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Sport Rocketry / Recovery / Helicopter Recovery
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 1 Parts (2010-11-29)
Apogee 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. ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 2 Rotors and Fins (2010-11-30)After 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, ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 3 Airfoil Rotors and Fins (2010-11-30)On 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 4 Ports (2010-12-01)On 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 5 Ports (2010-12-02)I 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 6 Filling Balsa (2010-12-03)Looking 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. ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 7 Prep and Priming (2010-12-04)Before 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 8 Nose Cone Seam (2010-12-05)I 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 9 Fins and Launch Lug (2010-12-06)The 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 10 Tissuing Rotors (2010-12-07)Ahead 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, ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Part 11 Trimming Tissue (2010-12-08)After 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 12 Paint (2010-12-09)I 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. ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 13 Hinges (2010-12-09)In 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. ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 14 Hinges (2010-12-10)Here'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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 15 Self Adhesive Decor (2010-12-10)These 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 16 Hooks (2010-12-11)Three 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli -Roc Build Part 17 Burn Thread Holes (2010-12-11)Drill 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 18 Rotor Stop Lugs (2010-12-12)In 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. ... [Read More]
Apogee Heli-Roc Build Part 19 Rubber Bands (2010-12-12)The 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 ... [Read More]
Apogee Heliroc Part 20 Finished! (2010-12-13)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 ... [Read More]
First Maple Seed Model? (2020-08-07)On TRF, the subject of Maple Seed recovery came up. Eric (RKTMAN in TRF) posted a link to probably the first "eject and spin" or maple seed recovery. The December 1965 Estes Model Rocket News shows ... [Read More]
Cyclone Build FINISHED! (2011-01-01)Here's the finished CYCLONE! The longer adapter / coupler needed a wrap of masking tape for a good fit. Be ready, the performance of the helicopter recovery will be better than you would expect. I ... [Read More]
Top 10 for 2011 (2011-12-19)I had 280 launches in the past year, 85 flights more than in 2010. Of the 24 builds completed in 2011, these are my top picks. Click on the BOLD NAME to go to the finished pictures or blog post. ... [Read More]
More New Estes Kits (2014-12-23)The best news is - The 2" diameter (Centuri capsule) Mercury Redstone is returning! This is the Liberty Bell version. They specify a C6-3 engine only for a 200' altitude. This ... [Read More]
Launch, L.A.S.E.R., Groveland, FL, December 20, 2020 (2020-12-21)Cool weather, low winds and a small chance of afternoon rain. I took the 70 minute drive to Groveland to join the L.A.S.E.R. monthly launch. I tried the MMX BLUE BIRD ZERO first, but had trouble ... [Read More]
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