Build Thread: Estes Interceptor E

[Jared]

This will be a short build thread as I have nearly completed the entire build. I've gotten plenty of pictures though of the process per-se. This is a great rocket to build and if I can ever come across another at a reasonable price, I'll probably grab it and beef it up for G motor flight. Being a skill level 3 rocket, the Interceptor E is actually a fairly easy kit to build. The real skill test comes in to play when you get to the fins. They are mostly sectional fins with the upper ones being two piece and the wings being 4 pieces. You have to be careful when sanding the edges because if you get one out of square, then it will not mate up to the next piece well. The motor mount includes plastic centering rings which are held in place with epoxy as is the majority of the kit. The only place I used wood glue is on the fin sections and the fin supports. The airframe is a heavy walled tube which is larger than the BT60 but is smaller than the BT70, called HBT-2000. It comes in a two section assembly and is coupled with a heavy wall coupler.

I've not yet filled the balsa grain or tube spirals yet and am planning on feathering the fin supports to the fins with wood filler to make for a smooth appearance.

Here are some photos:

End of photos...

[Jared]

I'm in the process of filling the balsa and feathering the fin supports for a smooth appearance and am also filling the tube spirals. I'm taking my time with this one, I want it to look great for its first flight...of which I hope to get back...LOL!

I'll post pictures later...

[bayourat]

Awesome! I got to get me one of those.