Martin Vrstal
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- Joined
- Aug 3, 2002
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A few years ago when I got back into rocketry full time, I found an Estes Maxi Honest John reissue at Hobby Lobby for $19.99. It wasn't marked at the time so I asked a gal for a price check. At first she said $29.99 and I thought "great". Then she said.....How's $19.99 sound.....and man I about ran out of the store.
About the same time we got a computer and the internet. What a great thing for a rocket builder. After searching various sites and reading up on how others built theirs, I was ready...I thought.
There were some firsts involved in building this kit. I had never glassed a bt before. I purchased a Bondo fiberglassing kit at Wal-mart and went to work. That was easy enough. Also the use of epoxy in the construction phase was with 5 and 30 minute tube type. I also wanted to use the plastic fins but from reading reviews had found out that they needed to be filled with some kind of ply or basswood or something. I think I used 1/8th craftboard from Menards.....it's like basswood.
Now for the MMT. I had no idea there was anything bigger than a "D" motor, so I installed the 24mm and added a bottom CR to be more ridged.
The total end weight was way to much for a "D" motor to lift it so it's never flown.
I recently received a section of 29mm mmt from a great friend (Sandman) and knew just what to use it on.
I started out by breaking out the old CR's and MMT with a wood chisel. Then I removed the very bottom plastic from the tailcone. That opened up and exposed the TTW fins I had installed originally. From the bottom of the plastic to the fins was a good 1/4" give or take. I cut 2 new CR's from 1/8th ply and one from 1/16th to finish it off and give it a good clean look.
When I trimmed the fins back I had actually cut too much off, so I added balsa strips to the MMT to give the fins something to epoxy to.
Here's a couple of pics so you guys can see what I'm doing.
About the same time we got a computer and the internet. What a great thing for a rocket builder. After searching various sites and reading up on how others built theirs, I was ready...I thought.
There were some firsts involved in building this kit. I had never glassed a bt before. I purchased a Bondo fiberglassing kit at Wal-mart and went to work. That was easy enough. Also the use of epoxy in the construction phase was with 5 and 30 minute tube type. I also wanted to use the plastic fins but from reading reviews had found out that they needed to be filled with some kind of ply or basswood or something. I think I used 1/8th craftboard from Menards.....it's like basswood.
Now for the MMT. I had no idea there was anything bigger than a "D" motor, so I installed the 24mm and added a bottom CR to be more ridged.
The total end weight was way to much for a "D" motor to lift it so it's never flown.
I recently received a section of 29mm mmt from a great friend (Sandman) and knew just what to use it on.
I started out by breaking out the old CR's and MMT with a wood chisel. Then I removed the very bottom plastic from the tailcone. That opened up and exposed the TTW fins I had installed originally. From the bottom of the plastic to the fins was a good 1/4" give or take. I cut 2 new CR's from 1/8th ply and one from 1/16th to finish it off and give it a good clean look.
When I trimmed the fins back I had actually cut too much off, so I added balsa strips to the MMT to give the fins something to epoxy to.
Here's a couple of pics so you guys can see what I'm doing.