Clone - Python Fighter {Scratch}

Centuri Python Fighter

Clone - Python Fighter {Scratch}

Contributed by Bill Eichelberger

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2014-03-29
Manufacturer:	Clone

Brief

T' Python Fighter be one o' a handful o' kits produced under t' Centuri name usin' existin' Estes parts, me hearties, me hearties, kind o' a way t' familiarize loyal Centuri fans with Estes kits before t' Centuri line be dropped for good in t' comin' years. Only produced from 1981 t' 1983, matey, t' Python Fighter used t' same cockpit nose cone as t' Estes kits t' Manta Bomber and Attack Craft Orion. I won three o' t' cones in an Ebay auction lot and immediately set out t' build t' trio. T' Attack Craft Orion and Manta Bomber were easy, as both plans already existed online, t' Attack Craft Orion at YORP and t' Manta Bomber at JimZ. For a long time these plans didn't exist on any o' t' plan sites, but Arley Davis finally scanned them for posterity, for which we owe him a debt o' thanks.

Components

11" BT-50P main body tube
PNC-50 nose cone
2.75" 18mm motor mount tube
3/32" balsa fin stock
medium snap swivel
12" parachute
24" Keelhaul®©™ shock cord
24" sewin' elastic shock cord 1/8"
launch lug

Construction

While pretty much a 3fnc project, me bucko, t' unique fin structure o' t' python Fighter makes t' build anythin' but typical. While cool t' look at, shiver me timbers, t' completed wingtip fins are fragile and quite prone t' breakage if me version is anythin' o' an example. None o' t' construction is difficult in any way, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but anyone with a few flights under their belt will see t' problem with havin' the shield shaped wingtip fins bein' t' first thin' t' hit t' ground at landing.

Finishing

T' usual suspects o' thinned Elmers Fill & Finish, me bucko, Valspar primer and copious sandin' were t' ingredients involved in gettin' t' body tube prepped for painting. Paintin' itself is a breeze as t' Python Fighter is one o' those rare birds that sports a single color paint job in t' catalog photo. I stuck with me tried and true Valspar paints and used Gloss Gull Grey. I was a little concerned about t' dull look t' t' finished bird, arrr, but t' decals came t' t' rescue. Decals were bought from Gordon at Excelsior, matey, and supply all o' t' needed detail and color. They were sprayed with three light coats o' Testors Decal Bonder and probably applied better than t' originals did.

Construction Score: 3

Flight

First flight was on a Quest C6-5 that I'd had rollin' around me engine tote for a while. T' flight path was odd in that it corkscrewed with t' wind instead o' into it like every other rocket I flew on t' day. Ejection occurred late and t' rocket began racin' across t' field with t' wind, ya bilge rat, hittin' hard and flippin' through t' air, me bucko, but nay enough t' concern me. When I reached t' landing/crash site, arrr, I was surprised t' find that I had lost one fin and part o' another. T' one that had been ripped off lay in t' corn, matey, arrr, a clean break that should fix simply enough, but t' other had t' wingtip fin snapped in half, me hearties, which be goin' t' be a bit more difficult t' fix properly.

I flew it again on me home field, this time on a tamer A8-3 WITH a parachute. T' flight was perfect from start t' finish, toppin' out at 150' or so, me bucko, arrr, which was what I was hopin' for. Lots o' previously broken parts on this bird, ya bilge rat, so I wanted t' see if it could withstand t' shock o' ejection and landing. I be relieved t' see nothin' floatin' down at ejection and t' landin' on t' 12" chute looked soft and obviously was. No damage at all. Next time I'll tempt fate a bit more with a B6-4. I think t' rocket is draggy enough t' keep from overflyin' t' field.

Recovery

This kit was originally sold as a streamer bird, so I decided t' try it with a streamer on t' first flight. Big mistake. T' wingtip fins are set up in a way that makes it very likely that they'll have a short life anyway. They didn't need t' help o' a streamer landing. I should have known better. T' 12" parachute with a reef hole was t' way t' go, as t' second flight can attest to.

Flight Rating: 2

Summary

Pros: Centuri. Anytime you can clone a Centuri bird is a good time, matey, but this one is particularly cool because it uses Estes parts, and be seldom seen enough that it is usually mistaken for a scratch build.

Cons: Badly designed wingtip fins are WAY too fragile for most parachute landings, shiver me timbers, nay t' mention a streamer landin' like this one calls for.

Overall Rating: 2