Estes Equinox Build Part 1, Parts
This Estes version is based on the old Centuri Scram Jet kit #KF-4. The Centuri kit didn't have the long continuous stabilizer. Centuri had two long separate horizontal pieces. The sub fins were missing on the Scram jet. Pieces of Interest: The long launch lug, 1/16" thick laser ...
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Estes Equinox Background
The Centuri Scram - Jet was introduced in the 1973 Centuri catalog. It featured off center fins and two BT-5 "jet" tubes underneath. The newer Estes Equinox has a continuous fin over the top. The Equinox also has added two small sub fins under the two jet tubes.
The Scram-Jet design ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 2, Tube Joints and Kevlar Tie
A dry fit of the BT-20 tubes showed the ends weren't really square. On the left is the two tubes before sanding. The ends were trued up with 220 grit on a sanding block. The yellow coupler was way too tight in the BT-20 tubes. The outside was taken down with 220 on a block. The ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 3, Screw Eyes
The included kit screw eye is on the left. The threads aren't very deep and could pull out of the balsa shoulder. I'll replace it with the screw eye on the right. I feel safer with the wider, higher threads.
TIP: To insure the screw eye goes in straight, First mark the center with a ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 4, Fins and Tube Fill
I'm doing two different versions of the ScramJet / Equinox. The Estes Equinox version is on the left, the Centuri Scram Jet on the right. The "H" piece (upper left) in the Estes Equinox goes across connecting the vertical fins. The small rudders (Part I) were added to the Estes kit. On ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 5, Engine Hook Retention
The marking guide didn't make it around the body tube! It's not really needed anyway. The launch lug is glued directly opposite the engine hook. The jet tubes glue beside the lug. The wing assembly glues over the tube ad onto the jet tubes. You can pretty much do this by eye without marking the ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 6, Tube Fix and Fin Primer Coat
Before strengthening the tubes with CA glue, check to see if any of the inside spirals are lifting. You should use white glue to set the lifted inside edge down. For some reason, CA glue doesn't hold down any lifting wrap end very well. Sneak some white glue under the lifted edge with the tip ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 7, Tube Primer and Tube Reinforcement
Here's the rear of the main body tube after primer filler was shot. I didn't bother with Titebond M&TG fillets on the launch lug sides. This area will be covered by the jet tubes.
The bottom of the jet tubes didn't get primer. The bottom was left "naked" for gluing later.
When ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 8, Fin Assembly and Sub Fin Gluing
The small sub fins were still showing some open fin grain after the primer dried. Again, this is the Tung wood. The CWF doesn't stay in like it does with balsa.
Here's the Estes Equinox fin unit. It was glued together now and will be painted a darker gray before the model is glued ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 9, Fin Assembly Mask and Undercoat
Here's the two fin assemblies. Half of the Centuri Scram Jet is on the left, The Estes Equinox on the right. The slots on the top of the Equinox fin unit have been filled with CWF and sanded smooth with 400 grit.
Before spraying a white undercoat, the gluing surfaces were masked off with ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 10, Paint Problems and Success
I've been doing any spray painting later in the day, right after sunset. It's just too hot and humid in Central Florida, that effects the spray painting. (This was painted in August.) I will assemble the Equinox in sub assemblies. The jet tubes were sprayed with Testor's Master Modeler ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 11, Balsa Warping?
Backtrack: These pictures were taken a few steps before the sub fins were painted. Some builders won't use the water based Elmer's Carpenters Wood Filler, or CWF. They say it warps balsa fins. Well, it does. Here's the replacement sub fins for the Equinox jet tubes. They are only 1/16" thick. ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 12, Balsa Filling and Tube Trim
Tung wood problems again! This is the fin unit from the Estes Equinox. Even after primer/filler I had to fill the new open wood pores with some CWF.
This is getting ridiculous! The tabs are still showing after gluing, filling, priming, sanding, filling, priming, sanding, white ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 13, Jet Tubes and Sub Fins
Here's the Centuri Scram Jet version Jet Tubes. The mask and paint scraping was hard to line up. It was easier to spray the tubes and body tube separately then glue the painted parts together. I didn't use much glue and no fillets were added. Scraping off the paint and lightly roughing up the ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 14, Nose Cone Mask The nose cone is red with the top half silver. The instructions say to paint an overall silver first, mask then paint the red. I'm going to do the opposite, first red then the silver. I've never had good luck putting any tape over a silver or metallic paint. The adhesive on the tape can dull the ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 15, Wing Assembly Gluing
The bottom root edges were sanded at a slight angle for a better fit against the jet tubes. You can see the inside lower walls were masked for better adhesion.
This is a dry fit of the wing assembly. Under the bottom root edge you can see the paint scraped off for root edge gluing. This ...
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Estes Equinox Build Part 16, Decals and Finished
For such a small model, this one was frustrating. The "wood" was hard to fill and all the complex surfaces in the wing assembly were hard to spray evenly. For a BT-20 based model, it's a good looking rocket.
The square band wrap-around (right side) weren't evenly ...
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