Ye Olde Rocket Forum - View Single Post - Estes Destination Mars Lander kit

As I mentioned above, calling it a “build thread” would be a bit of an overstatement.

The MAV uses the three-fin version of the BT-60 ARF fin can (but you have to glue the halves together). The fins/legs slot in as any of the fins which fit this interface do, from the ARFs, the Mix-N-Match kits, and others. The body tube is pre-wrapped with all the graphics, the two-loop launch lug and shock cord are pre-installed.

That shock cord, by the way, has a 32 inch exposed length.

The nose cone, which somewhat suggests a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, has a quantity of clay pressed into its tip so that it weighs 1.04 ounces by itself.

Assembly starts with gluing the fin can halves together. I used Testors liquid cement for plastic models for this (in the square-ish bottle). The instructions then have you slot in the fins and glue them in place. I opted to just slide them in. The motor retainer holds them in place as it does on the ARFs....so they can easily be removed for transport.

Then the fin can is glued to the body tube. I used Beacon Foam-Tac for that joint as I have it, and there’s been some discussion about Fabri-Tac and this is as close as I have.

After that, it’s put some additional graphics in the form of stickers on the fin can, tie the shock cord to the nose cone and install the ‘chute. I added a swivel as I always do.

That’s really all there is to it. All-up weight sans motor and wadding is 3.14 ounces, giving a flying weight just over 4 ounces on the recommended Estes C6-3.

First two pictures—the kit. Next is the parts out of the bags. Then a view of the nose cone showing the clay and of the fin can before assembly showing how the motor fits and is retained.

Next, the launch lug, then the stickers on the fin can, then a view showing the nose cone weight and adhesives. Finally, the finished product.

The fins, by the way, are nicely airfoiled, but with the leg links behind them, the drag reduction of the airfoils is likely lost.