Just getting started on building an Estes Long Tom.
Figured this is a nice simple build after completing a SST Shuttle and an Orbital Transport.

One thing I noticed right away upon opening the kit is the really nice finish sanding on the nose cone and balsa transition. They also have some of the absolutely tightest grain I have ever seen.
It only took two coats of Aero Gloss balsa fillercoat to completely fill the grain.
It really did not need the single coat of Aero Gloss sanding sealer on top, but I did it anyway.
The fin stock is the exact opposite. Wide gaps in the grain of the laser cut fins. Fairly soft fins too. Made it easy to round the leading edge and taper the trailing edge. I think I may approach filling them before gluing to the Booster and Sustainer.

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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, and HAVOC !

The Long Tom is probably my favorite sport 2-stager. IIRC there’s a problem with the fin decals —-such as there’s not enough of them. Maybe I’m thinking of something else.

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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

Wait . . . yours had balsa parts?

I bought and built a Long Tom a couple years back. It had plastic parts!

Either way, it is a nice kit. I flew it with a B6-0 / A8-5 combo a few times.

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NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM

I actually still have the correct plastic Centuri nose cone and transition. Plan to use them to improve the Estes kit, using a ST-13 and ST-8 tubes.

Chas

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Charles Russell, MSgt,USAF (ret.)
NAR 9790, Lvl 1
SAM "Balls Three"

I finished mine last year but it looks so great in balsa and cardboard that I haven't been able to bring myself to paint it. Love the classic looks.

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

And as you may recall from back in the day, the first version of the Long Tom came with a balsa transition. Centuri had just started using plastic nose cones by the summer of 1970 when the Long Tom was first released so it got a plastic cone from the get-go.

Earl

Attached Files

Centuri Long Tom-Original Isssue 1970-Inst-1.pdf (582.5 KB, 28 views)

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

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Thank you for posting the instruction's parts page, Earl. I never had an original Centuri kit. I have always been a fan of Centuri and their multi-angled fins. Always wanted a Centuri Centaur, so I bugged Carl to release a SEMROC version. He surprised me by eventually sending me the #6 production kit. I built a later one and must have a couple more kits. My favorite two stage.

Chas

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Charles Russell, MSgt,USAF (ret.)
NAR 9790, Lvl 1
SAM "Balls Three"