Model Rocket Building Blog
Midget Clone Build Part 1 PartsThe original Estes Midget kit was one of the first rockets I ever built. In 1969 I thought $1.25 was a great price for a two stage rocket! Before I start on this one - This build is not the recently released Retro Repro Midget kit from Semroc and not the original Estes kit. This is a ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 2 Parts Huh?I don't know why fin templates were included. Compared to the laser cut Semroc fins they weren't even the right size! I trust Semroc knowing the larger laser cut fins are correct. On the same card stock sheet with the fin templates was a printed ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 3 Lug Standoff?The original Midget kit and this clone kit included a dowel for a lug standoff. Normally, a lug standoff is required if the upper section of the model has a larger diameter payload tube. The standoff raises the lug so the launch rod will clear the wider payload section. But why is it needed on ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 4 Lug StandoffThe Estes kit had a LL-2B lug that was 2 3/8" long. Probably too long for a model this size. That length of lug will stick out like a sore thumb. A little like a 1/8" lug on a BT-5 model. The lug supplied in the Semroc Repro kit is slightly shorter at 2 1/4" long, with no dowel ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 5 Nose Cone PrepI can hear the voices: "Why do you bother, nobody will see it anyway!" It's just me. I like the interior of my models to be as clean as the exterior. I spend some extra time on engine mounts and shock cord anchors. If they are built strong and clean, they'll function better and last a lot ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 6 Engine MountThe centering rings are cut from a long, thick tube. The edges are a "wedge" shape, slightly thinner on the green side. I like to square up the rings, getting rid of the wedge, making the faces a little flatter. This can help with a model where the engine mount centering rings are flush ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 7 Engine BlocksI had a hard time getting the thin engine blocks to fit into the mount tubes. The burr around the top of the upper mount had to be rolled over with a smooth dowel. Again, pre-fit any rings before using glue. This is the back end of the booster body tube. A second thin EB-20B engine ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 8 KevlarThe new Semroc Midget kit has Kevlar tied to the upper centering ring. As typical for me, I forgot to cut a notch in the upper ring to tie on the Kevlar. A small drill was used to make the hole. There isn't much room between the BT-20 engine mount tube and the inside of the BT-50 ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 9 TransitionBy dry fitting the mount and a fin on the BT-50 tube you can see how long the transition needs to be. The trailing edge of the fin will be flush with the end of the engine mount tube. A good fitting card stock transition will actually roll over the end of the centering ring a small amount. By ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 10 TransitionYou'll have to draw a glue tab to the shroud pattern from the Payload Bay website. Sometimes I'll add a tab cut separate from the shroud so there won't be a raised seam. On this model it won't matter. A fin root edge will go right beside the raised seam hiding the raised side. The ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 10A Transition Oops!Out of curiosity I glued together the transition shroud that came with the clone kit. I knew it would be small. Earlier it was checked against the length of the root edge of a sustainer fin. The printing was faint and pixeled. I had to draw the line in for the glue tab. This is the wide end ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 11 Fin PrepBefore today's posts: I'm back on the Holland America Veendam from September 7 through 15, cruising up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal. If I miss posting here and there, bear with me. The ship internet connections are never good! Back to the Midget: I've brought this up before, but it's ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 12 Launch Lug and StandoffToday I'm doing Blog entries from a Tim Horton's (good coffee!) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Sydney is a quaint town. Nothing too polished here, lots of small homes and original architecture. The residents seem relaxed and nobody is trying to over-impress. I had thought about ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 13 Balsa Grain FillSometimes when I sand down the filler, the nose cone shoulder ends up overhanging the edge of the body tube. I usually sand the nose cone back to the right diameter with a sanding block and the nose cone in a scrap piece of body tube. ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 14 Shroud Seam FixA small amount of white glue was set over the raised seam. If you can, you'll want a little bit of the glue to get under the raised edge. Wipe off most of the wet glue on the outside. Roll a clean dowel over the glued raised joint. The card stock will be a little p ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 15 Lug GluingThe lug and standoff are glued even with the top wide end of the shroud. Primer was scraped off for a better glue bond. Gluing the lug (while it is on the standoff) takes a more time than usual. It seems top heavy and the dowel wants to roll over on to the body tube. Look down to ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 16 White Color CoatThe first white color coat was sprayed. I'm back using Rustoleum 2X again. The picture shows the first light coat after lightly sanding with 400 grit. There is a engine block in the rear of the booster tube so a (casing) painting wand couldn't be used. The dowel was slid in ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 17 Fin Trim ColorsWhen applying trim Monokote the underlying surface must be clean and smooth. I found a few paint bumps and sanded them down before applying the trim pieces. Sand just the raised paint and not much more around it. You don't want to dull larger area of the gloss finish. ...[Read More]
Midget Clone Build Part 18 Fin Trim ColorsIt was easier to place the piece using a knife blade underneath it. With the blade under the side of the piece I could see the spacing around the leading and outside edges. Even using the templates there was some trimming to be done. The black piece still has the backing ...[Read More]
Midget Clone FinishedThe original Estes kit had a 10" parachute. The Semroc reissue has a streamer. I installed a streamer to be sure I get it back. Lessons learned: Trim Monokote is hard to apply when the pieces taper to a sharp point. I thought applying the trim to the fins would ...[Read More]
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