All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 1 Scale Factor (2012-09-12)

This is one I'd wanted to build ever since I received the AVI catalog in 1973 - The NIKE TOMAHAWK Check out the AVI catalog here: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/nostalgia/73avicat.html I don't ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 2 Scratch Coupler (2012-09-13)

Good luck trying to find a 35mm coupler! It'll be made from a 1" long piece of 35mm tube. I'll be joining a 20mm tube to a 35mm tube. The center circle pencil line was simply a tr ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 3 Scratch Coupler (2012-09-13)

You'll want to sand the coupler to have a tight slip fit into the 35mm tube, so make the second cut slightly oversize. The short mark on the left was the overlap mark when it was in the 35mm ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 4 Engine Mount Centering Rings (2012-09-14)

The Nike  fin can has two plastic centering rings that fit a 18mm engine mount tube. On this model I wanted to convert it to a 24mm mount. Because the plastic rings fit so well into the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 5 Engine Mount Centering Rings (2012-09-14)

  The cut inside line was rough and had to be smoothed out. 150 grit sandpaper was wrapped around a 24mm casing. (that's actually a 24mm casing with an 18mm engine inside) Be careful when ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 6 Adapter Shrouds (2012-09-16)

Here's how the shrouds looked after printing out on 110 lb. card stock The shrouds were made in the "Tools" section at: www.payloadbay.com The shrouds were glued together and set on ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 7 Adapter Shrouds (2012-09-17)

Before I get any further, here's what I'm trying to achieve: From the top down: 1. The taller shroud (double thickness wall card stock) 20mm to 1.5" diameter. 2. Center is two mat board ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 8 Adapter Shrouds (2012-09-18)

When gluing the shrouds together, put the tabs on opposite sides. This way you won't have a lump on one side. This is the low shroud upside down on the 35mm tube. TIP: Let the glued shrouds ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 10 Gluing Shrouds (2012-09-19)

The laminated mats were cut just outside the penciled (final) diameter to allow for a custom fit to the shrouds. The rings aren't glued to the 20mm tube. Just slide them down dry. A line of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 9 Lower Adapter (2012-09-19)

This is how the adapter dry fits together. The two center (ring) pieces are the thick mat board. The two mat board squares were glued together with white glue. Plenty of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 11 Adapter Sand and Fill (2012-09-20)

  To make the mat board rings easier to sand, they got a coat of medium CA applied with a Q-tip. This hardens the rings and helps fill any cracks and seams. The rings were sanded to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 13 Internal Adapter Tubes (2012-09-21)

The adapter actually fits over the low end of the plastic Tomahawk fin can. The overlap is only about 1/8", not enough support for me. I had bought a BT-19 tube from Semroc a while back, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 14 Internal Adapter Tubes (2012-09-21)

Two wraps of 110 lb. cardstock gave a good fit of the BT-19 into the 20 mm tube. Here I'm spreading out the white glue with the back side of a razor blade. Any flat card could be used. Over the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 15 Nose Cone and Fin Units (2012-09-22)

After getting the adapter close, time to prepare the plastic parts. The top 20mm plastic nose cone is how it comes direct from Quest. The bottom nose cone has had the seams sanded down and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 16 Decal Draw (2012-10-21)

Just so you know, I haven't given up on the AVI Nike Tomahawk build! The weather and my work schedule weren't good for paint and primer so I'm working on the decal drawings for now. There are many ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 17 Decal Draw (2012-10-22)

The upper half of the adapter has a recess area with two large bolts. To get an approximate size of the area, I took a picture of the Alway drawing. This picture was set into Corel Draw and reduced ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 18 Body Tube Prime (2012-10-23)

Before this picture was taken, the tube seams were filled with CWF mixed a little thicker than the filler used on balsa. This thicker mix stays in the seams better. Both tubes were sanded to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 19 Fin Can Fin Prep (2012-10-29)

The leading edges of both plastic fin cans had some rough edges. This is the before shot. The upper right corner looks almost rounded off. And after squaring up with 400 grit. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 20 Transition Edges (2012-11-08)

I haven't given up on the Nike Tomahawk! I'm just taking a little break. I want to get back on this one again when I return on December 10 after four weeks on the cruise ships. Again, I ran into ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: I'll finish them - eventually! (2012-12-03)

  With my work schedule (and some painting problems) I wasn't able to finish up the AVI Nike Tomahawk. Now the Zooch Saturn V will have to wait until I get home on December 10! Both will be ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 21, Tomahawk Paint Masks (2015-08-02)

Here's one I started a long time ago and set it aside. I had a hard time trying to mask the upper stage Tomahawk fins. These fins were a plastic MPC fin can.  If you want to see the start of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 22, Tomahawk Nose Cone Paint Masks (2015-08-03)

  Right above the Bakelite brown band is a thin cream stripe. Rather than masking it, make a decal! TIP: You can spray a clear decal sheet with any color. Don't run it through your printer, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 23, Lower Fin Masking (2015-08-04)

This is the mask for the fourth, fluorescent yellow fin. Each fin took eight pieces of Scotch tape to match the root edge diamond shape. Here's the mask after the tape was pulled. TIP: ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 24, Upper Fin masking (2015-08-05)

My first attempt at masking the Tomahawk fin can was a disaster! That's one of the reasons it took so long to finish this one up. I was frustrated and set it aside for two years. It finally came ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Part 25, Dry Fit Assembly (2015-08-06)

The upper 20mm body tube is fitted to the fin can with a yellow coupler that came with the fin unit. Early on I made a tube to fit connect the Tomahawk to the transition shroud assembly. A ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: AVI Nike Tomahawk Build Finished (2015-08-07)

I wanted to build this model since seeing it in the AVI Astroport Catalog in the mid 1970s. I don't know if this kit was ever produced. Obviously the MPC Tomahawk and Nike Smoke plastic fin cans ... [Read More]

Rocket Dungeon: Howard Kuhn: Master Scale Modeler (2009-09-15)

I got this from a mail list I'm on but the original source is the Scaleroc Yahoo Group. Taking a little time out for a break from the everyday discussions I just wish to inform you that a great US ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Estes Customizer Mini Engine Set (2010-10-10)

My youngest daughter gave me this set for my last birthday. The box is a little deceiving. It says in big letters " 12 ROCKET ." The smaller print tells the buyer "Potential Design Co ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Nike Tomahawk - Another "One Day" Build (2012-04-05)

I was looking through an old AVI catalog on Ninfinger's: HERE and ran across the old Nike Tomahawk kit. The specs say it's a 35mm below and a 20mm body tube above. It looks to be a composite of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Nike Tomahawk Build Part 12 Adapter Seam Fill (2012-09-20)

Some may wonder why I didn't do a "but seam" with an internal glue tab on this shroud. I find that works better on larger shrouds. the smaller shrouds get the overlapping wrap glue tab. One ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Krylon Disappoints - Again! (2015-05-01)

Months back I searched everywhere for fluorescent red-orange and found it at Lowe's. It was Krylon, a brand I rarely use. No other brand I found had the red-orange color. The can is new, never ... [Read More]