ArthurSull
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2012
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Here we are! After many months and learning and trying to fit in rocketry to a hectic schedule I've finally finished my first two rockets.
An Estes D Region Tomahawk and an Estes V2.
My Tomahawk carries a DIY half moon baffle system in the coupler, with kevlar and a snap swivel attachment to an upgraded 24inch chute, and my V2 is mostly stock but again with a kevlar shock cord and snap swivel chute attachment.
I found the building of these two very easy, considering they are my first builds. Balsa was a bit of a learning curve in the V2, and wasn't aware of coating or filling techniques till it was too late. Therefore I have some weak fins and you can see the grain through the paint, but a lesson learned.
I found painting the hardest, with the Tomahawk my first Guinea pig. Poor thing, not enough patience and some cold conditions cracked the paint, and I only used Tamiya masking tape on the edges instead of all over so the paint seaped through the cheap masking tape I was using for bigger areas. This left me having to do this black and red scheme as to hide the ruined white surface underneath. Nevermind!
My fillets leave a lot to be desired on the V2, and I tripped over one day and snapped a fin but managed to repair it okay. I'm sure my fillets will be better next time. What is best to use for fillets?
My oh my was that black and white test patter hard to paint, but for my second ever try it came out surprisingly well! The masking gave me a headache but the Tamiya tape gave me neat clean lines, and I only mucked up a few times, barely noticeable from this distance.
Now I finally get to launch them the weekend after next! Thanks everyone for the help they put in to me starting out in rocketry, I'm now ordering a Mini HoJo to continue my scale collection!
An Estes D Region Tomahawk and an Estes V2.
My Tomahawk carries a DIY half moon baffle system in the coupler, with kevlar and a snap swivel attachment to an upgraded 24inch chute, and my V2 is mostly stock but again with a kevlar shock cord and snap swivel chute attachment.
I found the building of these two very easy, considering they are my first builds. Balsa was a bit of a learning curve in the V2, and wasn't aware of coating or filling techniques till it was too late. Therefore I have some weak fins and you can see the grain through the paint, but a lesson learned.
I found painting the hardest, with the Tomahawk my first Guinea pig. Poor thing, not enough patience and some cold conditions cracked the paint, and I only used Tamiya masking tape on the edges instead of all over so the paint seaped through the cheap masking tape I was using for bigger areas. This left me having to do this black and red scheme as to hide the ruined white surface underneath. Nevermind!
My fillets leave a lot to be desired on the V2, and I tripped over one day and snapped a fin but managed to repair it okay. I'm sure my fillets will be better next time. What is best to use for fillets?
My oh my was that black and white test patter hard to paint, but for my second ever try it came out surprisingly well! The masking gave me a headache but the Tamiya tape gave me neat clean lines, and I only mucked up a few times, barely noticeable from this distance.
Now I finally get to launch them the weekend after next! Thanks everyone for the help they put in to me starting out in rocketry, I'm now ordering a Mini HoJo to continue my scale collection!