Model Rocket Building Blog

Carded BANDITO Build Part 1 Fins
I recently released a new carded model PDF for a downsized Centuri BANDITO. The big Bandito design feature were the wedge fins. This build does require some extra care, especially when forming the wedge fins. You'll find the PDF art for printing at home HERE Make two prints of the PDF, one on ...
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Carded BANDITO Build Part 2 Fins
After "soft folding" to be sure your crease is right down the center line, burnish the fold using the back end of a Sharpie to make a sharp crease. Your wedge fin should look like the inset picture. Notice the fin hasn't been cut out yet. Open the creased fin to cut the details. Score the glue ...
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Carded BANDITO Build Part 3 Body Tube Skin
The 24 lb. print body tube skin is cut to size. Look for the small tic marks on the outside. The color bands are oversize on purpose for full coverage at the joint seam. Be sure your hands are clean before applying the body skin. If glue gets on the outside of the skin dirt and oils will stick ...
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Carded BANDITO Build Part 4, Wedge Fin Forming
The original Centuri kit had an engine retaining ring around the main tube. The wedge fins had a notch that fit over the ring. This downscale version has a simulated retaining ring made from card stock. The fins will have a stronger bond when glued on the ring. Cut out the ring and glue in ...
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Carded BANDITO Build Part 5, Wedge Fin Gluing
The fins will revert to the shape shown at the top. You'll want them in the sharp wedge shown at the bottom inset. Run your burnisher over the upper 2/3 of the leading edge. The glued tab won't allow you to press down the back end. You'll only need to work on the front to get the sharp ...
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Carded BANDITO Build Part 6, Lug & Chrome Trim
If you haven't done so already, glue the paper cover onto the launch lug. The lug is glued right above the retaining ring centered between two fins. This version of the Bandito was drawn to look like the model in the 1972 Centuri Catalog HERE I never like the colors suggested on the ...
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Carded BANDITO Finished
This is the look I was going for, the Bandito I saw in the Centuri catalog. The Bandito is longer than it looks in the catalog. The logo wasn't shown in the catalog picture but a decal was included in the kit. A nose cone I used came from the Estes PNC-5 package. While the fin ...
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