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 Rocketry Product: Estes - Alien Invader {Kit} (3003) [2010-]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 1, Parts (2016-08-30)

I built one of these when it was first released in 1976. Estes brought it back when they released the Classic Series of kits. There is a lot of small fins on it, many areas I didn't get smooth the ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 2, Engine Hook TIP (2016-08-31)

If you've followed the blog you know I don't like the long finger tabs on engine hooks. The original model didn't have a finger tab, this one won't either. I've seen some forum builds where some ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 3, Replaceable Kevlar Mount (2016-09-01)

The centering ring had an inside burr that prevented it from sliding over the blue engine mount tube. This was rolled off with the backk end of a Sharpie pen. Fitting this ring over the engine hook ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 4, Coupler Reinforcement (2016-09-02)

BT-50 tubing is too thin for me. many rockets end up with a crimp right above the interior of the engine mount. This tube will get a coupler for strength. A 2" long piece of BT-50 is slit down it's ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 5, Balsa! Lots Of It (2016-09-03)

I don't always sand the balsa sheet flat. I depends how rough the sheet is. Sometimes if the sheet is smooth I go right to freeing up the parts. This one was rough. I said there was a lot of pieces. ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 6, Fin Rounding and Assembly (2016-09-04)

The rear "I" piece was glued on first and sanded flat. The front piece wasn't glued on yet so I could fill the inside edges of that "H" piece and the main "G" piece. It would be very hard to fill ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 7, Miscellany (2016-09-05)

The nose cone seams were sanded down. What seam that was left was filled with beads of medium CA glue. The pencil circles outline the recesses. After the CA bead dries (it does take a few minutes) ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 8, Wing Tube Fill and Paint (2016-09-06)

I filled the inside seams of the Wing Tip Tubes, part F. The interior of the tubes will be visible on the finished model. They will be painted red before gluing onto the wing fins. The outside ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 9, Engine Mount Gluing (2016-09-07)

I marked the inside rear of the main tube and end of the engine tube with a Sharpie. Sometimes its hard to get black spray paint into the rear after the mount is glued in place. TIP: Set the engine ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 9, Engine Mount Gluing (2016-09-07)

I marked the inside rear of the main tube and end of the engine tube with a Sharpie. sometimes its hard to get black spray paint into the rear after the mount is glued in place. TIP: Set the engine ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 10, Wing Prep (2016-09-08)

Here's the main wing after primer and sanding. Notice the leading and outside edges where the primer was sanded down for better adhesion and fillets. The body tube fin areas were also scraped for ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 11, Wing Gluing (2016-09-09)

Be sure you glued the small crescent fins to the "mirrored" tops of the main wings. Don't ask me why I bring this up! Two on top of the right side wing, two on top of the facing left side wing. ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 13, Undercoats and Sanding! (2016-09-09)

After the first white undercoats were shot there was more sanding. There are too many nooks to sand! This model took extra time to get rid of the glue fillet ridges. Then another white undercoat. ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 12 Pod Glue and Masking (2016-09-10)

The pods were masked for the internal flurescent red/orange spraying. It's easier to mask and spray the inside of the tubes before gluing them onto the wings. You must use a white undercoat when ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 14, Paint, Mask and Paint Again (2016-09-13)

This is an easy mask. Spray the upper tube so you have yellow coverage right below the smaller forward fins. Don't worry, the black will cover up the yellow. Black can pretty much cover anything. ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 15, Decals (2016-09-14)

The decals provided don't match the face card illustration or even the instruction sheet. You don't get the three white lines on the left side of the wing or the short decal that rolls over half the ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Finished (2016-09-15)

I had build this one years ago and was interested in trying it again when Estes brought it back as part of the Classics Collection. It was a fun build, this time I got all the balsa filled ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Follow Up (2016-09-20)

In a comment, Naoto Kimura mentioned the older instructions at the Jim'z website. CLICK HERE I should have checked the original Alien Invader instructions and face card for the correct decal ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader Decal Fix (2016-10-30)

I finally set the decals down on the second Alien Invader. I think I got it right this time. The white decal on the tube sides won't fit the way the face card shows it. With the dowel in the ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader Paint Fix - Part 1, TIP (2016-11-21)

A few years back I was talking to a local guitar repairman. Early on h e had  worked for Tobias guitars, learning the finer points of lutherie. He drilled the screw holes for a tailpiece ... [Read More]

Estes Alien Invader Paint Fix - Part 2, TIP (2016-11-22)

Here's the front and back after the flat clear was shot. The light spraying of acrylic dries almost instantly. If you enlarge the pciture the black might look splotchy. That's just the low pixel ... [Read More]