All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Filling the Seams in a Launch Lug? (2010-07-17)

Some of you might think I'm nuts to go this far for a better finish. Yeah, I do fill the launch lug seams. This is the launch lug I'll use on the OOP Quest Nike Smoke. Elmer's Carpenter's Wood ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Launch Lug Fillet Bubbles (2010-08-25)

Every modeler has trouble with bubbles in the glue fillet surrounding the launch lug. The angle of the lug fillet area is much deeper than a fin root/body tube joint. Bubbles seem to show up after ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Launch Lug Dressing and Seam Filling (2011-03-17)

The ends of a launch lug usually aren't cut clean. Sand and square them up with 400 grit on a sanding block. Reshape (and re-round) the ends using a smooth, sharpened, dowel. Simply rotate the dowel ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Ever Forget A Launch Lug? TIPS (2011-04-07)

Did you ever finish a rocket and realize you didn't glue on a launch lug? Here's a simple way to "finish" a launch lug without painting it. Cut some 20 lb. paper a little longer than your launch ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Dressing Up Launch Lugs (2011-07-31)

Here's the 1/4" diameter launch lugs on the Apogee Saturn V kit. This 3" long lug was cut in two for two 1 1/2" lugs. Standoffs are already glued on both pieces. Even though these are larger 1/4" ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Launch Lug Fillet Bubbles (2011-12-01)

After again trying Titebond Moulding and Trim Glue, I've gone back to white glue for fillets. The Titebond M& TG doesn't leave bubbles, but I found it left raised lines on the fillet sides. I ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Rough End Launch Lugs TIP (2013-01-06)

Here's how the launch lugs come now from some vendors. The ends are laser cut - burnt uneven and rough. This lug won't look any better with paint on it, it should be trued up before gluing ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: TIP: 3/16" to 1/8" Launch Lug (2013-01-08)

Using a 20/50 engine adapter I loaded up my Super Alpha with a B6-4 for a soccer field launch. When building the model, I built it for 24 mm engines. I installed a 3/16" diameter launch lug at ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Ever Forget The Launch Lug? Oops TIP (2014-11-16)

We've all done it at one time or another - you realize the launch lug is missing on a finished model. You don't want to glue a new lug on and go through masking and refinishing. Simply glue on a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Launch Lug Cutting TIPS (2015-02-07)

With Semroc's part supplies dwindling, I wasn't able to buy 3" long launch lugs for the Odd'l Rockets Sputnik kit. I ended up buying 12" long lugs from Balsa Machining Service. At 3" long, each 12" ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Removable Launch Lug - TIP (2016-02-12)

I finally finished up the "kit that never was", the AVI Nike Tomahawk. After I thought it was done I realized I had forgotten the launch lug. This model build seemed cursed from day one. I didn't ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Perfect Inline Launch Lugs (2016-11-10)

An email from Eric James Blitchok -   Overeasy123 November 4, 2016 Chris, I just had a Rocket Epiphany? After all these years, and all these Rockets? I should be applying my Launch Lugs to the ... [Read More]

Rocket N00b: 3D Printed Micro Rail Guide (2017-02-04)

On the 3D printing website Thingiverse , user dcullen has created what you see above - a micro rail guide for model rockets, to be used with the MakerBeam rail in place of a launch rod and launch ... [Read More]

Rocketeer's Corner: Which is the smoothest ride - rod or rail? (2017-05-21)

For the first time, the TARC rules state that the top 100 contestants making it to the Nationals cannot use a rod; however, they can practice and qualify using one. It's difficult enough to achieve ... [Read More]

Improbable Ventures: High power rocket construction: part 4 (rail buttons) (2019-12-08)

One issue that is becoming increasingly obvious to me is that I don’t have a proper workbench, or workshop, or anything remotely suitable for the gluing, cutting, and other madcap activities ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Launch Lug Standoffs (2020-11-18)

             On most of my recent LPR model builds I have adopted the practice of mounting the launch lugs on short standoffs rather than ... [Read More]