Model Rocket Building Blog
Thor Able Carded Build Part 1 PartsThis build was actually done back in 2012 but never posted on the blog. As it turned out, the finished model wasn't stable! I'll still post the build as a reference for those wanting to make carded models or great "shelf queens". There are many models suitable for flight conversion on the ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 2 Internal SupportsThe internal strengthening rings were glued onto cereal box cardboard. I'm rolling a clean dowel over the glued rings to smooth out and remove excess glue. The circles in the middle will be enlarged for the central BT-5 tube later. This is the B3 (or lower main body) piece. On the cardstock print ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 3 Internal RingsYou are given the choice of leaving on or cutting off the Gimbal Motors from the bottom of the B3 Lower Body piece. Here I'm scoring the fold lines with the rounded back edge of a razor blade. I decided to leave them one - for now. Later in the construction I found they got in the way of the BT-5 ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 4 Internal RingsThe Support Strips were already glued inside the B3 Lower Body. The rings you made will sit against these rings. TIP: I found I had to sand away a little of the edge to fit better against the B# Connector Tab. The rings were pressed into the tubes until they rested against the support Rings. Glue ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 5 End BP PlateI had to cut a circle in the center of the BP end piece to fit the BT-5. As before, the tube was centered and a line drawn around the end. Cut and sand round to fit the tube. This is the notched BP connector ring in place. It is slightly recessed down to the printed blue line so when the BP end ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 6 Upper Internal Support RingsDisk 1 and Disk 2 are glued to the star shaped 1A and 2A. While those dry, the connectors B1 and B2 are glued into the upper two transition pieces. Here's the internal support "star" ring being glued inside the larger transition. Don't press these in too far, you don't want to see the star shape ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 7 Upper Body and ConduitsThe upper body separation point is above the B2 section. Here's the pre-shaping the B1 shroud for gluing. All the shrouds in this "kit" have internal tabs so the shroud seams edges butt up against each other. You can roll a clean dowel over the seam to flatten it out. This is the same method I ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 8 Upper StagesThe A1 section was pre-shaped and rolled around a dowel. This model will need nose weight and clay would probably be used. A plastic Bic pen barrel was just about the right diameter to glue the A1 section around. The internal plastic pen barrel will also protect the white cardstock from oil stains ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 9 Upper StagesForming the nose cone takes just a few minutes. A clean dowel was used to start rolling over the nose points. After they start holding the rounded shape, apply some white glue and continue rolling and molding the points into a rounded nose. The finished nose. Don't use your fingers to roll it, use ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 10 AntennaFrom the back end of the A1 tube you can see the Bic pen barrel inside. Because this is a hard plastic, the antenna holes will have to be drilled. I used my small pin vise drill to make the antenna holes. The antenna wires would bump into each other at the center of the A1 tube. The wire on my ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 11 Upper StageThese boxes are small! Score the fold lines before cutting them out. One box is shown, glued in place below the antenna. The finished upper stage. It's pretty clean - for now. I can't stress enough, keep your hands clean! After all the handling, my model was a little dirty in the end.[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 12 Separation PointA rolled clay weight "snake" was pressed into the Bic pen tube inside the top section. I used the plastic pen barrel so the clay wouldn't discolor the white cardstock over time. The model will separate between the B1 and B2 sections. The B1 section was glued to the A2 already glued to the ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 13 Main Nozzle DetailNow that the internal BT-5 upper length has been established, fillet the tube where it exits the lower ind of the BP plate. The BT-5 going out the back will end up being the nozzle. It's not the true tapered nozzle, but in a conversion you have to make compromises. It still needed the gray color ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 14 Nozzle Hat BandsUsing string for "hat bands" has been used on carded models for some time. Many of the Dr. Zooch kit nozzles get the same treatment. When properly done it looks very good and adds some strength to the nozzles. I don't have straight printed lines to glue the string on. To get them straight around ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 15 Nozzle Hat BandsI used the small scissors on my Swiss Army knife to trim off the overhanging string. The picture shows the cut overlap area of two nozzle bands. Here's the finished nozzle with the smaller Gimbal motor pods attached.[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 16 TX TubeThe TX tube is a little hard to roll. This probably should have been printed on 65 lb. cardstock, I used 110 lb. Here it is rolled around a small diamond file. The TX tube is glued so it angles away from the base. The outside of the rear angle cut is even with the side of the main body. Two ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build Part 17 FinsThe fins were traced and redrawn in Corel Draw. I knew for the rocket to be stable the fins would have to be larger. Four different upsizes were made. I ended up using the next larger size. The fins should be formed into a wedge shape. I took the easy way out and simply "butterflied" them over ...[Read More]
Thor Able Carded Build FinishedA simple crepe paper streamer was installed for recovery. With a 1/2A3-2t engine installed, a small launch lug was glued onto the main body at the C/G location. The model was flown at the Orlando R.O.C.K. launch on March 3, 2012. Even with the nose weight and enlarged fins the rocket wasn't ...[Read More]
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