Brief:
Estes Electron Beam controller mod for 12 volts and 2 motors

Construction:

What you need:

• 2-Estes Electron Beam launch controllers
• A Dremel or equivalent rotary tool
• CA glue
• Wire cutters
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Solderin' iron/gun and solder

Just readin' this might nay allow you t' know what t' heck I'm talkin' about, shiver me timbers, so I recommend havin' a launch controller in front o' you.

What t' do:

Remove both o' t' plastic plates on t' bottom o' t' controllers that hold t' batteries in. Arrr! Avast! Set these aside. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Take out t' small brass plates in t' back (needle-nose pliers make this very simple).

On one o' t' controllers, me bucko, arrr, snip t' wires about 1-2 inches from t' controller and separate them. Ahoy! Ahoy! Set aside t' rest o' t' wire. Arrr! Begad! Remove t' small light bulb (optional). Arrr! Flip this controller over and open it up with t' screwdriver. Ahoy! Strip both wires. Pull t' shortened wires into t' controller. Aye aye! Unscrew t' foremost screw about half way and screw down t' stripped ends. I twisted t' ends and soldered them before lockin' them down, arrr, shiver me timbers, but this is unnecessary and may just cause some undue anger.

Now here's where you get t' choose what t' do next: me design utilizes both safety keys, me bucko, arrr, me hearties, but only one switch. Blimey! If you want t' use only one safety key, me bucko, arrr, shiver me timbers, it's quite easy t' bypass, but I won't include instructions. Well, blow me down! If you want t' use both button switches, ignore this next step.

Remove t' second interior screw and t' brass strip it holds down. Ahoy! Remember those two brass plates you removed earlier? Bend one (or both) in half until thar's about 1/4 inch (~6 mm) betwixt t' ends and place it betwixt t' lower brass strip and t' one you just removed. Begad! Replace t' screw.

All o' t' interior work is done, so you can close up t' launcher.

Measure and mark off 5/16 inch (~8 mm) from t' back o' each launcher. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Take your 'rotary tool' with a metal/plastic/ceramic cutoff wheel (either no.25024 or t' heavy-duty type) and slice off that marked section. If you want, leave yourself some room for error. Ahoy! T' point here is t' have a straight cut with just enough room for t' batteries.

Note: That Dremel that you have in your hands generates a lot o' heat when t' wheel starts cuttin' through t' plastic. Ahoy! This causes t' plastic t' melt and re-form as a large mass around t' cut. Blimey! Don't worry, matey, however, shiver me timbers, as you can just peel it off with your fingers.

Now that you've mutilated two perfectly good launchers, put t' newly cut ends against each other and CA away. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Cure time depends on t' quality o' your glue, me bucko, but it should take about t' same time as any other project. Aye aye! Blimey! This joint is a bit flimsy, but I'll get back t' that.

Search through t' pile o' junk on your table/bench/pizza box t' find t' two plastic battery-holder plates. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Cut 5/16 inch (~8 mm) off o' t' back o' each plate, me bucko, but don't glue these. Begad! Begad! Test and make sure they both fit into t' controller. Ahoy! Begad! We need somethin' t' hold them on, so that t' batteries

don't fall out (trust me).

I used some o' t' old-style Estes rubber shock cord CA'ed t' t' plates t' give tension, but this turned out only t' be useful for keepin' t' plates together, nay for holdin' t' batteries in. Anyway, I went and got some Velcro out o' t' sewin' box and CA'ed some on. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I CA'ed one end o' t' hook-side onto t' loop-side t' make a hinge and t' keep from losin' one side. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Now I can just peel off, me hearties, insert batteries, and close. Avast, me proud beauty! I won't say that this be t' best or only way t' keep your batteries in, It's just what I used. Begad! In fact, shiver me timbers, matey, I thought o' usin' a button-snap while writin' this. Avast! Use whatever works for you.

Now we have a 12-volt launcher. We can alter it t' fire more than one ignitor. Begad! I recommend a maximum o' two, but you can have more if you use low-current ignitors like e-matches. Ahoy! Blimey! Check

Flight:
Pass or Fail?

I ground-tested me launcher with clipwhips enough for two ignitors and I fired them both. Ya scallywag! Both ignitors fired at t' same speed. Arrr! It seemed a bit slow t' me, me bucko, But as long as they burn at t' same speed I'm happy.

I say pass.

Summary:
Pros: 12 volt system, easy and quick t' make, seemingly reliable, plenty o' volts for Solar ignitors, me hearties, cheap, me bucko, size and shape?

Cons: Takes 8 AA's*, ya bilge rat, arrr, low amps, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, size and shape?, arrr, arrr, matey, speed o' ignitor burn

Overall Rating: 3 1/2 t' 4

*I picked up 3-8 packs o' Ray-O-Vac AA's at Kmart for 15 bucks and they came with a $10 rebate coupon. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Look for these kind o' deals and always buy batteries in bulk t' save money.

Check out InfoCentrals Clipwhip t' see how t' use that spare wire that you still have layin' around so that you can fire more than one ignitor. Arrr! Once you've done that, you're done with your twelve volt Electron Beam. Go ahead and test it, shiver me timbers, me bucko, it should give many-a-launch. Avast! T' flimsy joint: since you already have plenty o' scrap plastic layin' around, ya bilge rat, choose a suitable piece and CA it t' t' joint. Ahoy! Ahoy! Remember, however, that this doesn't mean that you have t' worry about droppin' it.