Made In USAKit #05042Skill Level 2

Skill Level 2Previous Rocket Experience Suggested

The purpose of the Vapor rocket display kit is to show off the components that go into a model rocket. With its transparent body and engine mount tubes, you can see directly into the rocket and inspect how the parts are arranged and assembled. And because it is a large model, everything is easy to see. This makes it a great rocket for teachers to instruct their students on the proper names for the parts of a rocket and a great model to display in your classroom.

Extra care should be exercised during the construction of this rocket to minimize the amount of glue in the clear tubes. Because the rocket is clear, it is easy to see excess glue and mistakes made during assembly. Some parts are not glued together to minimize the amount of visible glue in the rocket, so this is not a strong rocket.

The Vapor was not intended to be a flying model rocket! The instructions provided here are created solely for the purpose of building a display model. You can build this kit in a way that will make it strong enough for flight, but you will have to use your own experience and understanding outside of what we provide here in the included instructions. Also if you do fly it, you will be disap-pointed in how dirty it becomes after the ejection charge leaves soot deep in the tubes of the rocket. So once it is flown, it will never again look pristine.

Vapor Parts List

Necessary Tools and Materials � (Recommended) Super Glue accelerator � Hobby Knife with Sharp Blades � Masking Tape � Paper Towel � Pencil � Plastic Sheet (to cover the work surface) � Ruler � Safety Glasses � Sand Paper (220 and 400 grit) � Scissors � Super Glue (CyA adhesive medium viscosity) or Plastic

Model Cement � Wood Dowel � Wood Glue (or White Glue) � Wood Sealer/Sanding Sealer

P/N 31108

Manufactured in the USA by:Apogee Components Inc.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USAVisit us online at:

www.ApogeeRockets.com

Item # Item Name Qty10101 AT-24/6" Clear Airframe Tube 110187 AT-66/18" w/3 fin slots 113031 CR 18/24 113056 1/4" Launch Lug 3" Long 113314 CR-24/66 1/8" Plywood 215567 Vapor Fin 1/8" Plywood 319480 PNC-66mm (BT-80) 124043 Regular Crimped Engine Hook 129132 32" Parachute Pack for Kits 129520 300# Kevlar® Shock Cord x 8ft 131108 Vapor Instruction Sheet 139004 Vapor Face Card 141011 Vapor Vinyl Decal 135532 Vapor Poster 1

Assembly Steps

� 1. Using 400 grit sandpaper, fine sand the plywood parts. Carefully remove the two centering rings from the plywood sheet by freeing the edges with a sharp hobby knife.

� 2. (Optional) - You can paint the fins now if you wish. It is recommended that the tabs be masked off and kept free of paint so that they can be easily seen through the clear tube of the rocket.

� 3. Mark a line on the motor mount tube that is 2.25” (57mm) from one end. Take a hobby knife and cut a 1/8” (3mm) wide slit in the engine tube at the mark.

� 4. Place the engine hook in the slot you cut in the pre-vious step (this is now the aft end of the motor mount tube). Temporarily secure the hook to the engine tube using a piece of masking tape.

� 5. Using a long dowel, spread a small amount of white glue on the forward end of the tang of the engine hook that protrudes inside the tube. Push the green engine block into the tube through the forward end until it slides into the glue. Try to avoid spreading the glue around so that ther a few smears visible through the tube.

� 6. Remove the excess wood from the inside edge of the plywood centering rings with a hobby knife. Now from the forward end, of the motor mount tube, slide one of the plywood rings onto the engine tube and over the engine hook to about 2/3 the way down the tube.

� 7. Remove the tape holding the engine hook in place. Then apply a bead of thick CyA adhesive (super glue) around the outside of the engine mount tube at 1/2 inch (13mm) from the aft end. Now slide the ring into place over the glue. Make sure the ring is aligned straight.

� 8. Tie the Kevlar® shock cord around the forward end of the engine mount tube. Slide the shock cord through the forward plywood centering ring and slide the ring over the forward end of the engine mount tube. There is a notch on the inside edge of the ring that allows the shock cord to pass through the ring. Slide the ring so that it is about ⅛ inch (3mm) from the edge of the tube.

� 9. Pull the shock cord tight up against the forward centering ring. Using white glue, put a bead of glue over the Kevlar® loop. Then cleanly place glue around the tube where the centering ring meets the tube. Allow plenty of time to dry. Once dry, temporarily stuff the shock cord into the forward end of the engine mount tube to make it easier to complete the next step.

Page 2

TapeTape

Forward End

Aft EndSpread glueinside here

Dowel withglue on the end Engine Block

Step 4

Step 5

Removetape

Forward endAft end

1/2” From Edge

Remove small pieces withhobby knife

Step 6

Step 7

2.25”1/8” Wide

Sand Paper

Step 1

Step 3

Step 2: Optional

Kevlar® Hole

Place glue on the knot and around the tube

Step 8

Step 9

IMPORTANT: You will notice that the large clear body tube may have discoloration on the tube. This is caused by the laser cutting machine. You can easily remove most of the discoloration in-side the tube with a rag, soap and water. You will want to clean and dry the tube before you begin building the rocket kit. This will help to avoid getting other parts of the kit or the glue wet during assembly.

