Upscale 3in Vagabond Build

[qquake2k]

I feel bad for suggesting balsaUSA for the ply now. I always got nice straight stuff from them. Maybe you could send the a pic of the warped piece and they might send you another? Sorry man.

Don't sweat it, Bill. I certainly don't blame you. And I was able to get the fins for the Astrobee D out of it.

[qquake2k]

Good build. Now I want one!

I think everybody should have one!

[qquake2k]

Nice looking rocket and your builds are always fun to follow. I just started using the Rusto Ultra 2x coverage paint. It actually works good. I also use the Duplicolor. Where did you get the spray gun for the cans? That actually looks cool...how does it work?

In spite of my paint problems, I am pretty happy with the Rusto 2x paints. The handle is also Rustoleum brand, that I got at Home Depot. It works great. Makes it a lot easier to control the paint.

I never gave the Vagabond much consideration, probably due to the boring font and lame black lines above the fincan..... but now that I see your upscale version, tis is a very cool looking rocket! I gotta say, it looks like this one is gonna fly straight as an arrow- $5 bucks says I'm right. Love the wide fin span and nose shape. GREAT work! (I've come to the conclusion that your difficulties with paint are deserved: no man should have that much building talent AND be able to pint like Da Vinci!) Ha!

I appreciate the compliments, but I really don't think I have that much talent. Just a lot of power tools. LOL

True, the Font is boring, but there's alot of rocket to work with. And you gotta admit the Vagabond nose cone is worth the price of the kit!

I don't think the font or stripes are boring. Both of them are part of why I like the Vagabond. But mostly I like the lines of the fins along with the long body tube. It just looks sleek to me.

[Marc_G]

I think everybody should have one!

Why stop with just one...?

[GDJ]

Why stop with just one...?

I've had 3.

[qquake2k]

Been kind of slow lately, because of the heat. But I got the bulkhead epoxied in the upper section yesterday. Next will be the gloss white paint, and sanding and reshooting the red on the lower section.

[o1d_dude]

What method do you use for attaching the shockcord to the eyebolt of the bulkhead? You still going to use a quick link?

3" diameter tubing allows for some creative solutions but my forearm won't fit and I don't think yours will either. 4" and larger tubing presents no problem except in long body tubes.

[qquake2k]

I'll be using paracord, and will snake a loop through the eyebolt with a retrieval tool. Then I'll pull the other end of the cord through the loop. I've done it before. It usually makes me cuss, but I've always ended up being successful.

[AfterBurners]

why not just attached your cord prior to installing the mount? Just asking? Not sure the method behind it?

[qquake2k]

why not just attached your cord prior to installing the mount? Just asking? Not sure the method behind it?

I've done it that way in the past, and I always got the cord messy with epoxy. Plus, by pulling the end through the loop, I'll be able to change it if I ever need to.

[[POW]Eagle159]

Dang it looks good! This is the first time I saw this thread.... The up-scaled fins look really good.

[Ring Leader]

Been kind of slow lately, because of the heat.

Good luck on Saturday, it's supposed to be 105 F. Glad I'll be out of town!

[thobin]

Man paint does hate you. Iv always loved your paint tags now I know why you put them on. The rocket looks awesome BTW.

TA

[T-Rex]

Beautiful build, Cap'n!! And as always, I was able to learn a few things from your thread. Thank You for sharing!!

[Oldschool77]

How did you get the BMS PNC300K thats made for Estes 2.93'' ID to fit properly in the LOC 3'' ID? Tape? Or did you build up the ID of your tubing?

[o1d_dude]

Please. No questions about the knot tied into the loop.

Last thing we need is another knot war.

[astroimgur]

Please. No questions about the knot tied into the loop.

Last thing we need is another knot war.

[qquake2k]

How did you get the BMS PNC300K thats made for Estes 2.93'' ID to fit properly in the LOC 3'' ID? Tape? Or did you build up the ID of your tubing?

I used BMS body tube. It's 3.0"OD/2.93"ID.

[qquake2k]

Good luck on Saturday, it's supposed to be 105 F. Glad I'll be out of town!

I know, I'm not looking forward to it. I'm an early riser, so I'll poke around in the garage while it's still cool.

[qquake2k]

Dang it looks good! This is the first time I saw this thread.... The up-scaled fins look really good.

I'm very happy with how the fins turned out.

Man paint does hate you. Iv always loved your paint tags now I know why you put them on. The rocket looks awesome BTW.

TA

I don't know what it is about me and paint. I know part of it is impatience on my part, but that doesn't explain all of it.

Beautiful build, Cap'n!! And as always, I was able to learn a few things from your thread. Thank You for sharing!!

Thank you Rex, and everyone else for the compliments!

[qquake2k]

[Oldschool77]

Thanks for the tubing clarification, in your 4th post you had said your were using LOC 3.1''. I'm not scratching my head now. I'll go back to ''Lurking guest mode'' now!

[qquake2k]

Thanks for the tubing clarification, in your 4th post you had said your were using LOC 3.1''. I'm not scratching my head now. I'll go back to ''Lurking guest mode'' now!

I should have been more clear. I meant that I had decided to use the LOC 3.1" tubing for my Astrobee D, and use BMS 3.0" tubing for the Vagabond XL. Sorry about the confusion!

[qquake2k]

Davidtmp noticed something about my build, and I thought I'd clarify it for everyone. When I drilled the holes for the rail buttons, I drilled them offset from the line. Here's why. The fin and rail button lines are all marked relative to each other. When I cut the fin slots, they are cut to the right of the lines, in this case, 1/4" to the right. Because of that, to center the rail buttons, I have to put them 1/8" to the right of the line. When I do 1/8" fins, I drill the rail button holes 1/16" to the right. Does that make sense?

[qquake2k]

The decals came in today. It's gonna look good!

[qquake2k]

Got the gloss white sprayed on the upper body tube and nose cone. Turned out pretty good.

[qquake2k]

I sanded and re-sprayed the lower section gloss red. Turned out much better.

[qquake2k]

I'm really happy with how this one is turning out! I just hope the decals go well, especially the wrap.

[cjp]

I'm really happy with how this one is turning out! I just hope the decals go well, especially the wrap.

Nice looking paint Jim,decals will look great when you put them on.Take your time with the wrap,use a little dish soap(a drop in the water) on the body tube and you'll be able to move the wrap around till you get it right were you want it.

[kelltym88]

That looks sweet!! Am I safe in assuming Mark did the decals?