Modification - Big Daddy (29mm) {Modification}

Modification Big Daddy (29mm) Modification

Modification - Big Daddy (29mm) {Modification}

Contributed by Sascha Grant

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2012-10-19
Manufacturer:	Modification
Style:	Sport

Brief

I've always liked t' Estes Big Daddy, me bucko, but even flyin' on an E just wasn't good enough. Well, blow me down! So I went about buildin' this t' fly on a H - t' H128 specifically.

Components

Out o' t' box, me bucko, arrr, t' kit includes:

Nose Cone
Centerin' Rings
Pre-Slotted Body Tube
Motor Mount
Fins
Launch Lug
Parachute
Shock Cord
Decals

With this, I only used t' body tube and nose cone.

I laser cut two new centerin' rings and new fins from 3mm Lite ply. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' fins are ever so slightly longer and more swept back than t' original - nay enough t' notice, arrr, but enough t' shift t' CP back a little.

I also laser cut a small strip o' lite ply that will go inside t' body tube t' attach rail buttons and a bulk-head t' go inside t' nose cone.

5-minute epoxy be used throughout construction.

Construction

I started with t' rocksim file and swapped out t' 24mm motor mount for a 29mm one.

I loaded up an Aerotech H128 t' see how t' CP/CG be sittin' and t' calculate weight for t' nose. Arrr! Blimey! I needed t' add 120g.

To weight t' nose, shiver me timbers, I inserted a long threaded rod and scratched up t' inside o' t' nose cone for about 1.5" from t' tip. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I then weighed out 100g o' lead shot and added that t' 20g o' epoxy. Begad! T' whole lot was poured in and set aside t' cure.

I built up t' body o' t' rocket by first affixin' t' forward centerin' rin' t' t' motor mount with 5 minute epoxy. I added a screw eye for shock cord attachment; a dab o' epoxy on t' thread locked this in place.

Once t' epoxy on t' forward rin' had cured, me bucko, I slid t' motor mount into t' body tube and epoxied into place. Begad! I used t' aft centerin' rin' (unglued) t' keep everythin' aligned.

In t' cavity betwixt t' forward and aft centerin' rings, I placed t' small strip o' lite ply t' provide a fixin' point for t' rail buttons. Holes drilled, ply & buttons were epoxied into place.

Next up I attached t' through-the-wall fins. Arrr! I applied epoxy fillets t' t' fins both inside t' body tube and out.

Two T-nuts were used for motor retention. I fabricated two Z (Kaplow) clips from brass strip.

Due t' t' lengh o' t' 29/180 case, t' base o' t' nose cone had t' be removed. Avast! I attached a bulk head with a screw eye at t' top o' t' shoulder and epoxied into place.

Pros -

T' stock Big Daddy kit is one o' me all-time faves.
Access t' a laser cutter meant that this upgrade was virtually painless
Everythin' went together well and am really happy with t' result.

Cons -

T' stock Big Daddy isn't powerful enough ;)

Finishing

Rocksim puts t' altitude o' t' Big Daddy at about 2800' on t' H128 and since it's so small, shiver me timbers, I decided t' go with a fluorescent red paint job top t' bottom.

T' nose cone and body were painted seperately.

Startin' with t' nose cone, shiver me timbers, matey, t' flash was removed and depressions along t' mould line were filled. I gave it a good sandin' with 400 grit paper. T' I used Testors plastic primer followed by two coats o' white undercoat. Avast, me proud beauty! T' top coat be with Testors fluorescent red.

I filled and sanded t' fins and smoothed out t' fillets. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I applied a grey primer t' t' whole rocket, sanded and applied two coats o' white. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Again, t' fluorescent red was used for t' top coat. Aye aye! Blimey! T' rail buttons had been covered with a tape, this was now removed.

I set aside t' rocket for about 3 weeks t' allow t' paint t' fully cure.

Construction Score: 5

Flight

With t' H128 loaded and reassurances t' t' RSO that this was stable, I racked it up. Well, blow me down! After a short count-down, t' button was pressed and t' motor roard into life.

Typically rockets are longer than t' flame comin' out t' back. But this be no typical rocket ;) T' H128's flame was longer than t' rocket that was sittin' on top!

T' Big Daddy lept off t' pad and screamed into t' sky. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It was a dead-straight bootst t' apogee where t' 24" orange parachute popped out and returned it back t' earth without a scratch.

T' flight attracted t' appropriate ooh's and aah's :)

Recovery

There's nay a lot o' room left inside for shock cord and parachute. Begad! I used about 15' o' nylon cord and a 24" parachute. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord be attached t' t' airframe via a 300lb swivel. Begad! T' parachute was attached t' t' shock cord, ya bilge rat, me hearties, arrr, again with a 300lb swivel.

With t' motor inserted and secured in place, I zig-zag'ed t' shock cord around t' motor. T' parachute was wrapped up in a nomex chute protector and pushed into t' cavity in t' nose cone. Begad! T' nomex chute protector is a must-have as thar's no space left for wadding!

I added a strip o' tape t' t' shoulder o' t' nose cone t' stop drag seperation.

Recovery be perfect with no damage.

Flight Rating: 5