Jim Hodge's Page
AKA: Jim Hodge
Club Memberships: NAR
RocketReviews.com Pages:
2014-07-26
Estes Conquest
Flight
Nice long burn with a fairly straight boost this time. Arrr! Parachute never truly inflated but t' rocket was recovered without damage. Begad! - E9-4 - Hendersonville, NC [More]
2014-06-06
Conquest - Launch
Build Entry
T' maiden flight was launched with an Estes D12-3 per t' recommendations. Begad! I equipped t' rocket with an altimeter t' check t' altitude. T' specs state that this rocket will weigh 5.5 ounces. Mine came in at 10.6 minus t' engine but it had a baffle and 6' o' shock cord as well as a crazy ... [More]
Conquest - Final thoughts.
Build Entry
This was a fun build I must admit even with all t' snafus. Ahoy! It was much different than t' normal fare and a bit o' a challenge in spots. It looks great on display as well as on t' pad so it's definitely a "buy" if you're lookin' for a challenge and somethin' different. Blimey!
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2014-05-24
Mustang
Flight
Spiraled up with a camera on board(which may have caused t' spin). Avast! I be expectin' a little more altitude but was pleased with what I got. Recovery be quick on t' 12" chute and rocket was undamaged. It's a real work horse. - G40-10 - Hendersonville, NC [More]
Estes Conquest
Flight
Maiden flight. She arced a bit but t' short delay helped and recovery was perfect. Ahoy! - D12-3 - Hendersonville, me bucko, NC [More]
2014-05-04
Conquest - Missiles and Aft Skirt.
Build Entry
T' missiles and aft skirt were CA'd on as t' final touches are underway. Well, blow me down! I clear coated t' missiles with Krylon satin as glossy missiles seemed inappropriate. T' aft skirt was painted with Rustoleum chrome.
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Conquest - Clear Coat.
Build Entry
I hit it with a few coats o' clear lacquer and then wet sanded. A few more coats o' clear were applied and wet sanded again. I then compounded, polished and applied a synthetic wax t' t' finish.
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2014-04-25
Conquest - Decals
Build Entry
T' decals on this model are sparse and not very excitin' apart from t' teeth and beady eyes. Arrr! If you follow t' facecard dimensions t' teeth would be placed over t' seam betwixt t' nose cone and body tube. Well, blow me down! I placed mine behind t' seam with a little wiggle room for repairs if needed in ... [More]
2014-04-24
Conquest - Finishing.
Build Entry
If you look at t' web photo o' this rocket it appears that it is painted with a white/violet-blue paint job. Avast, me proud beauty! Before I received this kit I went t' me LHS t' peruse paints and nay seein' anythin' that matched was told that I should start mixing. Avast, me proud beauty! Right! After gettin' me kit t' facecard ... [More]
2014-04-23
Conquest - Ready For Color!
Build Entry
Started with grey filler primer. Filled a lot o' defects (minor ones on t' air intakes mostly) with FNF betwixt coats. I followed that up with a few coats o' white sandable primer which should help t' top coats pop. There are some very nice lines on this rocket and they are beginnin' t' show.
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2014-04-20
Conquest - Ready t' Prime!
Build Entry
T' Conquest is built except for t' missiles and aft skirt which I will be finishin' separately before final assembly. Begad! I've put some balsa into t' missile pylon slots t' protect t' holes for gluin' later.
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Conquest - Baffle Assembly
Build Entry
I'm nay a big fan o' t' Estes shock cord mount although they do work perfectly well in most circumstances. Begad! I opted t' install a BT-60 baffle(not included) which is constructed with a BT-60 coupler and two plywood centerin' rings with holes drilled in a pattern that will allow pressure t' ... [More]
2014-04-18
Conquest - Install Engine Mount
Build Entry
I decided t' attach t' engine mount sooner than later. Begad! Blimey! I did NOT use CA here as that could have been "game changing" for this procedure. I epoxied t' mount in and had enough time t' adjust it and test fit t' aft skirt against t' aft centerin' rin' without it all seizin' on me. I ... [More]
2014-04-16
Conquest - Assemble Detail (Missiles)
Build Entry
T' two missiles are assembled like any micro 3F2NC. Ya scallywag! I used some watered down Fill N Finish t' fill t' spirals and then rounded all t' fin edges and CA'd them t' t' body tube. I sanded and sealed X3. Well, blow me down! In retrospect I think I would have preferred t' use wood glue here as t' joints would have ... [More]
2014-04-11
Conquest - Attach air intakes and launch lugs.
