I have been real busy lately so I have not had any spare time to build. I have a free day so I am building an Estes X-Ray rocket. This is a fast and easy build so I should be done fairly quick. After I finish this build I would like to start on the Estes Strike Fighter.



First step after engine block is to cut out fins and sand even.

The X-ray is one of my all time favorites (I've lost 3 of them ). Are you going to paint it in the "old" colors (yellow/black) or the newer white/blue paint scheme?

Sean

My first rocket. Ended up cloning one. Looking forward to seeing your finsihed product.

__________________
Don
NAR 53455
"Carpe Diem"

Nice looking vintage kit!! I love those kits with the clear payload section. I still have my
Astron Constellation kit ("in-the-bag") I've been itching to pull out and build. Had one before a long time ago (1969 - 1970's) but don't know what happened to it.

Keep us up to date on your X-Ray build.

__________________
Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

I am building the 1979 Vintage kits, so I think that is the white and black with black stripes. I have it all built and now I am adding my shock cord and I will post pictures. Tomorrow I will seal and prime. Then I will be out of town until Mon.

This is a fun fast build, and nice looking rocket. I will seal the balsa tomorrow. I can't find my black peel and stick decal paper so off to the hobby store.

I've always likes the looks of the X-Ray kit, too.

By the way, what is black peel-n-stick decal paper? (I always figured that pattern on and below the transition would be a paint/masking job if I tried to do a clone.)

Speaking of clear payload sections (and sorry for the hi-jack)... It just so happens that tonight was my first night launch as BAR. It was a beautiful November evening with almost no wind, so we took the kids and our entire fleet of clear payload section rockets (all 2 of them) loaded with mini glow sticks out to the nearby small field to get in a few launches.

Our Semroc Snipe Hunter only lasted one flight on a 1/2A3-4T (must have been one helluva ejection rebound -- took off one fin (lost) and left a chunk of the base of the balsa transition embedded in the launch lug (!)). We got three launches out of our Estes Airwalker ... two on A8-3's and one on a B6-4 ... I decided not to push it after the B6-4 since the rocket landed dangerously close to the tree line.

Anyway, it was a good time. I had almost forgotten how much fun night flights can be (it had been about 20 years...).

The black detail tape is what the plans say to use.

Very nice that you are building the kit and using the color scheme from 1979.

I have mine primed with one coat but needs more work before painting.

I plan to use the same color scheme.



Looking forward to your finished kit

__________________
Leo

My rocket fleet and more @ Leo's Leisure Site and on YouTube - My latest project: ALTDuino

The X-Ray was one of my favorites but I did a "slight" upscale to take a 24mm motor since all I had some BT-56 sized clear payload bay.

I used a SEMROC ST-10 tube for the main body and a 24mm motor mount. A BT-50 fit real nice inside.

It's all painted but I haven't taken a picture of it painted.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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

http://sandmandecals.com/