Model Rocket Building Blog 
Model Rocket Building Posts
Rocketry Product: Estes - Little Joe II {Kit} (7227) [2016-]
Little Joe II Available? (2016-01-14)
Yesterday on YORF, Brent posted: Now showing in stock. http://www.estesrockets.com/coming-...7-little-joe-ii While still listed in the "Coming Soon" page, there is an "Add To Cart" button, But ... [Read More]
New Estes Little Joe Instructions are Online! (2016-01-15)I was surprised to find the new Little Joe II instruction PDF on the Estes website this morning: CLICK HERE It usually takes a while for new kit instructions to be posted. For all those waiting for ... [Read More]
Little Joe II Unboxing (2016-01-21)On TRF, George Gassaway posted a link to the Little Joe II "un-boxing". James Duffy (RocketAero.com) opens the box and narrates. To see the video, CLICK HERE At 11:20 the large water slide roll ... [Read More]
Estes Little Joe II Kit Observations (2016-01-25)It's going to be a bit before I assemble the new Estes Little Joe. I know there'll be plenty of build threads, JeffyJeep has already started his on TRF. Two things I did notice opening the box - ... [Read More]
Little Joe II Adhesive Tips? (2016-04-01)Some builder's have had problems gluing together the different plastics in the new Estes Little Joe II kit. John Pursley (www.accur8.com) has put together a page of gluing tips. CLICK HERE Different ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II, Background (2017-06-10)Here's the Little Joe I remembered wanting. The BIG 1/45 Scale Little Joe II from the 1969 Centuri catalog. To see the catalog, CLICK HERE But $12.95? All I could afford was the smaller 1/100th ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Parts (2017-06-10)Here's all the parts! There are three bags of the molded plastic pieces. From the side of the box they recommend using the Estes Porta Pad II and controller. For a model this big and heavy I'd ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 2, More Parts (2017-06-11)Many of the kit parts are exclusive to this kit only. I'll show a little more about the components than a single picture. On the side of the box, Estes gave credit to the original Centuri kit. They ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 3, Still More Parts (2017-06-11)That large water slide decal wrap would be very difficult to apply. I'll probably cut it into smaller segments, maybe even cutting out the squares individually. Ask anybody who has tried to apply ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 4, Tube Prepping (2017-06-12)Only the top of the main body tube needs the seam filled. The lower half will be covered by the vacu-form wrap. With the wrap even with the bottom of the tube, a pencil line was drawn around the top ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 5, Tube Prepping (2017-06-12)TIP: Before treating the upper tube edge with medium (CA) Super Glue, check to be sure there are no lifted inside spirals. If a lift is starting, glue it down now with wood glue. You won't be able ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 6, Wrap Adhesion (2017-06-13)On the Rocketry Forum build thread James Duffy used the 3M High Strength 90 adhesive, George Gassaway used the 3m Type 77 adhesive. I wanted to make the right choice, you only have one shot to get ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 7, Wrap Adhesion (2017-06-13)Small rolls of tape with the sticky side out held the wrap onto a piece of cardboard for spraying. I don't mean to insult anybody's intelligence, but be sure you have the underside of the wrap ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 8, Tunnels and Longerons (2017-06-14)You'll be using the full size positioning guide to glue on the tunnels and longerons. That line from the center out is the joint of the body tube wrap. The longest piece, Part M, sits to the right ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 9, Tunnels and Longerons (2017-06-15)Be sure you check the Rocket Finishing drawings on Page 7 before gluing on the smaller longerons. On Page 3, drawings 10 and 11 make it look like the pieces are glued higher up on the body. All the ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 10, Centering Rings (2017-06-16)There is plenty of laser cutting in the centering rings. Don't just punch and tear them out. Separate the hold down tabs with a sharp knife. Even on white card stock there will be some black ash ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 11, Engine Mount (2017-06-16)Hoo boy Estes! Another confusing instruction drawing. Look where the 2 1/4" mark is and the knife slit for the top bend of the engine hook. Way to far forward. The drawing immediately below it ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 12, Engine Mount (2017-06-17)I sand the ends of the engine block rings flat. It will fit better against the upper bend of the engine hook. I know - moot point. The engine block is about 1" down inside the top of the tube. Apply ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 13, Better Fin Fitting (2017-06-17)This shows a dry fit of one of the fins. The fit against the corrugated wrap is good but could be better. In the TRF builds, George Gassawy brought up a good point. On the inside edges of the fins ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 13, Fin Halves Gluing (2017-06-17)These new fins are very well molded. They fit very tight without glue and take a little effort to separate them! When gluing these halves I only applied glue to the long, diagonal leading edge. ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 15, Fin Support (2017-06-18)Well, I left out the post on the Fin Half Gluing. I've re-numbered the blog posts, scroll down to see a new post at #13. Everything should be in the correct order now. The Little Joe II fins are ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 16, Fin Support (2017-06-19)I used a new #11 blade in my X-Acto. You'll be cutting through the body tube and wrap plastic. My usual break-off blade knife wasn't used for these cuts. Note the knife tip position set into the ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 17, Fin Support (2017-06-19)The backside of the hole for the 3/16" square support stick ended up at 9/32" from the end of the body tube. This measurement was drawn and cut into the three other fin locations. Here's the final ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 18, Nozzle Gluing (2017-06-20)I used Plastruct Plastic Weld plastic solvent cement. This was one of the plastic cements recommended in the TRF builds. In a blog comment, Metalhead 1986 gave some sound advice: " I'm sure you ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 19, Escape Tower Nozzles (2017-06-21)The tower and capsule plastic parts are made from the old Centuri kit molds. The newer Estes (lower body) plastic molds fit much better. The (Centuri) escape tower nozzle halves don't have alignment ... [Read More]
Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 20, RCS Housing and Nozzles (2017-06-22)The RCS nozzles housings are small and slippery, no alignment pins! Do your best to line up the sides and brush some slue on the outside joints. On the left is before sanding the sides flat. The ... [Read More]
Launch! Soccer Field, November 26, 2019 (2019-11-27)It was cold with no winds, off to an early launch at the schoolyard. My Quest VIPER was first up using a Chinese made Quest A3-4 motor. It's always good to check your controller batteries and ... [Read More]
Decal PDFs For Patreon Support Members (2020-08-13)Here's a list of the Print at Home PDF decals available to Patreon Supporters: PATREON DECAL PDFs ESTES Estes Green Eggs Scrambler K-37, #1237 Decal .pdf Makes the Estes Green Eggs kit ... [Read More]
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