V2 - Air Frame to Tail Cone issues

[Woody's Workshop]

Anyone else have problems with the air frame and tail cone not coming together well?
Mine is like sunkin in at the joint and required quit a bit of putty to get acceptable for primer.
I used epoxy for joining the 2 pieces. I did the usual TBII coating of the air frame.
It went together nice, no force needed.
I've never seen this before.

 

[cjp]

If your talking about the Estes V2,I'll be interested to hear from others as I have 2 kits still sealed in the bag.Should be starting them soon and am wondering the best way to cut the fin slots.I to have new epoxy I bought just for the tailcone and motor mount.Will use TBII for the rest of the build.

 

[Woody's Workshop]

Yes, Estes. I should have noted that. I guess I'm too use to building LP to think of anything else.
As for the tail cone slots, it's been about 4-1/2 years since I started this kit.
Looked up on the instruction and it shows a hobby knife to cut out for the fins.
IIRC, that didn't work well for me. I think I used a sanding block and worked my way threw 120, 150, 180 & 220 grits.
I use sticky back and my blocks are pieces of melamine coated particle board. Just scraps from when I had my wood shop.

Something else I have to address. The nose cone is extremely loose. I put a coat of epoxy 1-1/2" down from the top.
I'll sand that until the nose cone fits. I don't think it makes a difference, at least the instructions didn't say so...
But if I would have turned the air frame around it would have probably worked better.

While looking at the instructions, I noticed where the launch lugs go. I will be gluing the bottom one on over the putty.
Not sure I like that idea, but not much I can do about it now. At least the putty grips like crazy glue.
I used the Tamiya White putty I just purchased. I figured that would be better than the basic which I think is gray?
I'll post some pics later when the epoxy and more putty dries enough to handle it.

 

[Pointy_end_up]

The tailcone to body tube joint on mine had a larger than expected gap as well. I didn't fill it in all the way because this is also a joint on the actual rocket so I didn't worry about it too much. I moved the launch lug up 5 mm to get it off the joint. My nose cone was actually tight.

 

[mjennings]

I have an older one (probably close to 20 years) It's not a super smooth seam but the real rocket I believe had a bit of a gap at the boat tail to body joint (my Estes Maxi V2 has some details in that area) I couldn't find a good pic on v2rocket.com with a short look though.

 

[rharshberger]

Did anybody notice that the quality of build on all the original V2's is pretty rough? What would make the Estes any different. 😁

 

[snrkl]

Anyone else have problems with the air frame and tail cone not coming together well?
Mine is like sunkin in at the joint and required quit a bit of putty to get acceptable for primer.
I used epoxy for joining the 2 pieces. I did the usual TBII coating of the air frame.
It went together nice, no force needed.
I've never seen this before.

My v2 is in the mail now.. I would be interested in seeing a pic of what you experienced, if you took one that is...