Rocket Assembly, Part 2 With engine and main-tube assembly complete, the StormCaster rocket is ready for installation of fins, painting and rigging of the recovery parachute. Important: This demonstration shows provides some of the basic information for assembly and operation of this particular model rocket. There are variations in assembly for each particular model. Read and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with yours, whether it is this particular model or another. Additional information about assembly as well as launching, troubleshooting and fine-tuning the model can be found in the manufacturer's instructions.
Installing the Fins
- Spray a couple of light coats of enamel primer onto each of the fins.
- Run a small bead of carpenter's glue onto the leading edge of the fins (figure A) and place them into their slots.
- Then run a small bead of carpenter's glue along both edges of each fin where it contacts the main tube (figure B).
- Wipe off any excess glue with a paper towel.
Painting
- Place a piece of masking tape around the entire circumference of the rocket tube, just above the tops of the fins.
- Make a newspaper shield and tape it into place (figure C) to protect fins from over-spray when painting rocket.
- Apply two light coats of spray enamel paint to the rocket body (figure D). For our rocket, we painted the body pearl black.
- Repeat the newspaper shield technique when painting the fins. We painted our fins yellow.
- Apply supplied decals (figure E).
Shock Cord and Parachute Rigging
- Cut out supplied template for the shock-cord mount. Place the cord along dotted line and fold (figure F). This mount is glued inside the main body of the rocket. Place a drop of CA glue on top and fold again. Place another drop of glue onto the folded mount.
- Place the shock-cord mount about an inch inside the rocket tube and glue into place with CA glue (at the top of the rocket where the nose cone will be attached).
- Place two or three sheets of crumpled up the supplied recovery wadding (figure G) and push it down into the body of the rocket.
- Take all 3 lines of the parachute and slip through ring in nose cone (figure H). Make a simple hitch knot to secure the parachute lines to the nose cone.
- Tie the other end of the shock cord to the nose cone using a simple square knot (figure I). Trim off excess with scissors.
- Fold parachute from the top to bottom, and then roll to the center from either side (figure J).
- Loosely wrap the parachute cords around the bundled up parachute and slip into the rocket body (figure K).
- Place nose cone back into place.
RESOURCES :
Model rockets by Estes
Estes Industries
Penrose, CO 81240
Phone: 719-372-6565
Email: www.estesrockets.com
Handbook of Model Rocketry
Model: 0471593613
Author: G. Harry Stine
John Wiley & Sons
Somerset, NJ 08875-1272
Phone: 732-469-4400
Fax: 732-302-2300
Email: compbks@wiley.com
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