Big Red Rocket

This is for the original one foot high rocket. For the two foot giant rocket, look here.

---

Rocket Construction

Your kit contains lots of parts:

• Stringers, three, very long and thin
• Fins, three
• Pod sides, six (the longer ones with a J-shaped curve)
• Pod stringers, three (the short ones)
• Circular frames, twenty one. Note that some have three notches, some four and some six.
• Superglue

---

There may also be some spare disks cut from the centres of the frames. Ignore these, or build them into your own contraptions.

The kits are made from MDF, a man-made wood board. This can be glued with any of your favourite wood glues. We supply the kit with a tube of cyanoacrylate superglue. If using a thin, watery glue like superglue, it's easiest to assemble the parts and hold them lightly in place by hand first, then place a small drop of glue on the edge of each joint. Capillary action draws the glue into the joint. If a joint isn't rock-solid, more glue can be added later.

---

---

Start by sorting out the circular frames. Those with four notches make the three engine pods. Those with three notches make the main fuselage, and those with six notches the rear of the fuselage, where the fins join on. The fuselage frames are all numbered, from #1 at the tail to #12 (the tiny solid one) in the nose).

---

Begin assembly by gluing the frames into the stringers to make the fuselage. It's easiest to place all of the frames, except #1 the stern frame, into the notches in one stringer (one stringer is numbered too). Then place the other two stringers across the other notches in the frames and hold them lightly in place. Now glue all of the frame joints. Once the other frames are in place, you can add the stern frame. A couple of elastic bands might be useful when drying, or superglue cures quickly enough to just hold them in place.

---

While the fuselage glue is drying, assemble the fins and pods. These frames have four notches: they aren't numbered but they're fitted in size order.

Place the frames into the notches at the end of the fin, then place the short stringers into them too (see illustration). The outer stringer should make a smooth curve – watch that they aren't installed upside-down! The side stringers should also butt against the fins, without a gap. Glue them and set aside to cure.

Once the fin pods are dry, add the fins to the fuselage. They fit into the notches in the six-notched rear frames. It's important to keep the fins accurately radial and pointing directly away from the fuselage central axis. This is usually easiest by gluing them one at a time and allowing them to set before the next fin. Sighting along the fin and across to the fuselage's opposite stringer helps alignment.

---

Once the glue is firmly dried, your rocket is ready for paint – if you wish. The MDF takes most paints, but spraying is usually easiest. It's easiest to spray paint the parts before assemmbly.

---