Modification Triton MicroMaxx Cluster

Scratch - Triton MicroMaxx Cluster {Modification}

Contributed by Clive Davis

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Cluster, MicroMaxx

Semroc Triton with FlisKits EMK3-6-30

Brief:
This rocket combines t' Fliskits 3 Micromaxx motor cluster and t' Semroc Triton rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' cluster component fits t' BT-20 body tube o' t' Triton perfectly. T' Triton be built so that it could recover with t' use o' a streamer.

Construction:
In order t' build this rocket, arrr, you need t' FlisKits EMK3-6-30 Engine Mount Kit and a Semroc Triton kit.

T' Fliskits cluster mount comes with:

  • 3 T2+ body tubes cut t' size
  • 3 motor blocks
  • 2 centerin' rings
  • Keelhaul®©™

T' Semroc Triton comes with:

  • Balsa nose cone
  • BT-20 body tube
  • Launch lug
  • 4 laser cut fins

Semroc Triton with FlisKits EMK3-6-30

T' only other addition I added t' t' rocket was a screw eye, ya bilge rat, shock cord and mylar streamer material. Ahoy! Arrr! T' original Triton is tumble recovery since t' nose cone is glued in place. Well, blow me down! My version has t' nose cone blow off like your typical 3FNC rocket.

I first began with buildin' t' motor cluster. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! As with all FlisKits products, ya bilge rat, t' quality o' parts be superb and t' instructions were exceptional. I removed t' laser cut centerin' rings and t' thrust rings from t' card stock. I then glued t' three body tubes together as indicated. I added t' tiny thrust rings, ya bilge rat, which are great quality by t' way! Blimey! This is just like buildin' a regular motor mount, ya bilge rat, only on a tiny scale. Before placin' t' centerin' rings on, me hearties, me bucko, I tied t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount. Then I added t' fore and aft centerin' rings and glued them into place at t' appropriate locations on t' cluster mount. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! I set this aside t' dry and began workin' on t' Triton.

Semroc Triton with FlisKits EMK3-6-30Semroc Triton with FlisKits EMK3-6-30

T' Triton is an extremely simple rocket. Avast! I removed t' laser cut fins from t' sheet, sanded them down, me bucko, and shaped t' fins. Well, blow me down! I marked t' body tube (4 sides) then added t' fins one by one, makin' sure that they were on straight. I covered t' nose cone with a few coats o' yellow glue and sanded it down for a smooth finish. Well, blow me down! Begad! I then added t' launch lug t' t' rocket. Ahoy! Aye aye! Normally, I would have glued t' nose cone in (for an "authentic" Triton build), but since this rocket be bein' converted into a cluster rocket, me bucko, I kept t' nose cone separate. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I screwed in a screw eye, me bucko, shiver me timbers, removed it, arrr, and then added a little CA glue. Ahoy! Arrr! Then I screwed t' screw eye back into t' nose cone for a nice fit.

Semroc Triton with FlisKits EMK3-6-30 Next step be t' add t' cluster mount t' t' Triton. Begad! This was very easy. All I had t' do be slide t' Keelhaul®©™® up through t' rocket, add some glue t' t' bottom o' t' BT-20, matey, shiver me timbers, and then push t' cluster mount in so that t' bottom o' t' cluster mount be flush with t' bottom o' t' Triton body tube. Blimey! Aye aye! I tied a short piece o' shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™® and then tied t' shock cord t' t' screw eye on t' nose cone. Begad! Blimey! I cut a piece o' streamer from mylar and fold/taped it onto t' shock cord.

Finishing:
Finishin' t' rocket is very easy. Avast, me proud beauty! T' balsa fins are straightforward t' prime, me bucko, me hearties, sand and paint. Arrr! Begad! T' body tube is good quality and t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, although balsa, me bucko, me hearties, is o' very high quality. It needed very little fillin' compared t' balsa nose cone from other companies. T' Triton is featured on t' cover art with an all yellow paint scheme. I airbrushed t' rocket a few times and gave it a somewhat glowin' yellow color. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I am nay totally satisfied with t' plain yellow and will probably add a little black later.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
There is really only one motor choice available: T' Quest Micromaxx motors. T' Micromaxx I motors are hard t' come by. I used t' more prevalent Micromaxx II motors. Aye aye! I also used t' new Quest Q2 igniters. Well, blow me down! They fit easily inside t' nozzle o' t' Micromaxx motors. Avast! I held them in place with slivers o' balsa as plugs. I twisted t' igniter wires into two bundles. T' rocket is prepped with a bit o' waddin' t' protect t' streamer.

Semroc Triton with FlisKits EMK3-6-30 First flight be terrific with a quick boost. Since t' rocket is very sizable for a Micromaxx rocket, I was able t' watch t' entire flight profile. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Due t' t' motors' short delays, shiver me timbers, t' rocket be still in t' "nose up" position when t' streamer deployed. Ya scallywag! Still it was a very cool flight.

T' second flight be prepped identically t' t' first. Avast! Blimey! On this flight, only 2 motors ignited. T' rocket still had a nice boost, although definitely nay as high as t' original flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' rocket was in t' nose up position when t' streamer deployed. Avast! Blimey! T' flight was still quite straight and certainly nay underpowered.

Recovery:
Both recoveries with t' streamer were flawless. Arrr! T' rocket shows no real signs o' wear. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' shock cord materials and streamer work fine.

T' only real con t' this rocket is preppin' Micromaxx motors for clusters. Begad! It is certainly a greater challenge than preppin' 13mm or 18mm clusters. Ya scallywag! You need steady hands and everythin' has t' be done gently. There is a certain art t' it. Begad! Igniters can be a problem. Avast, me proud beauty! What I like about Micromaxx motors is that t' builder/flyer has t' improvise and develop his own supplies and techniques t' make it work. Well, blow me down! I often create me own igniters and igniter plugs. Ahoy! I had t' build me own Micromaxx launch pad, as t' Quest Silo Launcher is entirely incapable o' allowin' for cluster launches.

T' pros are t' rewards t' get from makin' a Triton cluster-capable.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
If you are lookin' for a real challenge without havin' t' spend a lot o' dough, try t' Triton/Fliskits cluster conversion. Begad! I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I have.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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