Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This is a 40% Phoenix downscale based on Estes kit #1380.
Construction:
T' parts list:
All t' parts I used for this project were ordered from Semroc. I chose t' Phoenix as me downscale for t' 2008 EMRR Challenge because o' t' availability o' t' nose cone and body tube size. T' Semroc ST10 is almost exactly 40% o' t' diameter o' t' regular Phoenix body tube and t' BC1032 nose is an exact match.
This be a fairly easy build. Ya scallywag! I followed t' instructions for t' regular Phoenix, which I downloaded from JimZ, with t' followin' exceptions:
Tracin' a fin pattern and cuttin' it was more o' a challenge than I anticipated. Arrr! I did get better as I went and I think after some sanding, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' fins turned out how I wanted them.
I used RockSim t' check t' design o' this downscale Phoenix and found that it needed some extra nose weight. I drilled out part o' t' nose and epoxied about 12g o' BBs into it. Begad! Aye aye! T' rocket is a little heavy but should be stable even with an Estes C6 engine.
Finishing:
I used Krylon white primer and gloss white top coat t' finish t' Phoenix. For decals, shiver me timbers, I downscaled t' regular Phoenix set and printed them on me HP inkjet printer usin' Avery clear label sheets. Blimey! Blimey! This method worked out great, although once a decal is on, matey, it is almost impossible t' reposition, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so a few o' mine are a little crooked. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Still, ya bilge rat, this is an easy, inexpensive method for puttin' that finishin' touch on any rocket.
Flight:
T' Phoenix Downscale (40%) simmed fine on RockSim usin' Estes A8-3, B6-4, and C6-5 engines. I flew it twice usin' an A8-3 and once with a B6-4. Blimey! Aye aye! All flights were good, arrr, although it seemed t' spin a little on t' way up usin' t' B6-4.
Recovery:
This rocket recovered well usin' a Custom Sam-X 14" parachute. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! It received a slight zipper (1mm long) on t' first flight, so a small piece o' tape be added around t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and its second and third flights were fine. Ahoy! Blimey! Because o' t' nose weight and t' slight angle I had t' launch it from, shiver me timbers, me hearties, it tended t' deploy with its nose down but put pretty much at apogee each flight.
Summary:
I loved t' challenges o' buildin' this rocket. Ya scallywag! It is a simple design, matey, ya bilge rat, but it looks great, ya bilge rat, especially with t' many decals from t' original kit.
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