For the longest time, I thought they were the same cones, that Estes had used the SRB cones to make the Yankee. In the context of manufacturing kits - ie, amortizing development costs and spreading out inventory costs - it makes sense to re-use parts, and I'm pretty sure they've done that many times over the years.

But danged if I didn't later learn the Yankee and the SRB's aren't the same diameter

Doug

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YORF member #11

Most of the bulding is done now. Four coats of Aerogloss SS are on and sanded. Launch lug is on and filletted. Faux discharge tube is bevel cut and inserted. NC is cleaned up. Vacu-formed faux nozzles and hatches are on. The engine mount is not glued yet--I'll do that after finishing. Same thing with the faux side pod nozzles. Next will be the 1/16" pinstriping that gets laid down before painting for "conduit" details. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Yes, Estes Yankee...

Dr. Zooch uses balsa versions of the exact same nosecone for his shuttle and SLS kits... anything with SRB's basically...

Picked up some while I was at NARAM...

Later! OL JR

PS. Note that the Zooch shuttle/SLS kits are based around a BT-60 ET, whereas the Estes kit used around a 3 inch BT for the ET IIRC... so the SRB's would be commensurately larger on the Estes shuttle kit...

SRB's are pretty close to BT-56 at 1/100 scale...

BOTE figures put the Zooch shuttle at about 1/202 scale when using a 1.637 BT-60 to represent the 331 inch diameter ET...

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The X-87B Cruise Basselope-- THE Ultimate Weapon in the arsenal of Homeland Security and only $52 million per round!

Now for some creative license! Using my own pinstripe tape instead of the 40 year old stuff in the kit, I've applied simulated "conduits" at various places on the boom and NC. These will be painted over to leave a raised detail, and the tape is only .005" thick, so I better go lighthanded with the primer and top coats. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Actually, the Estes Space Shuttle kit used BT-67 (Centuri ST-20) for the ET and BT-46 (Centuri ST-8) for the SRBs.

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'Til next time,

Mike Toelle

NAR 31692 L1

SAM 0373

I masked the naked basswood of the solar panels. I'll be snot-gluing the chrome overlays directly to the wood. I shot the Skylab with one coat of white primer and two light coats of gloss white enamel. The 1/16" pinstripe tape indeed left the raised details I was hoping for on the boom and the NC! I'll paint the rear nozzle/engine mount by hand before permanently mounting it. Same with the two side pod nozzles. Just need Gordie's decals now! Maybe tomorrow. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

That plastic Centuri cone first appeared in the Centuri X-24 Bug kit and also replaced the original balsa pod cones on the Centuri Orion kit (early '71 timeframe probably).

They were eventually used in several other Centuri kits over the years such as the UFO Super Kit, the Argus, and of course the Skylab kit.

I'm not positive the Yankee nosecone is exactly the same or not. I got a set of eight of those cones (the Estes ones used in the Yankee kit) here a couple months ago to use in an Enerjet Athena clone (the Athena used the same Centuri pod cone as the Orion kit). But when I got those eight Estes cones in, they were not quite the same as the original Centuri version. Close, but not quite the same. I had hoped (and thought) they were the exact same cone, but I was wrong.

Earl

P.S.-- I've seen the original Centuri version molded in red, white, and I think blue plastic over the years. But probably red mostly.

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Time to apply my favorite (not really) stuff......................contact cement!

After getting the fossilized goo off the chrome overlays several days ago with lighter fluid, it's now time to apply them to the basswood solar panels. I've edged the panels with black enamel and let that dry. Next I trim the chrome overlyays for an exact fit after being folded over.

Next, I coat both surfaces with snot and let it almost dry, then cover one side of both panels. After the cement cures, I'll fold them over and apply the other surface.

I think I need to open a window before I fall out of my chair. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

And now I've snotified, folded over, and applied the overlays onto the other sides of the solar panels. I've fashioned clamps for the them from clothespins and very soft balsa strips. I'm off to Canada. TBC

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__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything.

4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

Chemically, alcohol IS a solution.

NAR# 94042
SAM# 0078

Falling into the "right idea wrong time" category, perhaps flying and pressing the fools prior to installing the fin would be good?

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Gravity is a harsh mistress
SAM 002
NAR 91005
"The complexity of living is eminently favored to the simplicity of not."