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(Contributed
- by Jessica Pleasant) INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUILDING A "ROCKET LADY" FLYING MODEL
ROCKET
Recommended Motors:
24 mm
E18-4
24 mm
E30-4
or virtually any 24
mm F or G load
Parts
List:
Estes
NC-80BB
Estes BT-80 141
ã Main Body Tube
Estes BT-80 21"
Nose Cone Shoulder Extension
Estes BT-50 8"
Engine Mount Tube
Estes BT-80 to BT-50
Centering rings (X2)
36" X8" X
3/16" Balsa Sheet
1/32" X 1"
X25" Basswood Strips (X2)
1/32" X 1"
X22" Basswood Strip
1" X 1
¸" Launch Lug
1/16" X 24"
Round Elastic (Shock Cord)
Estes 70mm Engine Hook
Estes EB-50 Engine
Block (green)
Pattern Sheet (Fins,
Ears, Nose and Shock Cord Mount)
6" wide X
72" Lace (Keep it light and airy)
Additional
Supplies Needed:
Glue (CA, wood
glue or other suitable glue)
5-Minute
Epoxy
Paint and
Primer
Sanding
Sealer
Ruler
Scissors
Masking
Tape
Hobby
Knife
Paint Brush
(Small)
Kite String or
similar material
400-600 Grit
sandpaper

For the complete
RockSim file, click here!
| 1. |
Motor
Mount |
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A. With a ruler
mark the engine mount tube at ¸", 2 3/8", and 7
2".
B. Use a hobby knife
to make a slit at the 2 3/8" mark.
C. Insert the engine
hook into the slit.
D. Secure the hook
with three (3) wraps of masking tape.
E. Glue engine block
inside engine mount tube at 2 3/8". |
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| 2. |
Centering
Rings |
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A. Remove
centering rings from die cut card.
B. Slide one (1)
centering ring to the 7 2" mark on engine mount tube and
glue.
C. Slide one (1)
centering ring to the ¸" mark on engine mount tube and
glue.
D. Insert the engine
mount assembly into 14 1" BT 80 and epoxy around outside surfaces of the
rear centering ring. Let epoxy set. |
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| 3. |
Fin
Assembly |
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- A. Cut out the
fin pattern and trace onto 3/16" balsa wood as shown on pattern
sheet.
B. Mark the top of
the 14 1" BT 80 with four (4) marks at a 90 degree angle.
C. Draw 8î
lines down the body tube from the marks.
D. Hold the rocket
horizontally, sighting from the rear of the rocket up the body tube. Attach two
(2) launch lugs, being careful that both lugs are in line with each
other.
E. Glue the fins on
the lines, 5î from the top end of the body tube. For best results use 5
minute epoxy for fillets and let set.
F. Apply sanding
sealer to all the fins, let try and sand with 400-600 grit sand
paper. |
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| 4. |
"Skirt" Ring Assembly |
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A. Soak basswood
strips for about one (1) hour in hot water.
B. While still wet,
bend strips into 3 separate rings, binding end to end with string. Leave
undisturbed until completely dry.
C. Once the basswood
rings are dry, glue the ends of each of the two (2) 25" rings and the
22" ring together using CA. (This is difficult but not
impossible.)
D. Take one large
ring and test fit over the end of the fins. Sand the fins until the ring slides
up 5 ¸" from the bottom and glue in place.
E. Glue the second
large ring flush wit the bottom of the fins. When dry, the rocket should stand
freely.
F. Stand the rocket
on its base and place the small ring over the body tube, centering it in a
level position on top of the fins. Glue in place.
G. Epoxy all contact
points thoroughly to secure the rings to the fins. |
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| 5. |
Nose Cone
Assembly |
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A. Cut the
shoulder of the nose cone in half, 2" from the end, as shown on pattern
sheet.
B. Glue the 2 1"
BT 80 to the nose cone and let dry.
C. Holding the nose
cone point down, fill the tip with three (3) ounces of weight. (I used lead
split shot. However pennies, sand or clay will work fine. Just be sure to epoxy
whatever you use into the nose cone)
D. Glue the cut off
section of the nose cone shoulder into the opposite end of the BT 80, leaving
¸" protruding from the end of the tube.
E. Cut out the ear
and nose-half patterns. Trace them onto the 3/16" balsa wood and cut
out.
F. Glue the nose
halves together and shape them as desired.
G. Glue the ears on
opposite sides of the nose cone 180 degrees from each other, 1 1/8" from
the bottom of the 2 1" BT-80.
H. Center the nose
piece between the ears and glue in place at the desired height. Let
dry.
I. Apply sanding
sealer to ears and nose, let dry and sand with 400-600 grit
sandpaper. |
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| 6. |
Finishing Your
Rocket |
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A. Primer the entire rocket and nose cone assembly (hereafter
referred to as the ãhead") and let dry.
B. Paint the desired
costume and face onto the body tube and head. (I chose a powdered wig and fancy
gown for mine but feel free to be creative.)
C. Cut out the shock
cord mount from the pattern sheet and crease on the dotted lines by
folding.
D. Spread glue on the
middle section and lay the shock cord in the glue. Fold the smaller section
over the middle section and press firmly. When dry, spread glue on the large
section and fold over again, holding in place until dry.
E. Glue the shock
cord mount about 1" down inside the 14 1" body tube and hold firmly
in place against the inside wall until glue is dry.
F. Tie the shock
cordâs free end to the eye of the nose cone using a triple
knot.
G. Attach parachute
shroud lines to the eye of the nose cone.
H. Finally, cut the
lace into lengths of 26" and 23".
I. Glue the shorter
piece to the upper ãskirt" ring and the longer piece to the center
"skirt" ring so that the upper piece overhangs the lower slightly.
Overlap the edges of the lace around the rings when you glue them for better
appearance. |
 
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