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  #1  
Old 05-05-2018, 02:34 PM
rocketpunch rocketpunch is offline
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Default Vintage R2D2 restoration

Several years ago, a friend of mine gave me a vintage R2D2 rocket that had been assembled, and painted but never flown. It's an original kit from the 70's, not the reissue from the late 90's (which had a plastic body).

The rocket needs some TLC. One of it's legs has fallen off, the shock cord is shot, it's missing the launch lug and the clear fins, but the body wrap is in surprisingly very good condition. It's been kicking around in my spare parts box for years, so I decided it was time to refurbish it.

I want to give it a new paint job, strengthen the joints and maybe upgrade the motor mount to 24mm, as the 18mm is rather anemic for this bird.

The trickiest thing is I don't have the clear fins. I am not sure how I'm going to make them yet, but, what I need are the dimensions of them. Does anyone know them? Or, better yet, is there anyone out there with a set they'd be willing to part with?
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  #2  
Old 05-05-2018, 05:39 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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It can fly without those hideous fins.
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  #3  
Old 05-05-2018, 06:01 PM
rocketpunch rocketpunch is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
It can fly without those hideous fins.


When you say "fly" do you mean with stability? I'm going to put in a bigger motor. I was thinking I would need to add extra nose weight because of it.
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  #4  
Old 05-05-2018, 06:40 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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A modicum of stability.
Thaty'll Doo.
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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Last edited by ghrocketman : 05-05-2018 at 07:19 PM.
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  #5  
Old 05-06-2018, 12:17 AM
rocketpunch rocketpunch is offline
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While I'm figuring out the fins, I started to get the rocket prepped to be painted. I was able to get the other lego off pretty easily, and the nose weight/shock cord mount was glued in with wood glue, so it popped out without any problems. Fortunately, while the bottom body detail piece is glued on tight, it hasn't been painted, so I don't need to strip the paint.

I carefully removed the stickers off the dome as best I could. They'll be used for reference to make replacements, either stickers like the original or decals. Haven't decided yet.

Then it was into a bath of ELO for the dome and legs. Now I have clean parts ready to be repainted.
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  #6  
Old 05-06-2018, 03:01 PM
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erik442 erik442 is offline
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I just finished one of the reissue kits last week. If you still want to add the fins, I can post the dimensions in a day or two.
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Old 05-06-2018, 04:02 PM
rocketpunch rocketpunch is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erik442
I just finished one of the reissue kits last week. If you still want to add the fins, I can post the dimensions in a day or two.


That would be terrific. Thanks.
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  #8  
Old 05-06-2018, 04:55 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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Way more fun to fly WITHOUT the fins.
Put some epoxy/lead shot in the nose for stability instead.
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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
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  #9  
Old 05-07-2018, 03:23 PM
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teflonrocketry1 teflonrocketry1 is offline
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Please explain what ELO is?
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  #10  
Old 05-07-2018, 03:39 PM
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Overeasy123 Overeasy123 is offline
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