Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 1 Parts
All the parts are standard and of good quality.
For a while it was rare to find kits with clear payload section tubes. I'm glad to see they made a comeback.
Part of interest: The laser cut fins didn't get cut all the way through the wood. While you should never just ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 2, Replacement Parts
The body tube is a standard thin walled BT-50 and prone to bends and crimps. It will be replaced with a thick wall BT-50 from BMS. On the left is the kit supplied BT-50. The clear payload tube is wider and overhangs the BT-50. The inset picture shows the thick wall BT-50. It's a much better ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 3, Long Nose Block and Engine Mount
The newer Estes kits have nose blocks that are 2" long. The old 50 tube nose blocks were 1" long. Even back then it felt a bit short with only 1/2" on either side. I'll compromise and cut this block to 1 1/2" for 3/4" exposed to join up the tubes.
1/2" inch was cut off the 2" long nose ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 4, Fins, Leading Edge Rounding
The leading edge of the smaller dorsal fin is already rounded. With a sanding block I'm sanding in a 45 degree "corner" into the larger main fin. Don't sand any more off the dorsal fin. Going down the rounded edge, use your block to "knock" into the main fin balsa cutting the small 45 degree ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 5, Fins, Leading Edge Rounding
The laser cutting didn't quite go through the back of the wood! Not a big deal, a sharp blade and straightedge freed up the fins.
The instructions say to round the leading edges of the fins, the outside and trailing edges remain square. How do you get rounded leading edges of the "dorsal" ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 5, Some CWF Filling
The shoulder edge on the replacement nose cone wasn't very sharp. I painted filler just over the edge. The clear payload tube was slid on and the tube edge pushed the CWF up into a bead. This bead of filler raised the outside diameter of the shoulder edge.
After it dries the bead of ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 7, More CWF Filling
The nose cone fit is loose in the clear payload section. I'll build up the diameter the same way as the nose block with a coat of CWF. I kept the CWF away from the new, sharp lip. This will be sanded to a tight, friction fit in the payload tube. I could have used masking tape but the shoulder ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 8, Gluing It Together
Mentioned earlier, the engine mount was recessed a bit more than directed in the instructions. This was so the model would rest on the trailing edges of the fins and not wobble on the extended engine hook. The engine hook finger tab was cut off earlier to give it the old school look. I tend to ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 9, Primer and Sanding
Once again the Tung wood grain is showing up. Grain holes showed up on the right side of each forward fin strakes. More filler and sanding! The hole in the shoulder base of the replacement BMS nose cone needed filling. I used 1/2 of the screw eye dowel and sanded it flat ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 10, Decal Redraw
I wasn't very happy with the kit decals. The black stripes that go between the fins had some rough edges. The Estes logo wasn't printed clean. The roll pattern was sharp though. I originally wanted my Estes Payloader II closer to the Centuri catalog versions. The roll pattern might have to be a ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 11, Shoulder Painting TIP Occasionally you see clear payload models at club launches. Chances are, the nose cone is painted off the model and the shoulder is also sprayed. The painted shoulder ends up underneath the clear payload tubing. Even the model pictured at the top of the Estes instructions has the nose and ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 12, Masking
I don't use regular brown masking tape and won't pay a premium for the "boutique" hobby masking tapes. Scotch tape can give razor sharp lines and it's a lot cheaper. Scotch tape strips are set down on my patio door glass. To make the clear tape easier to see on the model, a wide point marker is ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 13, More Masking
The top of the body tube gets a band of red, 1/4" down from the top lip. Again I used a strip of marked Scotch tape.
The center area of the body tube was covered with a wrap of printer paper. The inset picture shows the full mask for the upper red band. Inside the tube is masked ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 14, Red Paint The red was sprayed. I used the Rustoleum Metallic Apple Red. The only place I've found this red is at Ace hardware. This is great spray paint and very forgiving. When using this Rusto metallic, spray light coats . It is dry to the touch in just a few minutes. Don't spray a final heavy coat with ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 15, Decals
I had already redrew the decals for the slightly larger body tube I used. I ended up using the kit decals. The black strips are centered between the fins. Cut the end of the bands close to the black ink, removing the clear bottom edge. You won't want the clear border overhanging the back edge ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 16, Gluing the Nose Block The instructions say to use plastic cement to glue the nose block in the payload section tube. I'll be using thin CA. If glue were applied as in the illustration it could push the glue up and fog up the clear tube. Before any glue is applied, the interior of the tube is wiped clean. Once the nose ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 17, Future Shine Over Metallic Paint
I was actually excited to find the Rustoleum Metallic Red at a nearby Ace Hardware Store. This was the same brand of paint that gave me such great results on the Quest Stiletto. On that model I used the metallic black and silver paints. This paint is very forgiving. Apply with light coats and ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Part 18, Centuri Decal
An Estes logo on a Centuri design? I didn't center the Centuri logo and Payloader in the white space between the rear black strip and top roll pattern. Enlarge the picture and look for the pencil marks on the decal, still on the backing paper. Both the logo and name center point is on the left ...
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Estes Payloader II #3022 Build, Finished
A great, classic Centuri design. These pictures were taken before the "Centuri PAYLOADER " decal was added. The pictures don't show off the Rusto metallic red paint. Outdoors it really catches the sunlight. Painting over the payload tube (to hide the adapter and nose cone ...
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