Model Rocket Building Blog
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 1 PartsApogee HELI-ROC Kit # 05017 Here's all the parts laid out on the floor. This looks to be a fun, different build. The last helicopter rocket I built was the Estes Gyroc in the early 1970s. Here's some parts of interest: Three Du-Bro hinges .025" dia. music wire for the hooks Cast ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 2 Rotors and FinsAfter separating the balsa from the die-cut sheets, alike pieces are stacked and sanded to the same size. I hadn't seen die-cut balsa in a while. While the cuts were close, you should stack and sand the pieces for uniformity. TIP: Rocket kit ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 3 Airfoil Rotors and FinsOn the left is a before and after pic of the fin airfoil. On the right is the rotor blade airfoil (one side flat or chambered) before and after. The fins are smaller so the airfoil was sanded using a sanding block. The rotor blade is 10 inches long so a consistent airfoil could be hard to do. I ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 4 PortsOn my BT-5 tube, the fin marking guide was a little to wide. It over wrapped by about 1/32". I knew the fin marks and ports (or slots) would be critical, so I made a new marking guide. After the three fin marks were made, I centered the ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 5 PortsI used a strait edge to cut the slots. Be careful not to over cut the corners. I pressed the tip of the blade into the corner and stopped the cut before reaching the end of line. The tube was turned around and the cut was finished from the ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 6 Filling BalsaLooking ahead to Step 17, the rotor stops should have a dihedral angle of approximately 8 degrees. I got out my protractor and drew up the angle to check the rotor stops. After "group sanding" the stops I wanted to be sure the angle was still at 8 degrees. ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 7 Prep and PrimingBefore gluing the balsa parts to the body, I also wanted to prime the body tube. The body tube seams were already filled with thinned Carpenter's Wood Filler and sanded smooth. Next, the spray primer will fill any of the remaining seam. I cut thin strips of masking tape ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 8 Nose Cone SeamI decided to fill the body tube / nose cone joint. The tip of a older X-Acto blade was dipped in thinned Carpenter's Wood Filler. The blade tip was set in the seam and the small drop of CWF was dragged around the joint. Doing it this way keeps the filler ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 9 Fins and Launch LugThe fins are glued in place, 1/2" from the rear of the BT-5 tube. Here again a square piece of paper was taped around the tube to be sure all the fins are at the same height. Using a paper guide like this helps when the fins aren't glued even with the base of the ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 10 Tissuing RotorsAhead in step 22, it is suggested that you can cover the rotor blades with tissue to increase their strength. I hadn't done any tissue work since the 1970s. I thought I remembered the technique, I just had to buy clear dope and tissue. It took a little searching at the hobby store to find it. ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Part 11 Trimming TissueAfter all has dried, the overhanging tissue was trimmed off with a razor blade. Another coat of clear dope and the tissue covering is finished. I was surprised how transparent the white tissue is. It almost looks like raw balsa. ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 12 PaintI decided to go ahead and paint the body before the rotor blades were attached. It'd be to hard to get paint into all areas once the blades were in place. The main body fins were already filled, primed glued in place ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 13 HingesIn Step 12, the hinges are cut to this profile. With one side trimmed down, it better fits the contour of the body tube. Scissors easily cut through the hinges. The rotor is marked for the untrimmed side of the hinge with the ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 14 HingesHere's how the hinges line up. The corner of the trimmed hinge touches the back corner of the reinforcement strip. Enlarge the picture to see better detail. Hold the blade steady in the correct position. The free end of the hinge was flipped up and thick CA was ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 15 Self Adhesive DecorThese ares the supplied self-adhesive panels on the rotors. They look good and will help strengthen the long balsa rotors. While the face card shows the grey panels all the way back on the trailing edges of the fins, I decided to raise them a bit A red ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 16 HooksThree metal hooks are bent from the supplied music wire. These are small, you'll need needle nose pliers to make the small hook. Enough wire is supplied to make five hooks. I made five and chose the best three hooks. A small hole is made in the rotor ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli -Roc Build Part 17 Burn Thread HolesDrill two holes, 1/16" diameter by spinning the tip of your hobby knife on the body tube. The hole center should be 2" up from the leading edge of two fins. Make the hole rounder by pressing and spinning a toothpick in the hole. I added a little glue around ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 18 Rotor Stop LugsIn Step 18, the remaining launch lug is cut in half and to the length of the top of the rotor stop. I decided to fill, sand and paint the lug before cutting it to size. After the lug seams were filled I slid them on the end of a cotton swab for a spraying handle. The ...[Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 19 Rubber BandsThe rubber band "cradles" from the last step are glued in place on top of the rotor stops. I've placed the three rubber bands under the metal hooks and over the top of the rotor stops. This would be a good place to hold the rubber bands between ...[Read More]
Apogee Heliroc Part 20 Finished!Here's the finished Heli - Roc with the rotors flipped up! The lower half of the rocket with the rotors up. The full view showing the span of the rotors. This build was a good stretch! I learned a lot about tissue covering and a new (for me) recovery method. The instructions call it a Skill level ...[Read More]
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