Model Rocket Building Blog 
Model Rocket Building Posts
Rocketry Product: Estes - Vanguard Eagle (2193)
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Background (2019-01-25)
Estes produced a series of models based on the XPrize rocket entries in 2005. From the XPrize website: " Since 1994, XPRIZE has designed and launched seventeen prizes in the domain areas of ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 1, Parts (2019-01-26)This model had a lot of plastic in the fin can and nose cone. The rest of the model is standard model rocket parts. The four small upper fins are laser cut from 3/32' hard balsa. One pat of clay for ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 2, Engine Mount (2019-01-27)With a short BT-20 tube it doesn't make much sense to push and engine block into a bead of glue from the bottom. Then the engine hook is set into the cut slit. The instructions at the right show how ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 3, Engine Mount (2019-01-28)The holes in the centering rings were very tight against the BT-20 engine mount tube. I had to go back and shave down the inside to enlarge the holes slightly. Even after scraping the fit was tight. ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 4, Fin Can (2019-01-29)The plastic fin can is made up of four side pieces. The four fins are in halves, split right down the middle. (See the next picture.) When all four sides are glued up it makes a very strong fin can. ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 5, Ends and Edges (2019-01-30)The small forward fins are laser cut into some stiff 3/32" balsa. The instructions say to sand the edges square but I decided to round the leading edges. I don't know what caused it, but the ends of ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 6, Primer and Paint (2019-01-31)With the launch lug glued on it got fillets of Titebond M&TG. The BT-60 lower tube, adapter and upper BT-55 tube were friction fitted with masking tape, no glue yet. In this picture the ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 7, Miscellaneous Stuff (2019-02-01)I tried to slide in a finishing wand dowel into the engine mount. That tight fit of the BT-20 tube in the plastic centering rings made for a very tight fit. I had to sand down the end of the engine ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 8, Fin Masking (2019-02-02)Here's a rare look through my patio door. Scotch tape was set on the glass. To see the tape on the model, a wide point Sharpie line was drawn through the middle of the tape. The tape was cut down ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 9, Stickers! I Hate Stickers! (2019-02-04)I did use some of the stickers. I thought using the blue bands would be easier than another mask. These blue stripes are translucent but look okay over the white paint. On the low end of the fin can ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 10, Masking the Silver Engine Tops (2019-02-05)The round top of the fin can engines is painted silver. This will be a tough mask. Here's my patio door glass again. I used my old cheap compass to scribe a half circle on some marked Scotch tape. ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 11, Drawing Up Decals (2019-02-06)The stickers were scanned. Before scanning, always draw some 1" span references. This gives you something to size your drawings to. In your drawing software, draw a 1" box. Enlarge or reduce your ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 12, Capsule Details (2019-02-07)The base of the capsule is painted black. This is a stupid hard mask to get right. A first time builder would be frustrated trying to get a mask in the tight area beneath the raised dimples. I cut a ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 13, More Miscellaneous (2019-02-08)This model has a lot of different features. Some work, others don't. Here's the removable engine nozzle plate. There's a open slot that fits around the low bend of the engine hook. I rarely use the ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Part 14, Adapter Sticker Fix (2019-02-08)On the left is the adapter area from the face card picture. It looks like some black was added to fill the empty areas at the top and bottom. On the right is how the wrap sticker fit the adapter on ... [Read More]
Estes Vanguard Eagle, Kit # 2193, Finished (2019-02-09)This kit was a big disappointment. Too much plastic on the fin can, poorly fitting adapter sticker and very difficult masking on the rounded rear engine tops. The small capsule nozzles are almost ... [Read More]
TOP TEN BUILDS for 2019 (2020-01-01)An end of the year tradition - This annual list puts some of the blog builds in order from least favorite (10) to the best (1). These are the models and events that were rocketry high points ... [Read More]
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