Estes Python 4 Build, Part 1 Parts
Here's another one I picked up cheap for $8.99 at a collectors store in Orlando. The Python 4 (#EST 2054/1245) was a Launchables packaged model from the Enduring Freedom missile series. Some parts were much like the recent Paveway build. The upper picture shows filler in the tube ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 2, Engine Mount
The engine mount didn't end up looking like the instruction drawing! Compare the drawing on the lower right with the finished mount shown below.
I ended up adding 135 lb. Kevlar to the mount instead of using the tri-fold for the enclosed short shock cord. Estes included elastic shock ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 3, Fin Prep
Be ready - As careful as I could be removing the pieces from the die-cut sheet, the upper fins broke right down the balsa grain.
The broken halves were set on a straightedge and glued using medium CA.
The long middle strip fins were stacked and gang sanded. After lining up the ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 4, Plastic Parts Prep
The tail cone was cut from the adapter section. The raised fin slots are cut off like the previous Paveway build and the current Estes V2 model. A possible problem - The fin slots are wider than the 3/32" thick fins.
The smaller end of the tail cone was rounded out using 220 grit around ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 5, Gluing the Engine Mount
A ring of glue was rolled in the rear tube using a marked dowel. Apply a ring of glue around the dowel end. Set the dowel into the tube up to the pencil line on the dowel. Roll the glue into a bead all the way around the inside of the tube.
The tail cone is used to press the engine mount ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 6, Balsa and Lug Prep
There's a tight corner on the upper fins, right where the breaks happened earlier. I dropped a little more CWF in the tight corner than normal. It might end up a little rounded after sanding.
Sandpaper was folded and most of the CWF was taken off. Sand carefully, you don't want to break ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 8 Fin Fitting and Fillets
Before spraying on any filler/primer: This strips of masking tape were pushed into the fin slots and against the root edge gluing areas. I didn't want to get any primer where the fin root edge would glue.
The primer filler was sanded down first with 220 grit. The side of you thumb acts ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 9, Conduit Prep & Glue Under the long middle fins sit the flat conduits. These are die-cut on thin, glossy card stock. The fit couldn't be very good over the curve of the body tube. Before gluing the conduits were pressed over a dowel to put some round onto the gluing surface.
Glue sticks are the best for this ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 10, Conduit Fix and Strake Gluing
As careful as I tried to be, there was still some glue stick on the outside surface of the conduit. The card stock is glossy so I was able to wipe off the glue with a barely damp paper towel.
There was only one conduit corner lifting. When using a glue stick try to get an glue overall ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 11, Dry Fit, Lug Gluing and White
Here's the dry fit - This is a TALL BT-55 model, about two feet tall. It should be a good model for the small field with a B6-4. The two 5/8" long lugs were glued in line with a launch rod for alignment.
White coats followed. After the first coats were set I could see the forward strakes ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 12, Upper Section Mask
The top section is actually an easy mask. Gray paint goes from the middle body separation up to the nose cone. The upper fins are left white. The rear of the fins are square, the tops are even with the top of the body tube. A long strip of Scotch tape was set around the root edges of all four ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 13, Stickers!
I drew up home print decals for the worded blocks. I'll use the stickers for the bands and squares. Because they are thicker they will add some more dimension to the model. The face card shows the body was painted a very light gray, the reinforcement (card stock plates) are white. I couldn't ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 14, More Stickers and Decals
Typical on some recent kits - the stickers fall right under the launch lug. To find the right width for the lug, I cut some notches out of plain paper first.
The correct notch width was cut out of the band before it was removed from the backing sheet.
Here's how the band fit around ...
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Estes Python 4 Build, Part 14, More Stickers and Decals
As in some recent kits, the decal placement falls right on the suggested launch lug placement. I cut out a piece of copy paper to better judge the notch that will be cut in the stick on band.
The notch cut was transferred onto the sticker before it was removed from the backing sheet.
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Estes Python 4 Finished
This design reminds me of a Launch Pad kit with the forward fins and fin plate details I couldn't figure out how to mask around the die-cut fin plates to paint the lower body light gray, so I took the easy way out and simply left the lower body white. A good looking design and a ...
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