I have ordered the Madcow Honest John 115 kit. I love the look of this rocket and found a good deal online so I pulled the trigger. This will be my first mid power kit and first fiberglass as well. Just wondering if anyone here on the forum has built this kit and could give me a heads up of anything I should do other than build it as per the instructions. I will need to get a motor retainer or make one for it. The aeropack looks nice, but is a bit pricey. Was thinking to build one with T-nuts as I have seen on here but no experience with that so any advice there would help.

for a 29mm motor you should only require one retaining clip (I've been using 'pannel clips') a pretty good read on making your own can be found here; http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=18733 hth
rex

I don't think you need a motor retainer. If I remember correctly, one comes in the kit.

I had zero problems with the build. The difficult part of the build was getting the details right. The Spin Rockets on the NC are very basic in shape so you have to sand to have them even come close to looking right. The kit provides launch lugs (1/4 in) so I recommend replacing them with buttons. Finally, the only other thing that comes to mind is you have to sand the inside of the NC to get the bulkhead to fit. Make sure you rough up the MM and the BT to accept the epoxy when you glue on the fins. The whole kit takes about 2 hrs. to build if you have all the tools...

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Jerry Little
TRA #11767
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Assuming, of course, you have access to a rail launch system.

Wow, 2 hours.... i'm guess epoxy dries faster than elmers carpenter glue, lol. Well this will be a learning experience. I don't have access to a rail system per se. But I am afraid this rocket will never come home if I flew it at my local park. I was thinking I might bring it to a club launch, there are ones a little outside of Ann Arbor Michigan which is not too far a haul. My son asked me if we could go to one this year so this is my plan. Could I fly it with the standard 1/4 lugs there? I would figure so. I suppose rail buttons would be best, but than I would be limiting myself from ever flying it near home.

I would guess that most clubs would have one or more 1/4" rods availible...though it wouldn't hurt to contact them ahead of time.
glanced at the instructions. altough there is a line saying to use positive motor retenion...there is no mention of a motor retainer. I would gues that like the MC kits I've built, it is up to the builder to supply their own.

Well its been awhile, but I finally have gotten around to building some rockets. This was my first time using epoxy extensively and I really have come to love that stuff. It made awesome fillets, smoothest I have ever made. Its primed and painted and ready for decals. I am using the white Estes Maxi Brute from Sandman. What I need to find is some reference pictures or a guide to help with decal placement. If anyone can steer me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated. I am thinking I might go ahead and Level 1 Cert with this thing this year.

Steve.

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This does show the decal location...something like second or third page from the end.

http://www.estesrockets.com/media/i...HONEST_JOHN.pdf

Ok, maybe the fourth page from the end.

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Well that is exactly what I needed alright. Thank you !!

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See, all ya gotta do is ask.

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"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run"

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