I have a couple rules of building. 1. If I start a build, I finish the build before starting on something else, unless there are building delays beyond my control such as weather. 2. If I destroy a build, I build another to replace it before building another rocket. That is the case with my X-Wing that crashed last week. Actually it did not crash, I destroyed it by being stupid, enough said. She was a great flyer, straight up and the 12 inch parachute would bring her down to earth safely. This is one of my favorite Estes rockets so I have collected a few over the years from the 1977 era. I also have a newer Estes X-Wing that is all plastic but uses the same fuselage as the 1977 version. I built both of these last night in a matter of hours and next I will seal the balsa and begin priming. I will have to use some putty up by the nose, but other than that everything went together well. Both were both built using Testors plastic cement. The plastic model is an original 1977 MPC model built right out of the box with no paint except were the plans call for it.

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Rules appear to be opposite of mine:
I NEVER am working on only one project; usually 3-5 at a time unless 2 really complex builds. They all get finished about the same time; build, then paint, then decal a bunch all at once.

The last thing I do after a crash is rebuild/build another of that same rocket unless something I am tremendously fond of.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

I build what sellls and then I build for me. Right now there are a lot of Nike-X, Honest John, Gemini, and Tartar models to be finished. For me, well I have squeezed in an Estes Airborne Surveillance Missile (#0867). Interesting little Fantasy Scale model from the 80's.

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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."

What is the difference in weight of the classic 77 with balsa and paper, and the all plastic version?

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I love sanding.

Without paint or sealer, the balsa version is lighter by 1/2oz. Now if you don't mind the unsightly gap up by the nose, the plastic version does not need paint. The decals on the plastic version are peel and stick. I decided to the fill the gap with Testors putty so the all plastic version will get painted.

I have been real busy lately so building rockets has slowed down. My X-Wing rockets have been painted and should be receiving the decals in the next day or so. The plastic version, I just filled in the large gap at the nose and sprayed a coat of primer and sanded smooth. Then I sprayed a coat of flat white followed by 2 coats of Glossy White. Weight so far is 4oz. The balsa version was primed 4 times with sanding in between until the balsa was real smooth. I also filled the large gap at the nose and sanded smooth. I kept it simple and did not fill all the gaps such as the ones where the wings attach to the fuselage. After final primer and sanding, I hit the rocket with flat white followed by 2 coats of Glossy White. Final weight is just under 4 oz, but I still have to paint the canopy blue. X-Wing on the left is the all plastic version.

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Nice models.

I flew my all plastic version two weeks ago, the shock cord pulled out. I'll try to use the conventional method to replace it.

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If it flies, I can crash it!

I never had that issue, I just forgot to attatch the cord to the nose, wont do that dumb mistake again.

Both X-Wings are ready for flight, they both came out weighing the same.

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