Hi-Snitch-Jax Modification

Modification - Hi-Snitch-Jax

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Manufacturer: Modification

(Scratch) Hi-Snitch-JaxBrief:
A kit bash betwixt two Estes kits: A RTF Snitch and a Hijax kit. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! T' Snitch will be t' booster and t' Hijax, t' sustainer.

Modifications:
Booster build: T' snitch makes an excellent booster, arrr, shiver me timbers, very stable, ya bilge rat, and will recover well. Well, blow me down! T' adapt it t' a booster, arrr, t' top "engine block" part o' t' snitch was removed with pliers and then sanded down. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! This will allow t' motor from t' sustainer t' be taped t' t' booster.

To connect t' sustainer and booster sections together, t' coupler from t' Hijax kit was altered. Ya scallywag! Begad! Top and bottom were cut off and then three small sections were removed from one side so that t' coupler could be securely fixed t' t' top o' t' snitch. Ahoy! T' whole section be covered with glue and left t' dry.

Sustainer build: T' sustainer was built nearly stock. Avast! Aye aye! T' plastic mount was altered; t' aft part was cut away so that t' coupler from t' snitch would sit smoothly into t' base o' t' sustainer. Begad! T' engine hook was left out. Begad! T' mount was then glued into t' body tube and t' fins were glued into place--they are through t' wall type.

(Scratch) Hi-Snitch-Jax With t' coupler already used, me bucko, arrr, t' second body tube be discarded.

T' shock cord was added, which in t' usual Estes fashion is too short. Avast! T' shock cord be then attached t' t' nose cone, and then t' parachute added.

Construction:
T' kits consists of:

  • T' Snitch
  • launch lug parts
  • 12 inch parachute
  • 1 2ft length elastic shock cord
  • Nose cone
  • 2 silvered body tubes
  • Engine mount tube
  • Engine hook
  • Plastic fins
  • Internal plastic mount for motor tube
  • Decal sheet

To build t' kit I used:

  • CA gel glue
  • Model knife
  • Sand paper
  • White PVA glue
  • Pliers
  • Junior hack saw
(Scratch) Hi-Snitch-Jax(Scratch) Hi-Snitch-Jax
(Scratch) Hi-Snitch-Jax(Scratch) Hi-Snitch-Jax

Flight and Recovery:
First flight be on a B6-0 booster and an A8-5 sustainer. Avast, me proud beauty! As expected, me bucko, a stable straight boost with a clean separation at a low altitude. Ya scallywag! T' sustainer went reasonable high on t' A with t' ejection bein' just after apogee. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' 12in parachute gave a slow recovery. A streamer would be more appropriate.

Second flight was with a C booster and a B6-6 in t' sustainer, me bucko, much higher with a long walk for me.

Third flight be with C6s for both motors. Arrr! This time t' booster stayed with t' sustainer, me bucko, t' rocket continued t' rise, and then turned and be on t' ground by t' time t' nosecone popped. Ahoy! Blimey! T' snitch motor mount was well and truly burnt out.

On inspection, this is because I left t' aft motor retainer off t' snitch. So instead o' t' motor poppin' off with t' snitch, t' motor popped off through t' snitch. Avast, me proud beauty! Here's an important lesson about prep flight checks!

I'll cut out t' remains o' t' Snitch's mount and replace it with a body tube.

Summary:
Apart from me mistakes, matey, me hearties, it's nay a bad kit bash with a good chance o' gettin' both bits back undamaged.

Related Products

comment Post a Comment