Model Rocket Building Blog 
Model Rocket Building Posts
Rocketry Product: Excelsior Rocketry - Nike Goon
Nike Goon Build, Part 1, Background and Parts (2017-02-11)
Goony conversions are somewhat based on the Estes Goonybirds from 1973. They were short, goofy BT-60 based models that flew on 13mm "T" engines. Excelsior Rockets brought out new 18mm plan kits that ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Build, Part 2, Scaling to a BT-60 (2017-02-13)I found this picture at RocketReviews.com, from a build and review by Matthew Bond. This is the Goony version designed and produced by Excelsior Rocketry. I didn't have the Excelsior plan/decal set ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Build, Part 3, Fins (2017-02-14)I wasn't able to fit the low, larger fins onto the kit balsa sheet. The Nike Goon fin pattern was traced on the Baby Bertha fins. The excess was cut off and glued onto the larger piece. Look close ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Build, Part 4, Centering Rings (2017-02-15)These rings must have come from an older kit, these were die-cut, not laser cut. Before punching out the centering rings they were marked for replaceable Kevlar. Pencil marks were made on opposite ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Build, Part 5, Engine Mount (2017-02-15)On the Goony models the engine mount is set in farther up in the body tube. This puts the center of gravity forward and makes for better stability. The bottom bend of the engine hook is even with ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Build, Part 6, Same Kit Differences (2017-02-16)The two Nike Goons under construction were made from two different Baby Bertha kits. Both had the same face card but they were obviously from two different runs. At first the nose cones looked the ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Build, Part 7, Fin Gluing (Lots Of Fins) (2017-02-17)I tend to sand off most of the primer/filler before things are glued together. Here I'm scraping the glue areas for a better bond. The fin root scraped area is a little wider than the 3/32" thick ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Build, Part 8, Black Trim (2017-02-18)Home print black decals are a bit translucent on white paint. After transfer they sometimes look like a very dark gray. I decided to hand cut the pieces from Contact Blackboard Covering material. To ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Build, Part 9, Black Trim (2017-02-19)Here's the smaller fins. A strip was set between the two fin triangles to keep the cuts in line. Interesting thing about the trim. Down the root edge there is a thin white line. The squares set on ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Build, Part 10, Added Paint Weight? (2017-02-20)I'm a sport flyer and don't pay much attention to the weight of paint. Daniel Petrie (The Rocket N00b) did some great articles about paint and how the weight can effect performance. To visit his blog ... [Read More]
Nike Goon, Finished (2017-02-21)This was a fun build. I didn't know if the complicated trim vinyl would work. There are still some water slide decals to go on, a vertical red U.S. GOONY on the upper body and maybe a NIKE G on two ... [Read More]
Nike Goon Follow-Up With Decals (2017-02-26)Did you ever finish a model and wish you had done a few things differently? As I usually do, I made two of the Nike Goons. One to fly, the other to sell on Ebay. On the left is the first try using ... [Read More]
Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, September 29, 2019 (2019-09-30)I didn't get to the NEFAR launch yesterday, next month should be a lot cooler. Off to the schoolyard about 7:30 a.m. before the wind kicks up. I was trying a faster shutter speed at 3,200 of a ... [Read More]
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