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. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' cluster component fits t' BT-20 body tube o' t' Triton perfectly. Ahoy! 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 be a screw eye, ya bilge rat, arrr, shock cord and mylar streamer material. Well, blow me down! T' original Triton is tumble recovery since t' nose cone is glued in place. Begad! My version has t' nose cone blow off like your typical 3FNC rocket.

I first began with buildin' t' motor cluster. As with all FlisKits products, me hearties, 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I then glued t' three body tubes together as indicated. I added t' tiny thrust rings, me bucko, which are great quality by t' way! Blimey! This is just like buildin' a regular motor mount, shiver me timbers, only on a tiny scale. Ahoy! Before placin' t' centerin' rings on, I tied t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount. Avast! Then I added t' fore and aft centerin' rings and glued them into place at t' appropriate locations on t' cluster mount. Arrr! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! 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. I removed t' laser cut fins from t' sheet, sanded them down, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and shaped t' fins. I marked t' body tube (4 sides) then added t' fins one by one, makin' sure that they were on straight. Begad! I covered t' nose cone with a few coats o' yellow glue and sanded it down for a smooth finish. Arrr! I then added t' launch lug t' t' rocket. 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, I kept t' nose cone separate. Well, blow me down! Avast! I screwed in a screw eye, removed it, and then added a little CA glue. Blimey! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! This was very easy. Well, blow me down! All I had t' do was slide t' Keelhaul®©™® up through t' rocket, add some glue t' t' bottom o' t' BT-20, matey, and then push t' cluster mount in so that t' bottom o' t' cluster mount was flush with t' bottom o' t' Triton body tube. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Ahoy! I cut a piece o' streamer from mylar and fold/taped it onto t' shock cord.

Finishing:
Finishin' t' rocket is very easy. T' balsa fins are straightforward t' prime, shiver me timbers, me hearties, sand and paint. Blimey! T' body tube is good quality and t' nose cone, shiver me timbers, although balsa, is o' very high quality. Arrr! Begad! It needed very little fillin' compared t' balsa nose cone from other companies. Arrr! 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. Aye aye! 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. Begad! Well, blow me down! I also used t' new Quest Q2 igniters. Begad! They fit easily inside t' nozzle o' t' Micromaxx motors. I held them in place with slivers o' balsa as plugs. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I twisted t' igniter wires into two bundles. Ya scallywag! T' rocket is prepped with a bit o' waddin' t' protect t' streamer.

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

T' second flight was prepped identically t' t' first. On this flight, matey, ya bilge rat, me hearties, only 2 motors ignited. Blimey! T' rocket still had a nice boost, although definitely nay as high as t' original flight. Begad! T' rocket was in t' nose up position when t' streamer deployed. 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. Ya scallywag! T' shock cord materials and streamer work fine.

T' only real con t' this rocket is preppin' Micromaxx motors for clusters. It is certainly a greater challenge than preppin' 13mm or 18mm clusters. Arrr! You need steady hands and everythin' has t' be done gently. Avast! There is a certain art t' it. Igniters can be a problem. 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. Ahoy! Aye aye! I often create me own igniters and igniter plugs. 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. I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I have.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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