Estes Blue Sapphire Gallery

[Back_at_it]

My guess is we won't see a lot of people building and flying many of the originals due to a production run for only 300. I figured I'd start this thread for those that are interested.

Here is my upscale BT55 clone. This is what I feel the kit should have been from Estes.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/estes-blue-sapphire-bt55-upscale-build.179456/

 

[K'Tesh]

And my sim...

 

[BEC]

I have one from the kit that is ready for sealer. I'll have to post a completion picture when I get it done. Here's a construction shot taken right after the second fin assembly was put in place against the jig's platen.

A question for both of you: did you paint the fin we can't see on the face card blue or black? My current plan is blue.

 

[Back_at_it]

If you lighten up the pictures online, you can see that there are two blue fins and one black.

 

[BEC]

If you lighten up the pictures online, you can see that there are two blue fins and one black.

OK, thanks. I hadn't tried that. My model will get primer tomorrow. I'll shut up in this thread until I have a proper gallery entry to post.

 

[kuririn]

The pic under "Rocket Finishing" in the instructions shows one fin with black paint and a black panel the fin is centered on.
But there is no canon that says you MUST paint it that way, right?

 

[kuririn]

Hmmm.........
If you don't glue the two part fins together and upscale to BT-55, you could have a nice two stager.
Not quite enough room for two motors if built stock.

 

[Back_at_it]

You would need to change the design of of the fins slightly to remove the notch so the booster could separate but it would work just about perfect on the BT55.

 

[Raythain]

Mine had her maiden flight this weekend on a B6-4. Weathercocked a little more than I was expecting, but still a decent 313 ft flight per my JL1.

 

[BEC]

Sounds good. Mine flew Saturday as well, only on an A8-3. It went to just under 140 feet per the FS Mini. That projected maximum altitude of 1200 feet on a C6-7 on the face card is rather optimistic. A Q-Jet D16 might get it to 1200 feet.