Modification - GoonAries SST {Modification}

Kit Bash GoonAries SST Modification

Modification - GoonAries SST {Modification}

Contributed by Steve Lindeman

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2014-04-28
Manufacturer:	Modification
Style:	Goonybird

Brief

Here I go again. For those o' you that have followed my Goonyness this was Baby Bertha kit bash #10. Again this is nay a kit review o' t' original Estes Aries SST (Kit #1927) [1983-1984].

It is another o' me many kit bashes. Ahoy! Blimey! All fin patterns and decals came from http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/est1927.htm. Arrr! Blimey! T' major difference bein' that mine is a Goony version o' t' Aries SST and as such is built with a BT-60 tube instead o' a BT-50 tube that was used in t' original.

Goonaries SST

I'm only doin' this review as no one has written one for this little beauty from t' past.

Components

As stated this is a kit bash so t' main components are as follows.

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

From My Stock Pile:

2- Sheets Printer Paper (for printin' out new decals and coverin' balsa)
1- Cereal Box Panal (for makin' t' engine shrouds)

Decals from the Baby Bertha were discarded and balsa wood was gone over with HobbyLite filler t' fill in all laser cuts. After a light sandin' t' smooth things out all balsa be sprayed with 3M Spray Adhesive and covered with white printer paper. Avast, me proud beauty! New patterns were then drawn for all parts on t' wood and cut out usin' an Exacto knife and hobby saw.

Construction

Construction was simple and straight forward. Wood be cut and glued together per instructions. Step 7 be t' first Con: as I had t' re-cut all t' balsa wood parts. Ahoy! Steps 10 and 11 were t' next Con: as I had t' use a cereal box t' make t' engine shrouds. Aye aye! From thar I followed t' plans again until Step 15 where t' other modification was made. Ahoy! This be Con: #3. Blimey! T' NC for this build is from t' Baby Bertha so two canards had t' be cut from left over balsa and attached t' t' NC. This be done by cuttin' a notch in t' center o' each canard root edge and gluin' in a 1/2" end length o' tooth pick before coverin' with paper. Blimey! I then drilled two holes o' t' same size as t' tooth picks on opposite sides o' each other on t' NC for attachment points. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Canards were then attached with super glue. Avast! This was done in order t' help hold t' canards on straight and for strength. Arrr! I also took a long thin stick with a drop o' super glue on t' end o' it and applied it t' t' insides o' NC where t' tooth picks came through t' holes t' help anchor them. On t' Pro: side, me hearties, arrr, Step 17 was simpler due t' t' wood bein' paper covered. Only had t' prime, arrr, sand and paint for a flawless finish.

Ready for main paint job

Finishing

Finishin' be done in t' standard fashion o' primin' entire rocket with Rust-Oleum 2x Primer, a light sanding, me hearties, and then applyin' two coats o' Krylon Gloss White. Decals were then printed out on standard printer paper and clear coated. Begad! Once dry they were cut out and attached with a glue stick. Arrr! After allowin' them t' cure a bit and makin' sure none were lose rocket was clear coated with Krylon Clear Gloss to seal decals on.

GoonAries SST Top View GoonAries SST Bottom View

Top & Bottom Views

GoonAries SST Glamour Shot 1

GoonAries SST Glamour Shots

GoonAries SST Glamour Shot 2

Construction Score: 5

Flight

Maiden flight took place on 06-19-10 at a S.M.A.S.H. Avast, me proud beauty! club regional meet on a B6-4 and was picture perfect. Aye aye! T' bad I forgot t' take photos. Avast, me proud beauty! This be a contest weekend and I was busy helpin' out with timers. Ya scallywag! I do remember that t' rocket jumped off t' pad and weather cocked slightly into t' wind as it climbed nice and high with parachute bein' deployed just after it nosed over.

Recovery

Parachute deployment was just about right and rocket descended down range a medium distance at what appeared t' be a reasonable speed. Aye aye! Ahoy! Upon recovery found rocket had suffered slight damage t' left rudder (broken off). Begad! Blimey! Will be repaired and flown again. Begad! I fear this may be a recurrin' problem though with this rocket as they stick out a ways from t' end o' t' wings are t' first thin' t' hit t' ground so will see.

Flight Rating: 4

Summary

Another fun kit bash and a gem o' a flyer. Begad! Sure t' draw attention at any launch because o' it's uniqueness.

Overall Rating: 5

Follow - up

Second flight was with t' Jackson club down at M.I.S. on another B6-4 with t' same basic results. Blimey! Avast! Right side rudders broken off this time but may be due t' hard impact.

On the pad Recovery