All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 1 Parts (2014-03-25)

Round 2 has brought back the MPC Vostok and Titan IIIC plastic models HERE .  The re-release kit doesn't include any parts for flight. EDIT: The larger flight fins are included. The two ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 2 More Parts (2014-03-27)

Some interesting extras: An "If found, return to" label A generic decal sheet. Yellow insulation wadding. Many MPC kits would give you a piece of wadding in their kits. This wadding is not ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 2A, Old MPC Instructions (2014-03-28)

From Anonymous, I received a comment about the interior booster pieces: "Just finished my build, let me know what you think about the disks and trusses that go into the booster pods, what's the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 3A, Engine Mount (2014-03-29)

My kit box didn't have the brown tube so I substituted a yellow Quest engine mount tube. The engine block is glued in first and the tube is roughed up with sandpaper. My yellow tube was too wide ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 3B, Engine Mount (2014-03-30)

My internal body halves were horribly warped! There is no way the engine mount tube would slide through. Even at the top the fit was bad. The halves had to be taped together to get this picture. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 4, Booster Assemblies (2014-03-31)

The four booster halves are marked 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the inside. The fit wasn't good. The tops and bottoms were sanded reducing the open gap. After glue was applied the numbered halves were ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 5, Vostok Capsule (2014-03-31)

You can build and fly either (or both) of the Vostok or Sputnik capsules. On the right are all the parts. Half of the capsule body is clear so you can see the Cosmonaut and detail inside. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 6, Vostok Capsule (2014-04-01)

The lead weight glues into a recess at the bottom of the capsule. I won't be painting the cosmonaut and detail pieces inside the capsule. In the end the clear display half of the capsule ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 7, Capsule Paint and Mask (2014-04-01)

The capsule got the first coats of Tester's MM flat Olive Drab. Even with all the prep, filling and sanding there was still open seams. This model just gets more frustrating. This time I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 8, Tower Parts Prep (2014-04-02)

There was mold flash on all seams of the tower grid pieces. Tops and bottom were sanded flatter for a better gluing surface. The inside tower edges were cleaned up with a knife. All ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 9, Booster Mask (2014-04-02)

The four side boosters are white at the top and olive drab on the bottom. They weren't painted that way, the white is frozen condensation. I wasn't looking for a very sharp mask line, the ice ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 10, Paint and Glue (2014-04-03)

I should have glued these smaller pieces on before painting! There are four of the smaller triangular pieces right above the tower. I could only find two in the box! I'll leave them off. This ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 11, Gluing on the Boosters (2014-04-03)

Don't do what I did and start by gluing the boosters first. You should glue the "link" chrome support struts on opposite boosters then glue the boosters on. Here's the chrome link" support piece. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 12, Painting the Nozzle Plate (2014-04-04)

The kit includes two different nozzle plates, the less detailed one is for flying version. It was painted overall with aluminum paint. The centers of the nozzle bells are painted gold. The bell ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Build, Part 13, Nozzle Plate and Flight Fins (2014-04-05)

The instructions say to snap the nozzle plate onto the boosters. Mine wouldn't snap on. I could see where it was close, but not enough to stay on during boost. Look to the right of the lower ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: MPC Vostok Finished! (2014-04-06)

  To be honest, this one was a disappointment. The plastic central core halves were badly molded. The fit of the booster halves was poor. The capsule will probably break apart on ... [Read More]