scsager
Slightly burned-out old guy
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2010
- Messages
- 1,779
- Reaction score
- 80
The Estes Executioner has been discontinued from the 2012 catalog. You can still find these kits in the retail channel, but they will dry up eventually. Thankfully this is an easy kit to clone inexpensively.
Another good reason for a scratch or clone build is that you can modify anything you want to get the desired end result.
I have an Executioner clone which is starting to show it's age. It has a few dents in the balsa nose cone, a couple of marks from "almost-zippers", and two of the fins have been re-attached with rather liberal amounts of 5-minute epoxy.
Since I already have all the necessary parts and pieces in my "parts bin", the time is ripe for a new clone. Besides, it's Sunday, and It's raining... no other excuses needed.
Plans for the kit can be found on the JimZ website at
https://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/estes/est1951_Executioner/est1951.pdf
The plans are .pdf and include a full size fin template. Which is helpful.
I use OpenRocket
https://openrocket.sourceforge.net/
along with the plans and the rocksim file found at EMMR Rocket Reviews.
The rocksim file is very close with the fin template. I'll be tweaking the file in OpenRocket to match my build.
Fin templates print right from OpenRocket after I adjust the fin tabs for my build.
With my clone I'm planning to modify the original design to include:
- A zipperless/baffle mid-break design.
- Launch Lugs and Rail buttons
- Screw-on motor retention
- Kevlar shock cord
- Nylon chute
- TLAR precision cloning methods as needed.
*TLAR "That Looks About Right"
Another good reason for a scratch or clone build is that you can modify anything you want to get the desired end result.
I have an Executioner clone which is starting to show it's age. It has a few dents in the balsa nose cone, a couple of marks from "almost-zippers", and two of the fins have been re-attached with rather liberal amounts of 5-minute epoxy.
Since I already have all the necessary parts and pieces in my "parts bin", the time is ripe for a new clone. Besides, it's Sunday, and It's raining... no other excuses needed.
Plans for the kit can be found on the JimZ website at
https://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/estes/est1951_Executioner/est1951.pdf
The plans are .pdf and include a full size fin template. Which is helpful.
I use OpenRocket
https://openrocket.sourceforge.net/
along with the plans and the rocksim file found at EMMR Rocket Reviews.
The rocksim file is very close with the fin template. I'll be tweaking the file in OpenRocket to match my build.
Fin templates print right from OpenRocket after I adjust the fin tabs for my build.
With my clone I'm planning to modify the original design to include:
- A zipperless/baffle mid-break design.
- Launch Lugs and Rail buttons
- Screw-on motor retention
- Kevlar shock cord
- Nylon chute
- TLAR precision cloning methods as needed.
*TLAR "That Looks About Right"