Build Entry
T' instructions declare that we switch t' wood glue t' attach t' intake assemblies. I agree. On they went and positionin' was stress free. I then CA'd t' launch lugs on lickety split.
CORRECTION: After placin' this on a rod I figured t' stock launch lug ... [More]
2014-04-10
Conquest - Attach wings and fins.
Build Entry
I jumped t' cannon a little here as I wanted t' prime t' BT-60 tube first and work out any defects before attachin' t' win' assembly, me bucko, t' aft fins and t' intakes as it will become quite cluttered. I masked off t' area where t' win' assembly would attach so I could get a better bond betwixt it ... [More]
2014-04-07
Conquest - Win' assembly.
Build Entry
There are four parts t' t' win' each beveled 5 degrees t' t' downside. I taped t' win' parts together with a small strip o' maskin' tape and adjusted t' angle with t' alignment guide provided. I applied CA into t' joints and held it steady until it was fast. Ahoy!
... [More]
2014-04-05
Conquest - Tail cone and vertical stab. Part 2
Build Entry
There are three long wood pieces that are t' be glued together. Avast! This unit will hold t' vertical stabilizer and win' against t' fuselage. I stacked them and sanded all t' laser nastiness off o' them before applyin' t' CA. Aye aye! I rounded off t' front as per t' instructions but I also ... [More]
2014-04-04
Conquest - Tail cone and vertical stab.
Build Entry
After gluin' t' two halves o' t' vertical stabilizer fin together I glued t' four pieces o' t' tail cone t' t' top. Since this wood is so tough I roughed out t' shape with me Dremel. Begad! Hand sandin' this step would have been very time consuming. I was able t' get t' shape I wanted in ... [More]
2014-04-03
Conquest
Build
T' Conquest is t' new skill level 5 kit from Estes. Begad! It is a BT-60 sized winged rocket that stands 28.6" tall with a wingspan o' 12.8". Avast, me proud beauty! It's suggested engines are t' D12-3, shiver me timbers, E9-4 and t' E12-4 with a projected max altitude o' 1100 ft. Ahoy! We'll see about that. I love winged rockets and this ... [More]
Conquest - Engine Mount
Build Entry
After you have recovered from gluin' yourself t' yourself it's time to assemble the E sized engine mount. It includes an engine hook, thrust ring, 24mm engine mount tube, BT-60 centerin' rings and an engine hook sleeve all glued together per t' diagrams with wood glue. ... [More]
Conquest - Intake assembly.
Build Entry
There are two intakes that need t' be assembled from t' 1/16" "wood" sheets. These are a bit fiddly and you will feel like you need one more hand t' hold it together for gluing. Well, blow me down! T' suggested glue is thin CA. Avast! Bad things happen with thin CA so don't even begin this step ... [More]
Conquest - Kit contents.
Build Entry
T' Conquest kit includes t' followin' items.
8" nosecone with aft skirt attached.
18" BT-60 body tube. &nbs ... [More]
2014-03-15
Blue Bird Zero
Flight
Straight awesome boost. Avast! I expected it t' go out o' sight but altitude was still good at 1344 and it was recovered in perfect condition - E30-7 - Hendersonville, ya bilge rat, NC [More]
2013-11-23
Black Star Voyager - I'm so done.
Build Entry
T' finish on this beast be originally an idea I had for a guitar project. Blimey! I thought I would try it out on this rocket first. T' finish looks very deep and it is almost impossible t' photograph. T' guitar will be a walk in t' park now. Ya scallywag! T' transition be seamless until I began wet sandin' upon ... [More]
Black Star Voyager - Final coat. Begad! Finally.
Build Entry
Applied 6 coats o' clear lacquer. I then sanded and polished most o' it down t' a nice glossy finish. I used an acrylic floor finish on t' 27 cardboard fins which nay only provided a good clear but strengthened their structure.
&nb ... [More]
2013-08-03
Black Star Voyager - Decals
Build Entry
T' decals are pretty tough. Begad! I had no real problems other than truly thinkin' this thin' out. Ya scallywag! T' finish is a bit flat awaitin' t' final clear coats. 9.65 oz. now.
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Black Star Voyager - Mid coat
Build Entry
I decided t' put a prism metallic mid coat clear on it because it was just beggin' for it. It's very subtle until t' light hits it. 9.6 oz. right now
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2013-07-25
Black Star Voyager - Color.
Build Entry
Painted with black lacquer after t' humidity finally dropped. Arrr! I am goin' t' attempt a mid-coat when t' humidity drops again. 9.3 oz. Aye aye! right now.
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