Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Clone |
Brief:
I received these plans from NARRRRR and built this as part o' me NARTEK Silver achievement. Blimey! In addition, this was me first cluster rocket. Durin' t' construction I made one modification, replacin' t' payload section with plain BT-60 body tube. Begad! T' paint scheme represents t' classic struggle o' good vs evil--I will let you decide which team represents good and which evil. Ahoy! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Our family is divided.
Construction:
T' kit includes:
This was a pretty simple build. Body tube, ya bilge rat, me hearties, nose cone, 4 fins, and engine mount. Begad! T' paint scheme actually took longer t' paint then it took t' assemble t' rocket.
Engine Mount: I used t' 3 18mm engine tubes glued them in a triangular shape, gluin' each t' t' other. Begad! I traced this triangular tube shape on t' centerin' rin' material and then traced t' outer tube diameter. I cut out 2 engine mounts. Avast, me proud beauty! I mounted t' 3 tube sub-assembly and bulkheads. Well, blow me down! I choose nay install engine hooks and use tape t' hold t' engine in place.
Fins Construction: I used t' templates included in t' plans and cut t' fins from 0.125" fin stock. Avast, me proud beauty! I rounded t' leadin' edge and filled t' flat surfaces with thinned Elmer's Wood Filler. I sanded t' fins with 220 grit sandpaper, me bucko, filled, me hearties, and sanded again with 400 grit sandpaper until smooth.
Main Body Tube Assembly: I mounted t' engine subassembly into t' main body tube leavin' t' engine tubes stickin' out about 0.375". Next, matey, shiver me timbers, I mounted t' fins 90 degrees apart and added fillets t' t' fin tube joint.
Finally, arrr, arrr, I used t' traditional Estes shock cord mount t' attach t' shock cord t' t' main body tube. If I had t' do this over, I would attach this t' t' engine bulkhead.
Nose Cone: I added ~40g o' nose weight t' ensure t' rocket would be stable.
Finishing:
After t' rocket was complete, arrr, I then applied a few coats o' gray primer. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I then painted t' entire rocket white, once this be dry. Begad! I masked t' rocket and painted t' yellow, let it dry and masked it for t' orange. Begad! Once t' orange be dry I masked it for green and then blue.
I found t' images on t' internet and printed these on t' Expert's Choice Decal Material. Avast! After t' decals, I applied 3 t' 4 coats o' clear coat.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight and Recovery:
T' flight prep was your basic rocket prep. Begad! Blimey! Engines installed (taped in place), dog barf added, and put in t' folded parachute. Aye aye! I installed t' igniters. Avast! After reviewin' t' wirin' diagrams, I chose t' make a 2 jumper sets (basically 3 wires with alligator clips, twisted together).
I used 3 C6-5s for t' first flight. Begad! Launch was nice and straight. Begad! It went a lot higher than I anticipated. Begad! Ejection was a little early, me bucko, but overall it be a very nice flight for me first cluster rocket. T' next flight was on C6-7s. Begad! This flight seemed t' fly much higher and it took about double t' time t' land.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a great rocket especially if you have nay attempted a cluster. Begad! Begad! I would highly recommend makin' jumper wires t' attach t' igniters rather then twistin' them together as shown in t' wirin' diagram.
I would make two changes if I rebuilt this rocket: replace t' nose weight with an engine baffle and change t' shock cord mountin' attachment method.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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Thanks, Bill, for the correction. I've updated the review.
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Bill Eichelberger (November 20, 2020)
This review is actually for the BT-60 Estes Ranger. The 1955 kit is actually a BT-55 based rocket that only uses the Ranger name.