In the late 80's early 90's I got badly bitten by the Cluster bug. I was upscaling and clustering anything and everything I could get my hands on.
Estes GEO-Sat HLV just spoke to me that it really wanted to be an in-line 3 motor cluster.
With a tiny amount of extra work, converting this model for 3 motor flights took shape very quickly. Wanting to retain and use the molded plastic booster nozzles ment I would need to have the motor nozzles extend at least 3/8" to ensure not melting the plastic. I also added two 1/2" BT-20 nose plugs fitted with aft end 22ga stainless steel anti-burn discs epoxied in place. This has GREATLY extended the flying life of this and several other cluster converted models. the Inside of the BT-20 booster tubes above the motor stops was coated with medium CA then swabbed with a light coating of 5 minute epoxy. All the added material components, glues & adhesive weights were carefully logged as I went alone so I could add them and the mass of one of the extra motors to the model to being the C.G. back to very near the original point.
For the first "in Isolation" test fligth of the altered model I also increased the size of the chute from kit supplied 18" to a 24" with reinforced shroud line mylar tape dics. This proved to be unnecessary as the model does kick the empty booster motor casings and nearly drifted away on without a thermal at all. All additional flights have been made with a standard kits size 18" plastic para-sheet with a 3/4" spill hole added.
The first flight was just a WOW flight! Flying on 2 C6-0 boosters and a C6-5 in the central core of the model. HO MAN! nearly out of sight drifting a LONG way on the oversized chute. Does really well on 2- B6-0's/B6-6 combination, or 2- B6-0's with a C6-5... or can still fly on a C6-3 alone if on a very small field.
The same OLD Geo-Sat HLV is still flying today, doesn't look quite as nice as it did 20 some years ago, I have broken a fin on one hard landing but she still gets up there in a hurry whenever she gets a chance. If ya get the chance to try flying an in-line 3 motor cluster it's a lot of fun
.
Estes GEO-Sat HLV just spoke to me that it really wanted to be an in-line 3 motor cluster.
With a tiny amount of extra work, converting this model for 3 motor flights took shape very quickly. Wanting to retain and use the molded plastic booster nozzles ment I would need to have the motor nozzles extend at least 3/8" to ensure not melting the plastic. I also added two 1/2" BT-20 nose plugs fitted with aft end 22ga stainless steel anti-burn discs epoxied in place. This has GREATLY extended the flying life of this and several other cluster converted models. the Inside of the BT-20 booster tubes above the motor stops was coated with medium CA then swabbed with a light coating of 5 minute epoxy. All the added material components, glues & adhesive weights were carefully logged as I went alone so I could add them and the mass of one of the extra motors to the model to being the C.G. back to very near the original point.
For the first "in Isolation" test fligth of the altered model I also increased the size of the chute from kit supplied 18" to a 24" with reinforced shroud line mylar tape dics. This proved to be unnecessary as the model does kick the empty booster motor casings and nearly drifted away on without a thermal at all. All additional flights have been made with a standard kits size 18" plastic para-sheet with a 3/4" spill hole added.
The first flight was just a WOW flight! Flying on 2 C6-0 boosters and a C6-5 in the central core of the model. HO MAN! nearly out of sight drifting a LONG way on the oversized chute. Does really well on 2- B6-0's/B6-6 combination, or 2- B6-0's with a C6-5... or can still fly on a C6-3 alone if on a very small field.
The same OLD Geo-Sat HLV is still flying today, doesn't look quite as nice as it did 20 some years ago, I have broken a fin on one hard landing but she still gets up there in a hurry whenever she gets a chance. If ya get the chance to try flying an in-line 3 motor cluster it's a lot of fun
.
Last edited by a moderator:
