This is a large scale rocket of the Astrobee D ADD 010 sounding rocket by Aerojet General. Flown in the 70's. Almost half scale in size the rocket is built on a 2.6" airframe and is 68 inches in overall height.
It is a difficult kit to build, but not terribly so. I was a little upset to find that the pictures AeroTech uses in advertising the rocket, as well as the paint colors indicated in the directions don't appear to be accurate.
Through internet searches I was able to find several pictures of the actual rocket, and found that it was flown with a couple of different paint schemes. I chose the paint scheme that seems to be the most common and the one AT appeared to be trying to duplicate.
Unfortunately I didn't search and find the pictures until I had already applied the majority of the paint. The AT directions called for tan fins and a light gray nose cone. However the pictures I've found show the nosecone and fins being the same tan color. So I stripped the nose cone of the gray paint and refinished it with the same tan as the fins.
Here's a picture of the kit after the main paint was applied.
So after refinishing the nosecone, applying the scale launch lugs, and payload bay antenna boots, and decals here is my completed rocket, Jan 17, 2003. No flights as of yet.
Took forever but I acquired motors for this bird. Should go up next month, June 2003.
***June 14, 2003***
Maiden flight on an AT G80-4T. Nice straight boost with a slight spin, but overall good flight, used a single chute for recovery instead of the stock two chute method.
Built 1-17-03
Diameter 2.6", Length 68", and Weight 28oz. 29mm motors and parachute recovery.