Re: Estes Iris Question

For a BT-50 Iris, the scale factor is 1:12.25 (.98 {.976+2 mil paint job}/12). The nose cone should be 6.53" long, and the bt should be

I would point out that just any old ogive nose cone won't really work. The Iris nose cone is quite long, with what looks like a long conical section with a tangent ogive. Most commercial nose cones are way too squat and not pointy enough. Someone makes an HPR Iris model with a conventional nose cone, and it looks ridiculous. The old Centuri version was made to match, and was really looked "right", but I haven't seen one like it since - and, since it was a ST-8, not BT50, it wouldn't fit this model anyway.

Brett

Brett

I just measured my Estes IRIS and your calculations are correct. Both tubes are 6.5" long.

They use two body tubes so you can paint the two color roll pattern easier, taping off the full length and painting...then glue them together after rotating a quarter turn to get the black over white look. It worked quite well.

Estes solved the length problem by painting just under an inch of the body tube silver to match the nosecone. It doesn't do a lot for the shape, though.

tim

How do you fill the joint without messing up the paint?

Brett

I'd have to wonder too. I saw that problem right off the bat. I built mine (picked it up off ebay) with both tubes glued during original construction. I'm just going to do the "mask-n-paint" thang with mine..

tah

Don't fill the joint?

Thanks for the info everyone. Think I'll build it with one chunk of BT-50.

-- Joe Michel NAR 82797 L1

You don't fill it. You don't notice the joint because it is at a color change line. You have to be within arm's reach or better to notice it. In fact, it looks better than the average taped paint lines because you don't have paint seeping under the tape. I'm not saying it looks perfect, but it looks at least as good as an average taped paint line.

tim