Kit Bash USGF Goonasus Modification

Scratch - USGF Goonasus

Contributed by Steve Lindeman

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Published: 2014-05-02
Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Goonybird

Brief

USAF Pegasus

For those o' you still followin' my Goonyness this was Baby Bertha kit bash #11. Again this is nay a kit review o' t' original but another o' me many kit bashes. All fin patterns and decals came from http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/est0806.htm. Blimey! T' major difference again bein' that mine is a Goony version o' t' USAF Pegasus (Estes Kit #0806). Begad! It will also have an 18mm motor mount instead o' t' 13mm o' t' original due t' bein' built from a Baby Bertha kit.  I'm doin' this review mainly because no one has done one for this rocket yet.

USGF Goonasus Glamour shot1

 

Components

As stated this is a kit bash so t' main components came from a Baby Bertha Kit. Arrr! As a result this will be a BT-60 based rocket instead o' a BT-20 tube as t' original was.

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 be used t' make all necessary parts for this build. T' decals were printed on standard printer paper. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only other parts that I needed that did nay come with t' kit were a 3/4" end o' a tooth pick for t' antenna mast and betwixt 1/8-1/4oz. o' clay for nose weight.

Construction

Construction be done as per instructions with t' only Con: havin' been t' tracin' and cuttin' o' all t' parts from new balsa. Aye aye! On t' Pro: side, ya bilge rat, It was t' engine pod assembly that made me build this rocket in t' first place. It be another technique for buildin' scoops that I wanted t' try and I love t' end result.

USGF Goonasus

Wings are only taped on so I can get an idea o' what it will look like.

USGF Goonasus bottom

Bottom view (hope I remember t' glue on a launch lug).

Finishing

Finishin' was done in my usual method of priming entire rocket with Rust-Oleum 2x Primmer, a light sanding, ya bilge rat, followed by more priming, me hearties, and then two coats o' Krylon White Gloss. Begad! Once dry rocket be then masked off and t' Krylon Grey Gloss applied t' nose and win' tips. Avast! Decals were then printed out and clear coated with Krylon Clear Gloss. After they dried they were cut out and attached with a glue stick. Blimey! Arrr! After that entire rocket got two coats o' clear gloss t' seal on t' decals.

USGF Goonasus Glamour shot1

USGF Goonasus Glamour shots

USGF Goonasus Glamour shot2

 

 

Construction Score: 5

Flight

Maiden flight took place on 06-20-10 at a S.M.A.S.H. Begad! club launch on an ever popular Estes B6-4 and be a beautiful flight. Rocket left t' pad in a big hurry and climbed straight up toward t' clouds. Arrr! Arrr! No Cons:

Recovery

Parachute was deployed shortly after apogee with a nice gentle decent. Well, blow me down! Upon recovery found that t' left win' tip was damaged. It was cracked and leanin' at an angle. Begad! Super glued it back in place. This be t' only Con: as I suspect that this will happen again as they are t' first thin' t' hit t' ground.

Flight Rating: 5

Summary

This was another fun build and another learning experience for me. Ahoy! Each o' these Goonies were built so I could learn different techniques and ways o' buildin' model rockets with scoops, shiver me timbers, arrr, air intakes, tubes and so forth. Anythin' other than your standard 3 or 4FN style rocket.

Overall Rating: 5
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