Scratch - Interceptor E (29mm) {Scratch}

Estes Interceptor Modification

Scratch - Interceptor E (29mm) {Scratch}

Contributed by Lester Anderson

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2013-06-23
Manufacturer:	Scratch

Brief

An upscale o' t' classic Interceptor (kit K-50 or 1250 dependin' on era o' manufacture). Aye aye! Upscaled t' a 2 inch body tube and more plastic details. Arrr!

Components

Mostly a stock build. Aye aye! Begad! I did modify all t' fins by "glassing" t' fins with paper and epoxy. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I replaced t' 24mm motor tube with a 29mm one for better power due t' t' heavier fins.

Construction

T' pre-cut fin slots on t' lower body tube really made this easier t' position t' fins. Begad! How-ever, this would also make clonin' this bird much harder. Avast, me proud beauty!

Finishing

T' large size made even paint application a little difficult for me. Begad! Avast! I accidently dropped t' poor rocket betwixt primer and topcoat application, arrr, crimplin' t' poor upper body tube. A replacement from Semroc was obtained for repairs, and finishin' started over. Filletin' t' fins be actually easier than normal for me because o' t' larger gaps betwixt t' fins.

Flight

First flight occured on June 9, at t' flight field o' t' Tulsa Rocketry club (http://tulsarocketry.org/). Ya scallywag! Blimey! I attempted flight on a AeroTech E30-4, shiver me timbers, and she left t' pad perfectly on t' first attempt. Arrr! Straight up with flames out t' tail.

Recovery

I modified t' airframe for an attempted anti-zipper design, ya bilge rat, by havin' t' entire upper body tube come off with t' nose cone. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Durin' consturction, ya bilge rat, me bucko, matey, I noticed a couple o' times that t' recovery harness I made kept gettin' tangeled up with t' parachute, so on launch day I purchased a foam ball from WalMart t' separate t' parachute from t' tangly bits further up t' body tube. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Unfortunately, me bucko, this last second mod was shoved in so tightly that it caused t' parachute t' get stuck also. A model this big was never ment t' use tumble recovery, because t' included 30 inch nylon parachute never left t' upper body. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This is wholy me error, matey, shiver me timbers, arrr, but now t' poor rocket has a serious crack/tear in t' lower body where t' "strakes" fins landed first, and t' upper body is torn completely around t' center at a spiral.

Summary

I had a exceptional time buildin' this kit. Begad! I would expect any fan o' scifi lookin' rockets t' enjoy havin' it. Aye aye! I don't fault Estes in any way for me flight failure.

Estes Interceptor Modification