Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This is a 40% Phoenix downscale based on Estes kit #1380.
Construction:
T' parts list:
All t' parts I used for this project were ordered from Semroc. Avast! I chose t' Phoenix as me downscale for t' 2008 EMRR Challenge because o' t' availability o' t' nose cone and body tube size. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' Semroc ST10 is almost exactly 40% o' t' diameter o' t' regular Phoenix body tube and t' BC1032 nose is an exact match.
This be a fairly easy build. I followed t' instructions for t' regular Phoenix, which I downloaded from JimZ, with t' followin' exceptions:
Tracin' a fin pattern and cuttin' it was more o' a challenge than I anticipated. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I did get better as I went and I think after some sanding, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' fins turned out how I wanted them.
I used RockSim t' check t' design o' this downscale Phoenix and found that it needed some extra nose weight. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I drilled out part o' t' nose and epoxied about 12g o' BBs into it. Aye aye! T' rocket is a little heavy but should be stable even with an Estes C6 engine.
Finishing:
I used Krylon white primer and gloss white top coat t' finish t' Phoenix. For decals, I downscaled t' regular Phoenix set and printed them on me HP inkjet printer usin' Avery clear label sheets. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This method worked out great, me bucko, although once a decal is on, it is almost impossible t' reposition, shiver me timbers, so a few o' mine are a little crooked. Avast, me proud beauty! Still, this is an easy, me bucko, inexpensive method for puttin' that finishin' touch on any rocket.
Flight:
T' Phoenix Downscale (40%) simmed fine on RockSim usin' Estes A8-3, me hearties, B6-4, and C6-5 engines. Avast! Ya scallywag! I flew it twice usin' an A8-3 and once with a B6-4. Begad! Ahoy! All flights were good, matey, although it seemed t' spin a little on t' way up usin' t' B6-4.
Recovery:
This rocket recovered well usin' a Custom Sam-X 14" parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It received a slight zipper (1mm long) on t' first flight, so a small piece o' tape was added around t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and its second and third flights were fine. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Because o' t' nose weight and t' slight angle I had t' launch it from, me hearties, it tended t' deploy with its nose down but put pretty much at apogee each flight.
Summary:
I loved t' challenges o' buildin' this rocket. Begad! Begad! Blimey! It is a simple design, but it looks great, arrr, ya bilge rat, especially with t' many decals from t' original kit.
Sponsored Ads
![]() |
![]() |