Estes 3221 User Manual

ROCKET FINISHING

CA

NOTE: We have found Testors One Coat Lacquer, Testors Model Master spray paints and Testors Gloss Lacquer to be excellent for
providing a long lasting and durable finish on your rocket. Always be sure to spray your models outside or in a well ventilated area

STEPS FOR A QUALITY FINISH:

1. Insert shock cord into body tube and hold in place with paper.

2. Lightly sand rocket with fine sandpaper.

3. Apply glue fillets to all glued areas.
a. Let dry overnight.

4. Use a stick inserted into the engine tube end of the rocket for painting.

5. Hold nose cone by eyelet for painting. Cover shoulder with masking tape.

6. Apply 2 light coats of white primer to rocket body and nose cone,
lightly sanding with fine sandpaper between coats.
a. Let primer dry between coats.

7. Spray paint entire rocket white.
a. Let dry overnight.

8. Spray paint nose cone red.
a. Let dry overnight.

9. Mask off bottom of rocket, leaving upper 8” (20.3 cm) exposed. Spray paint gray.
a. Let dry overnight.

10. Spray paint W black.
a. Let dry overnight.

11. Glue W in place with CA glue.

12. Apply waterslide decals where shown.
a. Cut decals to be applied from decal sheet, trimming close to the decal edge.
b. Place one decal at a time in bowl of warm water until decal begins to curl.
c. Remove decal, position in place and slide decal off of backing material and onto the model as close to final position as possible.
d. Gently blot excess water with a clean paper towel. Allow decals to set overnight.
e. Apply protective clear coat, optional. This will provide added protection and shine to your QCC Explorer™ rocket!

W

8 in (20.3 cm)

NOSE CONE PREPARATION

1. 2.

3.

4.

V

V

Y

Y

Do not cut off eyelet.

Y

5.

V

FLIGHT RECOVERY PREPARATION

NOTE: Only Estes Recovery Wadding (302274) recommended.

2.

3.

6.

DOUBLE KNOT

T

X

4.

1.

5.

7-8 PIECES

NOTE: Recovery wadding and parachute must slide easily into body tube. If too tight, remove and redo.

V

ENGINE PREPARATION

V

BLACK

#3221

V

MASKING

TAPE

.

WARNING: FLAMMABLE

To avoid serious injury, read

instructions & NAR Safety

Code included with engines.

PREPARE ENGINE ONLY

WHEN YOU ARE OUTSIDE

AT THE LAUNCH SITE

PREPARING TO LAUNCH!

If you do not use your
prepared engine, remove the
igniter before storing engine.

Z

USE FOR D ENGINES

COUNTDOWN AND LAUNCH

IMPORTANT:

Your Estes product is
marked with a four
digit lot code or
codes. The code is
two digits, a space
and two more digits
representing the
week and year of
manufacture,
respectively. Lot
codes can be found
on the product
package, decal,
launch controller,
launch pad and/or
blast deflector.

(Please record the
lot code found on
the decal and keep
for future
reference.) Lot code:

________

ESTES LAUNCH SUPPLIES NEEDED

(Sold Separately)

• Porta Pad

• Electron Beam

• Recovery Wadding (302274)

• Igniters (with engines)

• Igniter Plugs (with engines)

Recommended Engines:

•

C11-3 (First Flight), D12-5, E9-4*, E9-6*

*E Engines require Porta-Pad E
Launch Pad and E Launch
Controller.

®

ll Launch Pad

TM

Launch Controller

MASKING TAPE
REST FOR
LAUNCH LUG

1...

1...

KEY
ALWAYS
OUT UNTIL FINAL
COUNTDOWN!

8” (203 mm)

PRECAUTIONS

1.

NO DRY GRASS
OR WEEDS

2.

IGNITER TIP
MUST TOUCH
PROPELLANT!

6.

NAR Safety Code

This Paper

Can Be Recycled

2...

2...

3.

5...

5...

3...

4...

3...

3...

4.

15 ft (4.6 m)

*30 ft (9.1 m)

4...

4...

2...

1...

5.

INSERT KEY.
PUSH DOWN
HARD AND
BULB WILL
LIGHT.

WHILE HOLDING KEY
DOWN FIRMLY, PRESS
LAUNCH BUTTON UNTIL

LIFTOFF!

PRE-LAUNCH CHECK

For safety, never launch a damaged rocket. Check the rocket's body, nose cone and
fins. Also, check the engine mount, recovery system and launch lug. Repair any
damage before launching the rocket.

FLYING YOUR ROCKET

Choose a large field (500 ft. [152 m] square) free of dry weeds and brown grass. The
larger the launch area, the better your chance of recovering your rocket. Football
fields and playgrounds are great. Launch only with little or no wind and good visibility.

Always follow the enclosed National Association of Rocketry (NAR) SAFETY CODE.

MISFIRES

TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE CONTROLLER. WAIT ONE MINUTE BEFORE
GOING NEAR THE ROCKET! Disconnect the igniter clips and remove the engine.
Take the plug and igniter out of the engine. If the igniter has burned, it worked but did
not ignite the engine because it was not touching the propellant inside the engine.
Put a new igniter all the way inside the engine without bending it. Push the plug in
place. Repeat the steps under Countdown and Launch.

