]

At this point I thought I was done but as I was looking things over, I chanced to look into the body tube and saw a problem. The screws from the mounting of the rail lug were poking through quite a ways. It was an invitation to rip any chute that got packed in this rocket.

 

[JAL3]

I started to remedy this problem by taking a file to it and worrying down the points. This went slowly and then I had a better idea. I took a scrap of balsa and pressed it down over the screw on the inside of the tube. This took up some room. I then mixed some epoxy and used it to hold the balsa in place and round and smooth off what was left of the protruding screws. My reasoning was that the epoxy would help to hold the screws it better and give a non ripping surface over which the chute could move.

 

[Scoop1261]

The instructions made mention of one more decal that went on the Apache stage. I have no idea what it is supposed to look like because I cannot find it. Let me hasten to add that this might be MY fault and that of my chaotic work area.

The decal you are looking for is in red text, and says "Thiokol"

 

[JAL3]

The decal you are looking for is in red text, and says "Thiokol"

I knew about the Thiokol because that's what was said in the instructions but have no idea as to size, shape, etc. The red is a new piece of info. I'll keep my eyes open for it.

THanks.

 

[cosmodrome]

I knew about the Thiokol because that's what was said in the instructions but have no idea as to size, shape, etc. The red is a new piece of info. I'll keep my eyes open for it.

THanks.

It's a little bugger, maybe 2" long. If you cannot find it I'll send you another one.

 

[KerryQuinn]

Sorry for the picture quality (or lack thereof)...
Here's the sticker you're looking for.
I just finished this rocket last weekend. I chose a slightly different paint scheme to match the scheme used on the Keweena Launches in the late 1960's. While the picture doesn't really show it, the two-tone dull/bright aluminum finish looks cool (if I do say so myself).
Plan is to launch on an F42-4 this coming weekend.
-Kerry

 

[JAL3]

It's a little bugger, maybe 2" long. If you cannot find it I'll send you another one.

I looked through the box and the stuff on the desk and did not find it.

 

[JAL3]

Sorry for the picture quality (or lack thereof)...
Here's the sticker you're looking for.
I just finished this rocket last weekend. I chose a slightly different paint scheme to match the scheme used on the Keweena Launches in the late 1960's. While the picture doesn't really show it, the two-tone dull/bright aluminum finish looks cool (if I do say so myself).
Plan is to launch on an F42-4 this coming weekend.
-Kerry

That does look sharp. I can see some difference in the Al but imagine its even more striking in person.

 

[KerryQuinn]

John & Mike -
I flew my Cosmodrome Nike/Apache today on an F42-4T.
This was my first ever MPR launch. It was FANTASTIC (!)
Unfortunately, I did not get a launch picture. I plan to fly it
again at CIRFF next weekend, and I am also going to use it
as my NARTREK Silver "scale" requirement.

Mike - thanks for the great kit - it was fun.
John - thanks for the build thread, I almost feel like I was in your workshop that last couple months.

-Kerry
Fox Valley Rocketeers

 

[The EGE]

I have a Nike-Apache and I flew it for my L1 cert at NERRF 5 in August. For those who are wondering, when built with wood glue and epoxy clay, it can take the kick of an H165 Redline and flies beautifully.

I am not a very experienced builder of large rockets, and this was by far my largest. It went together pretty easily. I sanded the knife-edge on the upper fins but not the lower ones. The only remotely difficult part was cutting the fin slots because of the thick tubes. I slapped together wraps with cutting marks in Word and that helped with the placing.

Two warnings:
1) Make sure the transition fits rather tightly into the lower tube. The lead weight has a lot of momentum and will pull the rocket apart midflight if the transition/Nike tube joint is loose.
2) Replace the elastic shock cord with tubular nylon or kevlar. The 28" chute unfolds quick and the rocket is heavy. On my first flight, the shock cord snapped in multiple places. Granted, this was a deployment at over 500 fps, but kevlar would have survived said deployment.

First cert attempt was on an H165R. The transition was too loose and it deployed at 600fps at burnout. The shock cord snapped twice; both the Nike and Apache sections fell 600 feet without a chute. The Nike section glided back and was recovered undamaged; the Apache section went 18" deep into the sod, but after a shovel recovery (thank you Bob from Hangar 11 for the shovel), it too was in good shape and required only a bit of epoxy to reattach the nose cone.

I don't now how Mike does it, but this kit is practically indestructable. Any other 20oz rocket would not have flown again after separation at 600 ft, much less flying again the same day!

The second flight was also on an H165R-M; it went to 1800 ft and deployed just past for a perfect flight and my Jr. L1 cert. The 28" chute is a bit big for the rocket - I'd recommend a 24" chute for windier days.

Thanks Mike for an awesome kit.

My EMRR review, with much more building info and such: https://www.rocketreviews.com/reviews/all/cos_nike_apache.shtml#DS

Nike-apache on my bloggy blog: https://amateurgeek.blogspot.com/search/label/Nike Apache

 

[JAL3]

John & Mike -
I flew my Cosmodrome Nike/Apache today on an F42-4T.
This was my first ever MPR launch. It was FANTASTIC (!)
Unfortunately, I did not get a launch picture. I plan to fly it
again at CIRFF next weekend, and I am also going to use it
as my NARTREK Silver "scale" requirement.

Mike - thanks for the great kit - it was fun.
John - thanks for the build thread, I almost feel like I was in your workshop that last couple months.

-Kerry
Fox Valley Rocketeers

Congratulations on a fantastic flight.

 

[KerryQuinn]

Rick Gaff managed to take this picture of my Nike Apache taking off today....

Thanks Rick,
Kerry

 

[JAL3]

The day of the maiden flight of my Nike Apache found me ready to go and the others in attendance eager to see how it performed. I loaded it with a Roadrunner F60-4 and took it out to the pad. There it sat for a while as some low powered launches took place and I awaited my turn.

 

[JAL3]

Liftoff, when it came, surprised me. I did not expect this rocket to move as fast as it did but move it most certainly did. It was more like launching a light LPR.