Modification - Cherokee D (Cloned from a CC Express Kit) {Modification}

Modification Cherokee D (Cloned from a CC Express Kit) Modification

Modification - Cherokee D (Cloned from a CC Express Kit) {Modification}

Contributed by Ronald West

Construction Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2011-04-01
Manufacturer:	Modification

Brief

My clone o' t' very popular Este's K-47 Cherokee-D that was available from 1971 until 1983. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Its 3FNC design and D power really packs a wollop off t' launch pad. Aye aye! Avast! My review is very similar t' t' other Cherokee-D with t' exception I used a E engine hook t' allow either a E or with a spacer, a D engine.

Components

I constructed this kit from t' CC Express that is still readily available. Aye aye! Most o' t' parts from t' kit are used.

Parts list from kit:

BT-55 body tube 18.25"
NC 55 nose cone
Main engine mount tube
Green centerin' rings AR-5055
Green engine block AR-2050

Additional parts required t' complete are:

E engine hook
Decals from Excelsior rocketry
1/8 balsa wood stock
46" 1/8 braided eleastic shock cord.
96" 1.75" wide crepe paper streamer material

Construction

This was a fairly straight-forward build with no glitches or "gotchas".

I printed t' fins from plans provided on JIMZ's web site and carefully cut t' fins from t' 1/8 balsa stock from t' local Hobby Lobby.

I used t' longer main engine tube in t' CC Express kit and, arrr, by usin' t' supplied D engine case, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I followed t' directions in t' kit and made a mark 3/8 inch from t' end and inserted that into t' engine mount tube up t' t' mark. I then placed me Estes E engine hook that i had in me parts box along side t' tube matchin' t' end with t' end o' t' engine casin' and made a small pencil mark on t' engine tube where i would be makin' t' 1/8" cut t' insert t' engine hook.

I wrapped three turns o' maskin' tape around t' center o' t' engine tube holdin' down t' engine hook. Begad! Then I glued on t' AR-5055 green centerin' rings - first one 1/4 " from t' front o' t' tube. For the second, me bucko, I made a cut into t' rin' t' allow t' engine hook more flexibility on t' nozzle side o' t' mount. Avast! Arrr! I mounted that rin' even with t' aft o' t' engine tube. When all was dry i sanded t' green rings t' fit smoothly into t' main body tube and glued t' engine mount in place leavin' t' centerin' rin' even with t' body tube.

I cut t' launch lug from t' kit in half and glued each piece on opposite ends o' t' tube. Avast! Ahoy! I used Titebond II wood glue in all its construction. Well, matey, blow me down! I mixed up in small batches of five-minute epoxy mixed with micro balloons t' make a fillet along t' fin roots t' add strenght and make for a smooth fillet.

Instead o' t' Estes rubber shock cord, I chose 1/8" braided elastic found at me local Walmart measured about twice t' length o' t' rocket (about 46") and mounted it usin' t' Estes tri-fold method.

Finishing

After t' fin fillets were dry I used Elmer's wood filler and a single-edge razor t' squee-gee on t' filler. Begad! Once dry, shiver me timbers, I used 320 grit sandpaper t' sand smooth and 400 paper over t' body tube. Avast! Then I applied a white primer. I used Rustoleum primer and gloss white then gloss red for t' nose. Arrr! Arrr! Finally I appleied t' decals and I was done!

T' original Estes instructions call for a 18" parachute. Don't do that...

I have lost many awesome D-powered birds that literally floated away on 18" chutes. Avast! Down here in coastal south Texas it's very windy. Ahoy! So instead o' a chute I chose to make a 96-inch long streamer usin' 1.75" wide bright orange crepe paper. Begad! Simply take t' streamer, fold in half, ya bilge rat, and, me bucko, usin' maskin' tape, me hearties, me hearties, place t' center o' t' streamer about 4 inches from t' nose cone.

Construction Score: 5

Flight

As o' this writin' I haven't flown it yet. Aye aye! Aye aye! By usin' t' E engine hook I now have t' option o' either a E9 or, shiver me timbers, with a spacer, a C11 or D12 engine. This thin' should be a real beast on a E9 engine. With t' windy conditions down here on t' coast, I chose t' use a streamer recovery instead o' a 'chute.

Recovery

As mentioned before, unless you don't plan o' gettin' your rocket back, don't use an 18" parachute. Ahoy! You can either use t' 12" chute that came with t' CC Express kit or you can make a streamer for it.

Flight Rating: unrated

Summary

I think everyone should try t' clone this rocket. Avast! It's easy t' build usin' t' now available CC Express. It's a heck o' a performer. Avast! I just hope I get mine back if I decide t' use a E9 engine!

Overall Rating: 5