KEY

Estes-Cox Corp.

1295 H Street, PO Box 227

Penrose, CO 81240-0227

Printed in Guangdong, China

K

Q

R

P

H

J

O

N

M

L

H

X

D

B

E

H

E

A

W

C

Part Qty Description Part Number
A 1 Engine Mount Tube 031320
B 1 Engine Hook 035022
C 1 Engine Holder Ring 030160
D 1 Green Engine Block 030164-2
E 2 Laser Cut Centering Ring Set 030119
F 1 Lower Body Tube 030396
G 1 Launch Lug 038166
H 4 Laser Cut Balsa Fins 066359
Laser Cut Balsa Sheet includes: 066358
I -R 4 Balsa Pieces

In addition to the parts included in the kit you will also need:

FINE

SANDPAPER

(#320-#400 GRIT)

THIN CA

CARPENTER’S

SCISSORS

SUPPLIES

PENCIL

RULER

GLUE

Z

MODELING

KNIFE

ASSEMBLY TIP:

have all parts and supplies and test fit all parts together
before applying glue. If parts don’t fit properly, sand as
necessary for precision assembly.

Read all instructions, make sure you

I

F

G

T

S

Y

U

PLASTIC PARTS SET

W

Part Qty Description Part Number
S 1 Fin Spacer Tool 066359
T 1 Upper Body Tube 030487
U 1 Red Tube Coupler 031777
Plastic Parts set includes: 072665
V 1 Nose Cone
W 1 Tail Cone
X 1 Shock Cord 038370
Y 1 Parachute 035802
1 Waterslide Decal (not shown) 066360
Z 1 Orange E to D Engine Spacer 035005

SPRAY

PAINT

PRIMER

WHITE

SPRAY PAINT
CLEAR COAT

(OPTIONAL)

SPRAY PAINT

WHITE

SPRAY PAINT

RED

SPRAY PAINT

Page 5

Page 6

PN 66361 (1-11)© 2010 Estes-Cox Corp. All rights reserved.

Page

1

GLUE

TUBE MARKING GUIDE

GLUE

GLUE

GLUE

GLUE

GLUE

GLUE

GLUE

GLUE

GLUE

GLUE

CA

CA

CA

CA

CA

CA

CA

CA

CA

CA

CA

GLUE

FIN

GUIDE

TUBE MARKING

FIN

(Make a copy if you want to keep instructions.)

FIN

LL

FIN

OVERLAP TAB

SHOCK CORD

MOUNT

SECTION

SECTION

SECTION

3

2

1

INTAKE ASSEMBLY (repeat 4 times)

P

R

1.

MARK

Q

2.

P

TWIST

6. 7. 8. 9.

ALL GLUING SHOULD BE DONE ON A FLAT SURFACE

O

3.

4. 5.

INTAKE ATTACHMENT (repeat 4 times)

4.

2.

2.

FLUSH WITH

LL

END

3.

LL

LL

G

I

O

I

H

1.

USE FIN ALIGNMENT GUIDE FOR REFERENCE

FINAL ASSEMBLY

2"

1.

1/4"

(5 cm)

(6 mm)

FIN PREPARATION

1.

ENGINE MOUNT ASSEMBLY

B

A

3 1/4"

mm)

82

(

E

2.

1.

(

1"

25

mm)

H

3.

2.

D

ROOT EDGE

3.

C

4.

LEADING
EDGE

H

Stack together. Sand edges smooth.

Round leading edges. Do not round

root edges.

E

Let Dry.

3 1/4"

(82.5 cm)

1"

(25 cm)

Push in and

twist to lock
tabs in slots.

10. 11.

Glue all

inside joints
& seams.

MARK

J

14.

INTAKE ASSEMBLY FINISHING (repeat 4 times)

15.

K

Repeat for

second side.

12.

13.

N

Finished

assembly.

M

U

1 1/2"

(38 mm)

4.

T

L

W

USE W TO SET
ENGINE MOUNT
DISTANCE

SHOCK CORD
INSTALLATION

3

MOUNT

1.

SHOCK CORD

2

SECTION

1

SECTION

SECTION

2.

M

5.

3.

Finished

assembly.

1

2

3

6.

DO NOT GLUE

TUBE MARKING

FIN

GUIDE

TUBE MARKING

FIN

FIN

LL

1.

Page 2 Page 4

FIN

OVERLAP TAB

3.

TAPE

2.

FIN

TUBE MARKING

GUIDE

FIN

OVERLAP TAB

FIN

LL

FIN

F

F

LL

FL

Mark all lines.

DOOR FRAME

4.

Remove guide. Using door

frame as a straight edge, extend
all lines entire length of F.

SAND

1.

SAND END
ROUND

2.

FIN ASSEMBLY (repeat 4 times)

FL

LL

FL

F

5.

H

S

WEIGHT

1. 2. 3. 4.

Page 3

3.

SAND PIECE
TO MATCH
ANGLE

4.

SAND PIECE
TO MATCH
ANGLE

GLUE INSIDE
FIN JOINTS

90°

3

3.

4.

1 1/2” (38 mm)

5.

Hold until glue sets. Let dry.

Fin

Alignment

Guide