Modification - USSF Goonyflash {Modification}

Kit Bash USSF Goonyflash Modification

Modification - USSF Goonyflash {Modification}

Contributed by Steve Lindeman

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2014-04-18
Manufacturer:	Modification
Style:	Goonybird

Brief

For those o' you followin' my Goonyness this is Baby Bertha kit bash #9. So OK this is nay a kit review so much as it's actually another o' me kit bashes. All fin patterns and decals came from http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/estes/est1909.pdf.

T' main difference is that mine is a Goony version o' t' USSF Fireflash (Estes Kit #1909). Well, blow me down! I'm only doin' this review because no one has written a review for this marvelous rocket.

USSF Fireflash

Original Estes USSF Fireflash (1909) [1983-1984]

Components

As stated this is a kit bash so t' main components come from a Baby Bertha Kit. Arrr! As a result this will be a BT-60 based rocket instead o' t' stock BT-50 tube.

From Baby Bertha kit:

1- BT-60 Body Tube
1- PNC-60 Nose Cone
1- Launch Lug
1- Engine Hook
1- Shock Cord
1- Assembled 12" Parachute (transparent orange plastic)
1- Mylar Retainer
1- Green Engine Block
1- Blue Engine Mount Tube
1- Centerin' Rin' Card

Decals and wood from t' Baby Bertha were placed in with me salvage materials and new wood was used t' make all necessary parts for this build. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! Along with t' new wood I also used two 2" long large incense sticks for parts 'I' and two extra launch lugs for parts 'G' in t' instructions. Begad! T' decals were printed on standard printer paper.

Construction

Construction for t' most part was per directions. Step 1 saw t' addition o' paper coatin' bein' applied t' all finished wood assemblies. Blimey! Steps 2 & 3 were done as though I were buildin' a Baby Bertha. Aye aye! Step 7 was slightly difficult as I didn't have a guide for t' BT-60 body tube so had t' make one. Arrr! On Step 8 I forgot t' glue on t' lunch lug as I stared gettin' ahead o' myself and proceeded with Steps 9, me bucko, 10, me hearties, & half o' Step 11. Well, blow me down! Step 12 be skipped due t' addition in Step 1. Begad! It was after Step 13 that t' launch lug and ventral fin units were glue on as can be seen in t' photo. Avast! Blimey! Followed Steps 14-19 in order t' finish t' build. T' only Con: be havin' t' copy all t' parts on t' paper first then gluin' t' paper t' new wood makin' sure wood grain matched patterns and then cuttin' out all parts with an Exacto knife and Hobby saw.

Goonyflash belly ready for primmer

Still missin' launch lug and ventral fin mountings

Goonyflash top ready for primmer

Goonyflash almost ready for primmer

Finishing

Paintin' was a snap. Ya scallywag! Shoot entire rocket with Rust-Olium 2x White Primer, me bucko, sand, matey, and hit it again with some more light primer followed by two coats o' Krylon Gloss White. T' only hard part be t' Flat Black in t' pod ends which I did with a small paint brush. Ya scallywag! T' decal around t' main BT had t' be run through Windows Paint t' stretch it in order t' fit around t' BT-60 tube but all others were printed out as is except for a slight color change. Decals were then clear coated and when dry cut out and attached with a glue stick. Well, blow me down! After makin' sure no decals were loose rocket be clear coated with Krylon Clear Gloss t' seal decals.

Goonyflash Glamour shot bottom Goonyflash Glamourshot2

Krylon Clear Coat Applied

Construction Score: 5

Flight

Maiden flight took place on 06-19-10 at a S.M.A.S.H. Ya scallywag! launch on a B6-4 and be picture perfect. T' bad I forgot t' take photos. Rocket streaked off t' pad and be nearly lost in t' clouds.

Recovery

Parachute was just past apogee and rocket made a nice safe decent down field a short ways with no damage.

Flight Rating: 5

Summary

This was another fun kit bash. I hope one day t' build a clone if I can find t' right NC or better yet find an original that I can afford just t' have both in me fleet. Avast, me proud beauty! I wish now that I had bought this one when it was available but this one was released durin' one o' me drop-out times so I didn't notice it.

Overall Rating: 5