All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Norris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Background (2016-11-02)

This is the Noris Raketen AGGREGAT - 9 . I'm building this one for a client. I've seen them on Ebay but never put in a bid. Like the Chinese made MPC rockets, I'm always curious how rocketry is done ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Norris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 1, Parts (2016-11-03)

This build kit is from Norris Raketen, a German hobby company. Here's some copy from the Apogee website that pretty much says it all: "This is a warning: These kits are NOT for beginners. They ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 2, Engine Mount (2016-11-04)

The engine mount tube was bigger than normal for a 24mm engine. I read that some German engines are 25mm diameter. The inset picture shows a BT-50H (heavy wall) tube slipped inside the kit supplied ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 3, Engine Mount (2016-11-05)

A notch was cut for the switched out engine hook. No engine block was in the kit, I added a 20/50 ring. A engine hook relief notch was cut in the back end of the tailcone. The engine mount tube ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 4, Nose Weight (2016-11-07)

This model requires 45 Grams of nose weight. The kit supplied clay weighed 45.7 grams. I don't make clay worms to be pressed into the nose cone, I find myself chasing the ends around with a dowel. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 5, Fin Fitting (2016-11-08)

The two long fins were cut out using the kit supplied templates. I was surprised to find they were 1/2" short of the front of the body tube! Yep, I should have checked the length of the root edges ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 6, Parachute Shelf (2016-11-09)

A chute shelf is added so the parachute won't shift down inside the tube during boost, possible shifting the Center of Gravity. The translated instructions don't tell you how to install the shelf. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 7, Main Fin Gluing and Launch Lugs (2016-11-10)

After the other snags in the kit I double checked the fin placement recesses in the tailcone. They were off! Not by much, but enough that the fins wouldn't be evenly spaced after gluing. The launch ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 8, New Nose Fin Fitting (2016-11-11)

The top ends of the lower long fins were sanded flush with the body tube end. On the left you can see the fin is just a bit longer than the body tube. New nose cone fins were cut longer so they ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 9, Lining Up Long Fins (2016-11-12)

The lower long fins were already glued onto the main body. Where wood was glued to body tube, wood glue was used. When wood was glued to plastic I used the Beacon Fabri-Tac glue. Above the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 10, Short Fin Fitting (2016-11-14)

The smaller fins are cut from thick mat board, almost 1/16" thick. The instructions say something about coating these fins with a glue and water mixture to seal them. I'll just use primer. I did use ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 11, Masking For The Black (2016-11-15)

Here's the start of the fin mask. The edges were set using Scotch tape. The tape was hit with a marker before being cut to better see the clear edges. Note for novice builders - Paint masking lines ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 12, Home Print Decals and Trim (2016-11-16)

The kit included stickers. After you spend this much time on a build it doesn't seem right to compromise and use peel and stick trim. The markings were drawn on Corel Draw and home printed on Bel ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Part 13, The Canopy (2016-11-16)

The rubber canopy was different. It was molded with a flat bottom.  There is no way it'll fit the nose cone curvature. I held some 220 grit around a BT-55 and sanded the bottom. The rubber ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Noris Raketen Aggregat - 9, Finished (2016-11-17)

This was an interesting build! Everything I've read about these kits is true. Poor fitting parts, incorrect fin templates and not much room for wadding and a parachute. I don't think I would ever ... [Read More]