Estes Conquest build

I got one these in the mail today. Hearing they plan to discontinue these prompted me. Always liked the design and looks.

Totally jealous of all that clean workspace you have.

Looking forward to this one.

That's just one table. I have a 1500 sq. industrial shop 2 stories and believe me I'm slowly running out of space. Take the tour video on my website in my Sig.

SteveNeill said:

That's just one table. I have a 1500 sq. industrial shop 2 stories and believe me I'm slowly running out of space. Take the tour video on my website in my Sig.

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I have watched it, quite impressive.

Thing is, I could never even dream of having one open worktable like that., instead I have a smaller workbench crowded with crap. But I'm still able to make rockets.

I think that's all that matters Neil...building rockets?

neil_w said:

...instead I have a smaller workbench crowded with crap

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Me to neil_w.... me to.

With all the preparation for this weekends rocket launch at Lucerne I only got an hour in on the build but it was nice to do. Won't be back until this until Monday.

What's your glue of choice for those intakes?

When building the QCC Explorere (4 intakes, no wings), I tacked with superglue then wicked in wood glue to lock everything permanently

I did the same. It's the only way to fly.

That’s the way I did my QCC explorer as well.

I suggest filling and priming the intakes before you attach them to the body tube. There are some crevices that will be difficult to sand while they are attached.

I’ll be watching this. I have the Conquest in my build pile as well. Please post pics when you sand the tail cone round. I’m interested in seeing others’ techniques for that. It’s the one step I’m really not sure how to do well.

SecondRow said:

That’s the way I did my QCC explorer as well.

I suggest filling and priming the intakes before you attach them to the body tube. There are some crevices that will be difficult to sand while they are attached.

I’ll be watching this. I have the Conquest in my build pile as well. Please post pics when you sand the tail cone round. I’m interested in seeing others’ techniques for that. It’s the one step I’m really not sure how to do well.

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Will do that. I'm heading to the dry lake bed. See you all next week.

Well as you all know by now the fires stopped me from getting to the dry lake bed for Roctober because they closed the freeways. I planned for weeks for this but should of know the better than to get my hopes up here this time of year. The minute the north winds start up people set fires.

So I'm pretty bummed. First chance I get to fly in years and with a new club I just joined I'll have to wait two more months before I can fly again. Next launch isn't until Dec 14th. I'm not getting any younger and that damn clock keeps ticking.

So I went to the studio and did some building. I was so pissed off I framed up the entire rocket in 4 hours. It needs to be sanded and primered but it's all there. And the picture shows the mystery part I can't identify in the instructions? Anyone know where it goes?

The intakes are just tacked on so I can remove them. They have balsa fill on them to fill the cracks and holes. Great build I enjoyed it so far.

I think that mystery part is just an extra piece. Maybe someone added that in to the laser cutting file by mistake.
Can't find it on my build, I think I just tossed the piece. Probably didn't even notice it.
Did you have fun sanding that tail pod round? I'm betting a good part of that 4 hours was spent on that alone.
I think I spent about a half hour on it before I called it "good enough"!
Yeah, filling, sanding, maybe even primer and painting the sub-assemblies is a good idea. Impossible to get into the recesses once it's all put together.
Are you going with the medium blue with white underbelly?

kuririn said:

I think that mystery part is just an extra piece. Maybe someone added that in to the laser cutting file by mistake.
Can't find it on my build, I think I just tossed the piece. Probably didn't even notice it.
Did you have fun sanding that tail pod round? I'm betting a good part of that 4 hours was spent on that alone.
I think I spent about a half hour on it before I called it "good enough"!
Yeah, filling, sanding, maybe even primer and painting the sub-assemblies is a good idea. Impossible to get into the recesses once it's all put together.
Are you going with the medium blue with white underbelly?

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I was thinking maybe red? I don't know if anyone has tried that yet. Yes it took a bit of the day getting that shape right before I called it"Good Enough!". Actually that part has a number: AA beat the snot out of me what it's for.

neil_w said:

Totally jealous of all that clean workspace you have.

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+1

SteveNeill said:

And the picture shows the mystery part I can't identify in the instructions? Anyone know where it goes?

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Do you mean the piece in pic 6? I believe that’s part AA in the instructions. It’s used to set the angle of the wing against the body tube.

Check page 4 of the instructions, towards the top on the right.

By the way, that looks great.

SecondRow said:

Do you mean the piece in pic 6? I believe that’s part AA in the instructions. It’s used to set the angle of the wing against the body tube.

Check page 4 of the instructions, towards the top on the right.

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Ding ding ding! That's the answer.
I should have checked the instructions instead of just looking at the build.
Doh!

I built this (and did a thread on it as well)....You will LOVE this kit to fly. If you built light...a D12-3 is good. I have also done mine on an E12 and a composite E15 all did well. Not too good on windy days.....a great launch for calm days. I got an extra kit should mine meet an untimely end!
Your build looks great! I really wish I had your work space....love it! Please post more and post launch reports!
Andrew

This looks like a great kit, I have one in the bag, looks like a fun build. Painting is going to be tough!

SteveNeill said:

I was thinking maybe red? I don't know if anyone has tried that yet. Yes it took a bit of the day getting that shape right before I called it"Good Enough!". Actually that part has a number: AA beat the snot out of me what it's for.

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I went with a red Snark-ish look. My pod is good enough also.

Thanks guys. Hey that looks great in Red.

Snark scheme is perfect

Very cool!

-Bob

Still working on it sanding a filling. Pictures soon.

Great Job. Your color scheme on the model looks great.

John Boren

Wow, love the paint work!

Did you launch your Conquest yet? How did it go if you did?
Andrew

So Steve, do you have yours painted? We've been waiting for the pictures. Know you've been working on the X-15 but you didn't banish the Conquest to the back corner of the bench did ya?

-Bob

Bruiser said:

So Steve, do you have yours painted? We've been waiting for the pictures. Know you've been working on the X-15 but you didn't banish the Conquest to the back corner of the bench did ya?

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Yeah!
We want to know.....dont leave fellow Conquest fans hanging!
Andrew