Model Rocket Building Blog 
Model Rocket Building Posts
Rocketry Product: Estes - Super Alpha {Kit} (3216)
Super Alpha Nosecone Part 1, 4.6" Length (2012-01-29)
I'm taking a day off from the Scavenger build until I find a better brand of spray paint that works! So for now, here's some prep for another build coming up. After a few years I finally figured out ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Nosecone Part 2 The Center (2012-01-30)Sand the cut top smooth and flat. Remember I mentioned the first scored circumference line was cut slightly above the 4.6" length? When sanding the top flat, you are getting closer to the final ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Nosecone Part 3 Final Shaping (2012-01-31)The sandpaper was switched over to 220 grit. The center dot is still visible. More shaping and the center dot is almost gone. The balsa cone was taped to the wall. I held the print a little forward ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Part 1 Parts (2012-02-20)I'll be doing a conversion from 18mm to 24mm engines. I've got plenty of C11 and D12 engines that should do well in this upscale. Here's all the parts including the re-shaped nose cone from my old ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Part 2 Engine Mount (2012-02-21)I wanted a vintage look to the upscaled Alpha so that finger tab on the engine hook has got to go. I can usually "score" both sides of the tab with my wire cutters. With pliers, bend the tab along ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Part 3 Engine Mount (2012-02-22)The engine block was notched for a better fit when butted up against the upper bend of the engine hook. This idea came from Todd. (Bradycross on TRF) On the left you can see the split body tube over ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Part 4 Fins (2012-02-23)It's hard to see in the picture, but the balsa sheet from the kit was made from two pieces of balsa, glued together parallel down the grain line. The Super Alpha instructions have you round only the ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Part 5 Fin Fillets and Primer (2012-02-23)I won't bore you with the details on the fin and launch lug gluing. Everything was standard here. I did substitute a 2" long X 3/16" diameter lug for the 1/8" lug supplied in the kit. I'm still on ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Part 6 Fin Fillet Redo (2012-02-24)Still not satisfied with the Titebond M&TG fillets I went back and added some Elmer's CWF to hopefully fill the slight valleys. These were sanded with 400 grit over a dowel. Then, another shot ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Part 7 Red and White Paint (2012-02-25)Ya' gotta love a simple body tube/nose cone color separation. The body and fins were sprayed with the generic Duplicolor gloss white. While it looked "wet" going on, after drying it had a flat or ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Part 8 Black Mask (2012-02-25)This is the mask for the black, both sides of one fin and the body tube panel to the white fin to the right. I should have taken more time on the mask. It looked simple and I treated it as such. ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Part 9 Cleaning Up (2012-02-26)Before any spraying was done, a strip of masking tape was set sticky side out around the inside base of the lower main body tube. Reduce the stickingess of the tape by pressing it on your pant leg a ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Open Rocket File Results (2012-02-26)I loaded the BT-60 based Super Alpha into the Open Rocket software to check it's stability and predicted altitudes. I was concerned if nose weight might be needed with a 24mm D12-5 engine installed. ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Build Finished (2012-02-27)I added a 5/16" wide stripe like the picture from the 1974 Estes Catalog. It was cut from the same black Contact paper roll used in the Mini Honest John build. Overall a good build. It should scream ... [Read More]
Super Alpha Open Rocket Results (2012-02-28)I loaded the BT-60 based Super Alpha into the Open Rocket software to check it's stability and predicted altitudes. I was concerned if nose weight might be needed with a 24mm D12-5 engine installed. ... [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]
Tampa TTRA Launch Pictures, March 17, 2012 (2012-03-27)Roger Smith (JonRocket.com and RocketReviews.com) took some great pictures at the last Tampa TTRA launch. While this blog concentrates on LPR rocketry, Roger took many more pictures of Low, Mid and ... [Read More]
Tampa TTRA Launch December 15, 2012 (2012-12-16)I drove to Oviedo, FL (JonRocket.com Headquarters) to pick up Roger Smith. He had a new camera and put it to good use today! Still pictures are mine, all action shots were taken by Roger. Roger's ... [Read More]
Great Prices from Estes Mail Order! (2013-12-11)John Boren (JumpJet on TRF) just announced a BIG sale at Estes: http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets/specials For example: A Mega Mosquito for $8.49 A D Region Tomahawk for $5.49 A Long Tom for $4.09 ... [Read More]
Estes Specials (Clearance Items) (2014-07-03)While I expected to see a Big 4th of July Sale at the Estes website, they are now listing all the sale items as "Specials". Many of the same rockets are listed from the past sales held in ... [Read More]
Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, April 3, 2020 (2020-04-04)Yesterday I went out for a "Lone Wolf" launch. I arrived at the soccer filed about 7:30 a.m. I thought the Orlando stay at home order was starting on Friday night. When I got back home I found ... [Read More]
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