ESTES #2141 Vintage SILVER COMET build log

[JoeFilgas]

VINTAGE Estes Model Rockets #2141 SILVER COMET build log: I bought this a few months back with a kit bash in mind! I will not be altering the awesome spirit of this great design, but I will be adding to it! The main addition are the four fin pods I’ll be adding with BT 20s. I started off going a bit ahead in the instructions with dry fitting and positioning of the MMT CR’s due to the addition of the Estes 24mm motor retainer. Once I figured all of that out I added some masking tape to the bottom of the MMT as the retainer I.D. is a bit too large. Then, using JB Weld high heat two part epoxy I glued the retainer base to the MMT with a fillet on the topside. Then the three MMT CR’s were glued in place with Tightbond II wood glue. The forward centering ring was relieved on opposite sides to make room for the kevlar shock cord to come. The MMT unit was then set aside to dry a bit. Next, the plastic boat tail fin can was trimmed to expose the fin slots. Both for and aft cuts were made to open both ends and sanded. The 3/32” balsa fins were then removed from their die-cut sheets. Then it was on to the main mod of the fin pods. I decided which configuration I wanted from the parts available in the Estes nose cone set and went to work determining the exact length the BT 20 tubes would need to be. I settled on 3” after squaring up the fin tip to be vertical instead of the stock slant. I originally thought I was going to go TTW with these fin pods, but then decided against it. It was at this point where I decided to forego the balsa wood fins in favor of 1/8” plywood. I used the stock/modified balsa fin as a pattern to make the plywood fins from. These were marked out to be cut out later. Then I went ahead and glued the fore and aft sections of the pods to the 3” BT 20 sections. Finally I added a glue fillet to the other side of the MMT CRs and set aside to dry. More mods to come on this most awesome vintage kit!

 

[JoeFilgas]

More pics from tonight’s building session.

 

[SolarYellow]

Any chance you could do a 600 DPI or better scan of those decals while they’re still stuck to the sheet? Resolution of the available scans is pretty poor.

 

[JoeFilgas]

Final set of pics from tonight’s building activity!

 

[JoeFilgas]

Any chance you could do a 600 DPI or better scan of those decals while they’re still stuck to the sheet? Resolution of the available scans is pretty poor.

Let me see if the Wife has a flatbed scanner. I don’t think I’m going to be using these anyway (haven’t quite decided yet). I may be willing to sell them. $20 plus shipping?

 

[JoeFilgas]

My Estes Rockets Silver Comet Build log: not much today, but I decided to add a tab to the end of the plywood re-made fins to allow a TTW mound and more support for the fin tip pods. I’ve got one ply fin cut out so far. Next I measured out the appropriate length of kevlar for the motor mounted shock cord, tied/taped and applied wood glue to the kevlar/motor mount. Later I removed the tape and ran the Kevlar through the notches and taped down on the other side. More glue was applied to the Kevlar/motor mount and set aside to dry.

 

[bjphoenix]

What is your plan for gluing on the fins? I kit bashed a Silver Comet to a V2 many years ago but I don't remember exactly how I put the fins on. Now I have a derelict Silver Comet in my garage that I'm tasked with refurbishing for the club. It doesn't have any fillets on the fins. I'm thinking I need to sand off some of the paint and add fillets then touch up the paint

 

[SolarYellow]

Let me see if the Wife has a flatbed scanner. I don’t think I’m going to be using these anyway (haven’t quite decided yet). I may be willing to sell them. $20 plus shipping?

I’m actually planning an upscale, so I need a good scan, not the original.

 

[JoeFilgas]

What is your plan for gluing on the fins? I kit bashed a Silver Comet to a V2 many years ago but I don't remember exactly how I put the fins on. Now I have a derelict Silver Comet in my garage that I'm tasked with refurbishing for the club. It doesn't have any fillets on the fins. I'm thinking I need to sand off some of the paint and add fillets then touch up the paint

The fins are through the wall style. I’m making new fins from 1/8” plywood so I’ll probably glue them in with epoxy.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My Estes Silver Comet kit bash rocket build log: I tied a loop at the top of the main shock cord and then measured out roughly 5 times the rocket length of additional kevlar and tied a small loop at the end of it. They were then attached to each other and the cord was passed through the motor mount tube out the bottom to protect it from the installation glue in the next step. I placed the motor mount against the BT to mark the location where the CRs would be located internally and then used those to mark my glue application stick. The forward CR glue line was applied to the inside of the BT, the MMT inserted slightly and then the middle CR glue was applied. Next the tail cone was used to push the MMT to its final location within the BT. The tail cone was then carefully removed. This was set aside to dry. Later I added a small fillet to the back of the middle CR and set that aside to dry.

