Modification - Cloud Hopper {Modification}

Clone Cloud Hopper Clone

Modification - Cloud Hopper {Modification}

Contributed by Steve Lindeman

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2013-11-12
Manufacturer:	Modification
Style:	Goonybird

Brief

Cloud Hopper was me second Goonybird clone that I built by kit bashin' an Estes Baby Bertha and as a result has an 18mm motor mount instead o' t' 13mm that t' original Cloud Hopper had.

Components

Components used for this build were one Estes Baby Berha Kit (1261) and t' plans from http://www.oldrocketplans.com/estes/est0851/est0851.htm. Avast! All parts o' t' Baby Bertha were used except t' decals and wood which I swapped for a spare sheet o' 4"x3/32" balsa t' cut new fins from.

Construction

After first printin' out all t' instructions, shiver me timbers, me hearties, fin patterns, and decals I started by cuttin' t' BT-60 tube from t' Baby Bertha kit t' 6" long. Aye aye! I did this because I didn't know t' correct length o' t' BT for t' Cloud Hopper but read somewhere that all t' original Goonies were approx. Ya scallywag! 8" long so I'm close. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This was t' only Con in t' construction as I dislike havin' t' cut down tubes this short. Avast, me proud beauty! Nay much room for recovery materials. Blimey! T' next step was t' buildin' o' t' 18mm motor mount. Begad! Avast! After construction o' MM it was glued into t' BT and set aside t' dry. Arrr! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! While it set I went about takein' t' fin patterns and traced them on t' spare sheet o' 3/32" balsa that I had on hand. Avast! These were then cut out and sanded and t' rest o' t' build went accordin' t' t' plans for t' Cloud Hopper.

Finishing

Finishin' was accomplished in me standard fashion o' primmin' entire rocket with Rust-Oleum 2x White Primmer, arrr, me hearties, lettin' it dry, sandin' and re-primming. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! This was then followed by two coats o' Rust-Oleum Tan and then set up overnight t' dry. Begad! T' followin' day t' decals were trimmed from t' sheet o' printer paper and attached t' t' rocket with a glue stick. After allowin' glue t' set for an hour I then took a small brush and painted in t' mouth and wiskers. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Once that be dry I glued on t' rabbits teeth. Blimey! After that entire rocket got two coats o' Krylon Clear Gloss t' seal in decals.

Cloud Hopper

Cloud Hopper Clone

Construction Score: 5

Flight

Maiden flight wast on 09/08/07 and was another picture perfect flight. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Fast straight boost on a B6-4. These or B4-4's are perfect motors for these small flyers.

Cloud Hopper on a B6-4

Cloud Hopper Maiden Flight on a B6-4

Recovery

Recovery is handled by t' stock parachute included with t' kit. Begad! And while thar be nay a lot o' room in t' BT for it due t' t' shortness o' t' tube plus t' slightly longer Baby Bertha NC, ya bilge rat, if it's stuffed with enough dog barf it works OK without singein' t' 'chute. Arrr! Begad! Rocket was recovered a ways down range with a broken right stabilizer as a result o' hittin' t' blacktop t' hard . Had it landed in t' grass it may have been ok as subsiquent flights after repairs have been good and bad. Begad! This rocket seems pron t' breakin' t' stabilizer when hittin' ground t' hard that or me spill hole is t' large (2").

Flight Rating: 4

Summary

As with me first Goonybird, me hearties, this kit bash was a pretty easy build and I was rewarded with another beautiful flyer. Blimey! My granddaughter says it's her favorite out o' all t' rockets I've built so far (80+ when I built this one).

Overall Rating: 5