Vintage Estes Crusader Build
 

I should have a little more time to work on this rocket, looks like a more challenging fun build.

This's a strong one scigs30! I'M WATCH-ING INTENT-LY!

Go, scigs30, GO!

Built that 30 years ago, it was a great glider.

I had some free time to work on my Crusader today and she is ready for paint. The first thing I had to do was free the parts from the die cut balsa sheets and do my best to sand to shape. The plans then have you apply sanding sealer so I used 3 coats of Brodak balsa sealer. The 1/8 play that is inserted into the wing is a tad thicker than the 1/8 balsa requiring sanding. The plans are pretty good with the measurements and everything fits nice and loose. I am finishing applying all the fillets with white glue and I am waiting on my Krylon Acryli Quick to arrive. The plans call for light gray so I am going with Pewter Gray since that is the lightest gray. I was going to use Gloss white but I think the light gray will look better, that is what people use for the Enterprise and model jet liners. I am not going to use any primer to keep the weight down, just shoot the top coat and apply the decals. The weight of the glider is 1.5oz ready for paint. All and all a fun challenging build especially without laser cutting.

Coming along great- I'd like to see this one fly.

Ah Ha! I knew I had some photos of mine somewhere. Mine is painted white. I did this one several years ago. It glides MUCH prettier than it looks (if it's well trimmed and not too heavy.)

Jeffyjeep, that looks great.
I finished my Estes Crusader, just had to wait for the Krylon Acryli Quick Pewter Gray to arrive. This was a fun build and cannot wait to fly her, I think the glider will do well. I kept the weight down by using 3 coats of Brodak sealer for grain free balsa, no fillers, no primer just shot light coats of Pewter gray. The balsa wood was pretty heavy making for a tail heavy glider. I did not glue the nose in until she was all painted and balanced out and some nose clay was needed. The test glide is pretty nice after she was balanced. The decals were old but no major issues, now onto the next build. Sorry about the pictures, I do not have my normal camera.

Did you get the Krylon paint from zoro.com? I have not seen the Acryli-Quik anywhere else. I also want to try the Krylon Tough Coat primer, which is highly recommended by John Boren.

John Boren told me about the Krylon Tough Coat primer also.

John referred me to the online vendor Fullsource.com

You have to buy it by the case. A case lasts me about two years.

I order my paint from Fullsource.com. Krylon Tough Coat primer is enamel and will not work under the Acryli Quick paint.