North Coast Rocketry Phantom 4000

North Coast Rocketry - Phantom 4000 {Kit} (K-24) [1985-?]

Contributed by Mike Rangitsch

Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: North Coast Rocketry

[Rocket Pic]T' Phantom be t' first large rocket that I have ever built. T' 4" diameter and 50 inch length are a lot bigger than anythin' else I have ever built. Ya scallywag! I got this rocket back in July when our Hobby Lobby was havin' their 4th o' July sale. Blimey! Ahoy! I picked up t' starter kit (rocket, me bucko, pad and launch controller) for $60. At t' same time I picked up a bunch o' other kits (50% off) t' practice buildin' techniques.  Some o' these turned out really nice (my Sizzler). Blimey! Begad! I made several modifications t' t' Phantom as I built it. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' first thin' I did was t' replace t' 28.5 mm motor mount tube with a true 29 mm tube from Giant Leap Rocketry. Then I replaced t' supplied motor retention system with a set o' Kaplow Klips. Ya scallywag! I needed two styles t' use both t' Aerotech reloads and t' North Coast single use motors. T' get this t' work I had t' switch t' center and aft centerin' ring, me bucko, t' get a nice flat bottom t' t' rocket. Blimey! Begad! I also put t' centerin' rings on one at a time. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! This allowed internal fillets for t' centerin' rings and t' fins. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I replaced t' elastic shock cord with 8 feet o' tubular Keelhaul®©™ from Pratt Hobbies, ya bilge rat, and used a large heat shield (also from Pratt Hobbies) in lieu o' recovery wadding.  I sealed t' plywood fins with finishin' epoxy (it give a nice smooth surface) and filleted overall with 30 minute epoxy. Well, blow me down! I also used t' finishin' epoxy on t' nose cone t' get rid o' t' weld seam. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I painted it nearly stock, arrr, with a white body and orange fins and nose. Aye aye! It is an impressive rocket sittin' on t' pad. Ya scallywag! T' listed weight for t' Phantom is 25 ounces. Avast, me proud beauty! I'm nay sure what mine weighs now, but it must be a bit heavier. Arrr! I give t' kit a 4 (the nose cone weld was huge, t' retention system needs work) and construction also a 4, mainly because even with practice I just wasn't ready t' build it.  It still looks nice.

[Rocket Pic][Rocket Pic]T' whole reason t' replace t' motor tube was t' allow Aerotech reloads as t' motors. Arrr! T' first launch be on an F52-5 at t' Tripoli Louisiana Gumbo Launch. Blimey! An F is a lot more than t' normal A's and B's t' which I'm used. T' rocket really zooms off t' pad. Blimey! Perfect launch, ya bilge rat, boost and deployment o' t' 36" nylon parachute. We recovered t' rocket about 100' from t' pad. Blimey! I also launched with a North Coast F62-4 and an Aerotech G64-4 RMS, all recovered quite close t' t' pad.  For now that's all I have launched. Avast! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! It is possible t' launch this one in town, arrr, since t' boost is nay all that high on an F. Begad! I rate t' flight a 5, matey, but then, it's me first big rocket. It wasn't nearly as impressive as t' H180's that were launched right after mine. I think I could use a smaller H in this one with no problem. Blimey! Blimey! Maybe a Level 1 launch later?

I'd probably give t' whole thin' a 4+ rating.Still a nice rocket. 

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  • North Coast Rocketry Phantom 4000 By Dave Reynolds

    The Phantom 4000 is one of the kits that North Coast Rocketry has had out for years. But, now that Estes has taken over North Coast Rocketry, the Phantom 4000 is now only available in this starter set. However, there have been many improvements made on the kit. One is the thick plastic centering rings. They are slotted so that the fins lock into them, adding strength to the fins and good ...

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