Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Aye aye! Part 1 Parts
Here's another one that can be made from parts from t' Baby Bertha kit. Aye aye! This was t' Estes kit #1391. Check out t' instructions at t' JimZ plan site HERE
This will be a spare parts box build. T' red nose cone did come from a Baby Bertha kit. It was painted red when it temporarily sat ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Part 2, Win' Gluing T' engine mount was already assembled from another build that didn't get finished. T' assembled mount is nothin' out o' t' ordinary and should work fine in this model. Well, blow me down!
I wanted t' root edges o' t' wings t' be square. My straightedge was taped down and one win' was glued up on each side. ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Blimey! Part 3, me hearties, Nose Weight Clay
T' Estes instructions specify t' clay weight is 1/2" square. I cut t' square o' clay t' 1/2" and it weighed at .20 oz. I'll add a bit more t' reach .25 oz. Begad! This is just a guess, I would think t' kit contained a quarter ounce o' clay.
Here's a tip I picked up when buildin' t' ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Arrr! Part 4, Whoops and Fills
WHOOPS! I glued t' small aft win' piece on wrong. Ahoy! It was cut off, t' edge sanded and glued on again. T' re-drawn arrow shows t' correct balsa grain direction.
This 5" length o' BT-60 wasn't very good. Arrr! T' glasseine seams were thar as always but thar were seam recesses betwixt ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Arrr! Part 5, Fins and Decals
T' body tube and fins were shot separately with primer. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Body tube was marked for three fins. T' primer was sanded off t' pencil lines and t' lines re-drawn. Blimey! Blimey! Primer be sanded off t' fins where t' fillets will be.
T' decal art be copied from t' JimZ site and cleaned up usin' Corel ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Begad! Part 7, shiver me timbers, Masking
I used Scotch tape for t' mask. Begad! T' edges were blacked with a permanent marker so you can see it against t' white background. Begad! T' Scotch tape was set down first, ya bilge rat, it took a few pieces t' fit around t' angled line. Begad! In t' picture t' rudder has maskin' tape coverin' t' back.
T' wings ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Aye aye! Blimey! Part 6, Maskin' Prep
T' original kit had streamer recovery. Ya scallywag! With t' trailin' fins on this model I'll switch out for a 12" parachute. Avast! T' Bertha style nose cone has a LONG shoulder. Waddin' and a parachute were loaded into t' short body tube. Ahoy! About 3/8" was cut off t' shoulder for a bit more room. Arrr! Even with t' ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Begad! Part 8, Mask Reveal and Fix
T' maskin' tape on t' aft edge didn't give a clean line at all! Before t' paint had completely set up I was able t' lightly scrape t' paint back with t' tip o' a hobby knife. T' top be t' before, shiver me timbers, t' inset picture is after careful scraping. I'll still have t' go back and touch up t' ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Part 9, arrr, Nose Cone Mask
T' Nose Cone Decor Pattern is cut out and set on t' nose cone for pencil guidelines.
T' sides o' t' nose cone get straight pieces o' tape. Well, blow me down! T' front o' t' nose cone will get an arc cut o' Scotch tape cut on me patio window. Ya scallywag! Cut t' arc as smooth and round as you can. Avast! It might take a ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Aye aye! Part 10, Nose Mask Reveal and Cleanup
After t' tape was pulled up, here's t' result. Well, blow me down! There be some minor bleedin' at t' corners, that was cleaned up pushin' it back with t' cutlass blade tip.
There be one spot where t' black spray got under t' maskin' tape. TIP: I've mentioned these before, matey, Scotch Brite cleanin' pads. ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Build. Part 11, Decals As it turns out, I got t' black mask wrong at t' front o' t' body where it meets t' black under t' nose cone. T' black line should go straight and nay be stepped. Begad! T' mask ridge was lightly sanded down and more maskin' and a spray o' black followed. Ahoy!
After all t' masking, t' model is ...
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Estes Mini Shuttle Finished
Another good use for a Baby Bertha kit! T' build was easy enough but t' maskin' wasn't. Ahoy! This is one o' those rockets where t' decals really make t' model. T' white, black and gray trim colors always work well together. Certainly nay scale, more o' a Gooney ...
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