 

[bjphoenix]

The fins are through the wall style. I’m making new fins from 1/8” plywood so I’ll probably glue them in with epoxy.

I probably did that with my old one too. I've done more recent tests trying to glue things to Estes style nose cones using epoxy and it wouldn't give very much strength. For a Silver Comet there is a lot of area to glue and TTW fins help a lot with that. In my tests I used other types of glues including model car cement and that helped, other people recommended other glues in comments on that thread but I haven't bought any of them. I have an old Quest model that I'm working on now that uses a plastic tailcone. I decided that rather than deal with other glues plus epoxy on top of that I'm just going to leave off the tailcone.

 

[terryg]

When I need to glue to plastic, I always use polyuethane glue as it sticks well to anything (including you).

 

[JoeFilgas]

Any chance you could do a 600 DPI or better scan of those decals while they’re still stuck to the sheet? Resolution of the available scans is pretty poor.

My wife was able to scan this at 600 dpi.

Any chance you could do a 600 DPI or better scan of those decals while they’re still stuck to the sheet? Resolution of the available scans is pretty poor.

Sent you a conversation message. I have the 600 dpi scan.

 

[bad_idea]

Now I have a derelict Silver Comet in my garage that I'm tasked with refurbishing for the club.

Nice! I'm glad that rocket ended up in good hands. I sorely wanted to adopt it myself after seeing it in the club stash a year or two back, but my finishing skills simply weren't (and aren't) up to doing it justice.

 

[mikeyd]

I actually added fin pods to mine as well!

 

[Scott_650]

Great build pictures! I acquired a Silver Comet nose cone a few years ago and have been planning on using for an upsized Centuri Quasar - which, basically, would be a three finned Silver Comet with fin pods

 

[billpr]

I actually added fin pods to mine as well!

She looks awesome fine job. I have a few problems with chrome paint.

 

[cwbullet]

Nice! I love the silver Comet.

 

[novahobbies]

Awesome! Great build thread. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

 

[OC-Patrick]

nice - pods on the fins reminds me of the Protostar

 

[JoeFilgas]

My Estes Silver Comet kit bash rocket build log: so far today, prepped the tail cone and BT to be glued together. Should be able to get back to this later today to get them glued.

I actually added fin pods to mine as well!

Awesome work!

Awesome! Great build thread. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Thank you! It won’t be the average Silver Comet though.

Nice! I love the silver Comet.

thanks it’s a great platform to take to the next level!

 

[JoeFilgas]

nice - pods on the fins reminds me of the Protostar

View attachment 664783

That’s a really cool rocket too!

 

[JoeFilgas]

She looks awesome fine job. I have a few problems with chrome paint.

Chrome shows everything. It’s worse than black for showing things you don’t want to see. I’ll likely be using a metallic blue and metallic copper on this project.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My Estes Silver Comet kit bash rocket build log: well so far today I got the fin can glued on to the MMT/BT assembly. I chose to use BSI CA Gel for this because of the lower centering ring. Estes doesn’t even have you put glue on this believe it or not. The gel works well in this scenario, because I could put a large bead of gel on the edge of the lower CR and not have to worry about it dripping off. Then I applied some CA gel to the inside of the bottom of the BT and slid the tail cone into place while rotating it a bit to evenly spread the glue around.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My Estes Silver Comet kit bash build log: PART DEAUX - so I cut out the remaining 3 plywood fins, did a quick clean up sand and then carefully taped all four together for a clone edge sand. Next I numbered each fin and then began fitting each to a corresponding numbered slot in the fin can. The fin can needed some slot clearing/enlarging. Next the fin pods were marked for the TTW slot from the fin mount and numbered. They were all then fitted to their repspective fins. Finally I sanded the pods in prep for some filler putty. I’m not going to glue them on the fins until the fins themselves have been mounted to the fin can and dried.

 

[kjohnson]

I just did a redraw of the stickers if you want to make decals.

kj

 

[JoeFilgas]

I just did a redraw of the stickers if you want to make decals.

kj

Thank you, but I’m not going with the stock finish with this one.

 

[novahobbies]

Thank you! It won’t be the average Silver Comet though.

After seeing your BTTF themed Flying Machine, I'd expect nothing less!

 

[Papa Elf]

Silver Comet was one of my favorite Estes Kits.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My Estes Silver Comet kit bash rocket build log: today I fiberglassed the plywood fins with 3/4 ounce cloth and BSI thin CA glue. They were then all sanded. Next I marked the BT for the launch lug which I upgraded to a 1/4” lug. The lug was then glued in place with Tightbond II and set aside to dry. Finally I added glazing putty to the spirals and plastic/cardboard tube joint of the four fin pods and set aside to dry. I figured it would be easier to do all this work prior to gluing onto the fins.