Step 17

Sand Paper

Step 11

Place glue here

Tie knot hereGlue here

Fin Tab

Engine Block

8in

Step 15 Step 16

� 10. Use the diagram to the right for reference and apply the vinyl stickers. Make sure the "Engine Block" sticker is centered above the engine hook and that the "Engine Hook" sticker is very close to the engine hook or it may not be visible behind the fin tabs once the kit is com-pletely assembled.

� 11. Test fit the engine mount assembly into the big body tube. If it is too tight, sand the edges of the centering rings slightly. Now insert the engine mount assembly completely into the tube, but DO NOT GLUE IT IN YET.

� 12. Test fit the fins into the slots. Sand if needed and place the “Fin Tab” vinyl decals on the fin tab portion of the fins. Center the "Engine Block" sticker on the engine mount tube in between two fins (use the Step 12 diagram for reference). This is so that when you glue the fins into place they won't block the stickers. Push the engine mount back slightly so that the aft centering ring touch-es the back edges of the fin tabs. Now hold your motor mount in place and remove the fins.

� 13. Use thick CyA adhesive (super glue) to place a thin bead around the inside of the large clear tube at about 1/2" from the edge. Now gently pull back on the engine mount tube until it touches the glue and allow it to dry. Note: There is no glue used on the forward center-ing ring in these instructions. If you intend to fly the rocket, we strongly recommend that you also put glue on the forward ring for added strength.

� 14. Put a thin bead of thick CyA adhesive (super glue), onto the edge of the fin tab and the root edge of the fin. Carefully push the fins into the slots on the tube (we suggest that you use Super Glue Accelerator on the root edges to quickly secure the bond). Try to avoid wiggling them around as it comes in contact with the engine mount tube inside the rocket. This can smear the glue around and make it more visible from the outside of the rocket. Note: a fin fillet is not applied to the fins because it would be too visible and cloud the view through the clear tube. But if you intend to fly the rocket, you’ll want to add fin fillets along the slots to strengthen the fin joint.

� 15. Mark the large clear tube 8 inches (20.3cm) from the aft end of the rocket between any two fins. Apply a thick bead of thick CyA adhesive (super glue) to the launch lug and carefully attach it to the tube. Again, try not to wiggle it too much as you position it on the tube to avoid smearing the adhesive around. Give the adhesive plenty of time to fully dry.

� 16. Tie the loose end of the shock cord to the loop on the base of the nose cone using two overhand knots. Apply a little bit of the white glue onto the knot to keep it from coming untied.

� 17. Carefully cut out the parachute canopy along the dashed lines. Place one reinforcement ring on each of the marked corners. Take a sharp pencil or knife and poke a hole through the plastic in the center of each ring. Page 3

Engine BlockDO NOT GLUE YET

Engine Block

Fin TabFin Tab

Step 12

Place glue here

Root Edges

Fin Tab

Engine Block

Step 13

Step 14

Aft EndForward End

Centering Ring

Engi

ne B

lock

Motor Mount Tube Engine Hook

Sticker Placement

Step 10

Pull Tight

Shock cordStep 20

� 18. Fold the shroud line in half, and cut at the fold to make equal lengths; cut each piece in half again to make a total of four lines of equal length.

� 19. Pull each parachute line end through a parachute reinforcement ring and tie using two overhand knots. Repeat for all the corners as shown.

� 20. Holding the parachute at the center of its top, pull the lines together to even up the ends. Thread the four looped lines through the loop at the base of the nose cone. Take the top of the parachute and pull it through the center of all four string loops at the same time and then pull to tighten the knot. This securely attaches the parachute to the rocket.

� 21. Fold the parachute and insert it into the main body tube.

� 22. Finish the rocket by applying the vinyl decals to the remaining visible parts of the rocket. Refer to the image on the front page of these instructions for a suugestion on where to put the remaining stickers. NOTE: The "Nose Cone Shoulder" Sticker is applied directly to the shoulder of the nose cone, not to the clear tube. The "Body Tube" sticker can go wherever you find is best suitable.

� 23. Congratulations! Your Vapor rocket kit is now com-plete.

Step 19

Go online and order at www.ApogeeRockets.com or call us and order at 719-535-9335. We’re available M-F: 9:00am-5:00pm MST

Need teachers resources to go along with this kit?

Recommended items: WeblinkTeaching tips and curriculum for model rockets

https://www.apogeerockets.com/Edu/Teaching_Tips?m=education

Rocketry for educators https://www.apogeerockets.com/Education?m=education

Rocketry reservoir https://www.apogeerockets.com/Edu/Rocketry_Reservoir?m=education

RockSim Software https://www.apogeerockets.com/RockSim/RockSim9_Features?pg=rocksim

Fold in half, and align the corners

Lay excess lines on top Fold canopy

over linesFold tip down

one time Roll tightlyand slide into

tube

Fold in half againaligning the corners

Fold sides inward, and then in half to form a

triangle shape

Step 21

Wood GluePull TightShock cord

Step 18

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