Model Rocket Building Blog 
Model Rocket Building Posts
Rocketry Product: Estes - Nike Smoke {Kit} (009704) [2012-]
Thoughts on Nike Smoke Fins (2016-06-08)
I don't have the new Estes BT-60 based Nike Smoke kit yet, I don't even know if I'll get it or not. On oldrocketplans.com they have the old Centuri Nike Smoke instructions with a fin scan and ruler. ... [Read More]
Shaping Estes Nike Smoke Fins, Part 1 (2016-06-09)I probably won't be doing a full build on the new Estes Nike Smoke. It's a standard build except for the scale fin shaping. These following posts will focus on the fins. Mentioned earlier, the older ... [Read More]
Shaping Estes Nike Smoke Fins, Part 2 (2016-06-10)You can't effectively shape fins like this with a sheet of sandpaper taped down to your work table. You've got to use a good sanding block. I have 220 grit stuck to my Great Planes E-Z Sander. The ... [Read More]
Shaping Estes Nike Smoke Fins, Part 3 (2016-06-11)After the root to outside edge taper is done the leading and trailing edges are hit with a quick swipe of the black marker. The inset picture shows the pencil lines for the next tapers. On the root ... [Read More]
Shaping Estes Nike Smoke Fins, Part 4, Primer Filler (2016-06-12)On a shaped fin like this one, each step helps define the sanded edge taper. The first shaping step is the balsa fin shaping with 220 grit on a block. The second step is the sanding of the CWF. ... [Read More]
Randy Gilbert's Nike Smoke Fins (2016-10-26)From the NAR Facebook page, Randy Gilbert responded to a post on the Estes Nike Smoke - "It is a great kit, but the fins can be difficult to sand to shape. There are other ways to mimic the ... [Read More]
Nike Smoke Comparisons (2017-03-16)I first saw the Centuri Nike Smoke in the 1971 Centuri Catalog. At the time it was big, 23.65" tall. The airframe was an ST-16 at 1.64" diameter. I never built this version. Estes recently released ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 1, Parts (2017-03-17)This is one everybody should have in their fleet. Classic and pointy. I've had different versions of the Nike Smoke over the years, first was the Enerjet Nike Smoke (essentially the Centuri Nike kit ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 2, The Enerjet Smoking Nose Cone (2017-03-18)The original Enerjet Nike Smoke had a smoking nose cone. To see how it was done - CLICK HERE The tip of the nose cone was cut off and a BT-5 was slipped in acting as a ram-jet. During boost, the ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 3, The Enerjet Smoking Nose Cone (2017-03-19)I used my aluminum angle to get side slot sides straight. The short end cuts were made by punching the tops and bottoms with a sharp blade tip. Punch the top corner with the sharp side down. Turn ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 4, The Enerjet Smoking Nose Cone (2017-03-20)Two holes are drilled into the nose cone base for a shock cord loop tie. Start the hole by spinning the tip of a #11 blade in the plastic. Use an older blade, this really dulls a new one. The hole ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 5, Fin Observations (2017-03-21)Look at the low end of the fin and you can see the lighter wood tip. Some kit wood is pieced together from smaller strips. The problem is the differences in the different wood densities. It becomes ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 6, New, Harder Fins (2017-03-22)I've described how to shape this style fin in the past on the blog: http://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2016/06/shaping-estes-nike-smoke-fins-part-1.html http://modelrocketbuilding.blog ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 7, 24mm Engine Mount (2017-03-23)I'm making two Nike Smoke kits, one with the standard 18mm engine mount, the other with a 24mm mount with the Enerjet smoking nose cone. First up is the 24mm engine mount. I used the kits 18mm ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 8, 24mm Engine Mount (2017-03-24)I saved the ring centers from the previous step. This will become the engine block for the 24mm engine mount. These were glued together, back to back. The notches were not lined up. Here's the ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 9, 18mm Engine Mount (2017-03-25)The lower centering ring is recessed inside the body tube. I can go ahead and give the inside edge a coat of CA glue. The glue fillet around the lower ring will be above the CA glue ring. TIP: When ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 10, Chute Lines and Launch Lugs (2017-03-26)Here we go again! I gave the shroud lines a light, quick tug and they broke too easily. I've seen broken shroud lines at club launches. These will be replaced, along with the paper reinforcement ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 11, Ends and Edges (2017-03-26)On the left is the longer Estes nose cone shoulder. The pencil mark shows how long the Centuri nose cone shoulder was. The inset picture shows the original slot cut at 1" above the tube end. The new ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 12, Fin Gluing TIP (2017-03-27)On the left is the fin root edge, looking straight on. The inset picture shows the fin outside edge looking straight on. The back corner of the fins are glued on 5/8" up from the back edge of the ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 13, Fluorescent Paint (2017-03-28)The entire model - fins, tube and nose cone - got an overall coat of gloss white. Next up are the fins. three are fluorescent red-orange the fourth fin is fluorescent yellow. These diamond shaped ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 14, Fluorescent Paint (2017-03-29)Well, Estes did get the position of the one fluorescent yellow fin correct. With the real rocket horizontal in the cradle, the UNITED STATES is positioned below and to the right of the yellow ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 15, Which Fluorescent Paint? TIPS (2017-03-30)Questions in a comment from BAR Geezer - Hey Chris, Two questions for you: 1. Are you using Rustoleum Specialty Fluorescent paint? 2. Was the base coat on the fins the same gloss white as the rest ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Part 16, Decals (2017-03-31)The Estes instructions show the bottom of the UNITED STATES at 6 1/4" from the rear of the body tube. I did a dry fit and that sets the decal too far forward. Looking at the Peter Alway's Rockets Of ... [Read More]
Estes Nike Smoke #7247 Build, Finished (2017-04-01)The rubber shock cord was switched out with a longer elastic cord. It was joined to the replaceable Kevlar line from the engine mount. The parachute shroud lines broke with an easy ... [Read More]
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