Scratch Estes Interceptor (Downscale) Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Interceptor (Downscale) {Scratch}

Contributed by Kevin Johnson

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Kevin Johnson - 09/13/04)

Brief:
Slightly smaller version o' t' K-50 Interceptor usin' t' PNC-50SP cone (from the Venom, ya bilge rat, Argosy, Starhawk, etc.).

Modifications:
I modified t' patterns and decals by usin' PhotoShop t' reduce t' size o' the files t' 74%. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I printed out t' decals on me inkjet printer and then took them to Kinkos t' copy onto clear decal paper. Blimey!

T' build the pods, arrr, shiver me timbers, I made shoulders from t' nosecones and glued them into t' short sections o' 10.5mm tubes. Ahoy! Blimey! I then used Squadron green putty t' fill in the seams, sanded them down and glued on t' fins. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I used full sized reproduction parts from Moldin' Oldies as patterns.

I scribed the panel lines into t' PNC-50SP usin' an X-Acto blade and me Vindicator cone as a reference.

T' recreate t' exhaust nozzle, me bucko, I cut 1/2" strips o' 1/16" square balsa and glued them around t' tail o' t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! I left t' motor mount tube stickin' out about 1/2" t' make a sort o' tailpipe look.

Construction:
About a year ago I purchased a bulk pack o' Estes Venom kits t' get the nosecones. Blimey! These cones haven't been made in a while and are t' basis for some pretty slick lookin' kits that I want t' clone. Since thar were only 6 rockets that used t' cones, matey, I had some extras and be thinkin' that a small Interceptor and Vindicator would be a good use for 2 o' them.

This rocket was made usin' 13" o' BT-50, matey, a standard 18mm motor mount and nose cone from t' Venom kit, and t' fins and decals were scaled down from t' patterns at JimZ's site. Well, blow me down! I made t' win' tip pods from 7/8" o' 10.5mm tube from Apogee Components, arrr, vacuum formed nose cones from Pratt Hobbies and some carbon fiber fin material. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord is 12" o' elastic (usin' a folded paper mount t' t' tube) and another 18" o' Keelhaul®©™®.

Once t' patterns were sized and t' parts cut, arrr, this model went together smoothly. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' original was a skill level 3 kit, arrr, and since you'd have t' custom make some parts and downscale t' others, ya bilge rat, arrr, I'd bump this project up t' a level 4.

Finishing:
I painted t' pods banner red and t' rest o' t' rocket flat white before final assembly. Avast, me proud beauty! After puttin' t' decals on (I had forgotten t' print out the page that showed placement, me bucko, so I guessed and followed me eye on what looked right) I gave t' model a nice coat o' Testor's semi-gloss clear coat.

Flight:
I cut down a Quest chute from 18" t' about 12" because I liked the look o' t' orange and white stripes. Ya scallywag! I used an A8-3 for t' first flight, which was straight and fast.

Recovery:
T' ejection came just about at apogee, arrr, and t' chute brought t' model down quickly. Well, arrr, blow me down! A little too smartly as I needed t' glue one o' t' aft cones o' the pods back on. I also lost one o' t' fin tip antennae, ya bilge rat, but I hear that's pretty common. I got too busy with gettin' ready for t' night launch portion o' the launch t' do any more flights, me hearties, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but had a B6-4 all set for what I expect t' be a wicked high flight. Avast! Well, blow me down! Oh well...this will let me get a slightly larger parachute ready for next month's launch.

Summary:
This was a fun project. Begad! It involved a lot o' work and a few different skills (scalin' t' decals and patterns, ya bilge rat, makin' decals, scratch building, shiver me timbers, etc.) and makes for a really cool little rocket.

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