Estes Black Brant II (1958) Roll Pattern
 

After many hours of trying to figure out the Estes Black Brant II's decals, I finally managed (with help) to crack it.

Here's what I came up with... first a 6 part view showing the rocket, then the file that I created to allow the .ork file to display it correctly.



To use the roll pattern images with your own .ork files, you'll need to rotate it CCW 90 degrees.



HTH
Jim

The BB II is one of my absolute favorite scale rockets! The PNC55 is available and the rear cone is doable from card stock. I wish the rear plastic coupler was available--it would be easier to clone. I sent a boat tail and coupler "stack" to Sirius Rocketry hoping they could mold it but they were unable to.

I build this one a year ago. I always do the fins in basswood and I usually make (2) nose cone/payload assemblies--one with antennae for show and one without antennae for flight. Also, I always insert the faux antennae through the wall of the payload tube and then glue them from the inside.

Over on TRF, there's Landru who will 3D print the wasp waist (and tail cone). I've got two for BBII BT-60 builds I started.



For me, I have always hated the toothpick antennas. They were clearly never going to stay around for any time whatsoever. My solution was to bend paperclips out and glue them in place from the inside. I've never regretted that decision. Another idea I've had for them was to glue a balsa block in place, and drill into that, using carbon fiber rod to replicate them.

That's good to know. Thanks!

When I built my FSI 1/8 scale Black Brant - II about 11 years ago, trying to figure the correct roll pattern was a real challenge. If I remember correctly, I used the diagram from the Estes kit from what I could get from the Jim Z website. Plus, the original decal sheet that came with the FSI kit was very incomplete, but John Pursley offered to make me a set of new ones with extra "spares" (which will later come in handy). As you all say, it's a favorite and a beautiful model to have in anyone's fleet.

BTW, I do have the Estes version still in-the-bag (bought from Pursley when he put it on e-bay a while back). Hope to get around to building it, but will use only 18 mm engines as I wouldn't want to over power it on a D12.

And don't forget Semroc made all the balsa parts to clone an FSI Black Brant. I don't know if Randy has the parts presently listed but you could ask him.

Calling on John Boren ...

We need a Black Brant II re-issue, and maybe an upscale, as was done a few years ago with the Interceptor. :)

For anyone who has access to a 3D printer, I uploaded the BBII nose cone, boat tail and wasp waist to Thingiverse: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:512113

In one of my conversations with Estes, I asked about the BBII, and IIRC, I was told that there was a demand for royalties by the manufacturer. But I may be wrong about that.

I have heard though that one of the reasons that models like the HoJo have "US Military" instead of ARMY on them is due to the Army demanding payment for use of the name. It has been suggested that Estes use the name "VENUS ARMY" to allow modelers the correct font and scale markings, should we decide to crop out the "VEN" part. Though if we don't, perhaps we'll see more ladies at public launches. ;)

I heard the same thing. My thought was ... "Hey, us tax payers paid for you military organizations 100%. You have no right to royalties on OUR equipment!"

:)

I'm guessing the same royalty demands also doomed the SR-71 Blackbird. I bought two of them when I heard the rumors.