Clone Zoom Broom Clone

Scratch - Zoom Broom from Baby Bertha {Scratch}

Contributed by Steve Lindeman

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Published: 2014-01-07
Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Goonybird

Brief

Zoom Broom was t' 1st o' me Goonybird clones modified for 18mm motors as a result o' bein' kit bashed from a Baby Bertha.

Components

Startin' with a Baby Bertha kit (EST 1261) that I purchaced at me local Hobby Lobby, me hearties, all components except t' balsa wood and decals were used t' make this build. Ahoy! While at hobby Lobby I also purchaced a 3/32"x4"x36" sheet o' balsa for cuttin' t' new fins for t' Zoom Broom and t' next three Goonies that I had planed t' build (Cloud Hopper, Missle Toe, matey, and Sky Shriek in that order). 

Construction

Before t' actuall construction began I went to http://www.oldrocketplans.com/estes/est0853/est0853.htm and download t' plans. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I then printed out t' decals on plain printer paper so I could get an idea on how long t' BT-60 tube was supposed t' be. Arrr! Blimey! I read somewhere that all t' goonies were approx. Avast! Blimey! 8" long so after measurin' t' NC I cut t' BT-60 tube down t' 5 1/2". Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I then checked t' decals against t' BT and t' picture in t' plans and they looked about right. Begad! Blimey! From thar I then used t' fin patterens t' cut new fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! After they were cut out and paper coated I then followed t' Estes plans for t' Zoom Broom with t' exception o' t' MM which be replaced with t' 18mm Baby Bertha mount.

Finishing

Finishin' was done with entire rocket gettin' two coates o' Rust-0leum 2x white primmer with sandin' betwixt coats. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! NC be then removed and given two coats o' Krylon Gloss Red while t' rest o' t' rocket got two coats o' Krylon Gloss White. Avast, me proud beauty! Decal sheet was then sprayed with two coats o' Krylon Clear and everthin' was then left t' air dry overnight. Begad! T' followin' day all decals were trimmed from paper and glued on with a glue stick. Well, blow me down! After allowin' glue t' set for a couple o' hours entire rocket got two more coats o' Dupli-Color Clear EFFEX and then set outside t' dry.

Zoom Broom Glamour Shot

Construction Score: 5

Flight

Maiden flight was on 09/09/2007 at a J.M.R.C. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! club launch at M.I.S.(Michigan International Speedway for those o' you who are nay from Michigan) on a B6-4 and was text book perfect. Aye aye! Remainin' flights have been on B6-4's or B4-4's. Arrr! Haven't had t' nerve t' try it on a C6-7 as it gets high enough on t' B's.

 Zoom Broom on a B6-4

Maiden Flight on a B6-4. Man it's fast off t' pad!

Recovery

While thar be nay a lot o' room for a paracute and dog barf in this little flier it can be done. Ya scallywag! Begad! Recovery is accomplished by standard Estes parachute that comes with t' Baby Bertha kit.

Flight Rating: 5

Summary

Pros: Its a Goony Bird. Avast, me proud beauty! Most people either love 'em or hate 'em. Ya scallywag! Me, arrr, I got bit bad and forsaw a whole fleet o' different Goonies.

Cons: Its a Goony Bird.

Overall Rating: 5
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