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- Mar 27, 2013
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If you remember, last year, I reported my safety concerns with the Estes Porta Pad E, and in my later conversations with Estes (around Valentine's Day), I dropped that I was interested in picking up an Argent. I also told Mary the reason I wasn't ordering the rockets I wanted because of the way the sale was being run (different rockets on different days, S/H was prohibitive). The next day, the sale opened up, and everything that was going to be on sale now was on sale (and they've done it that way since).
Seeing my opportunity to score an Argent, I ordered one, and unknown to me at the time, Estes sent me one as a thank you. The gift arrived first, and was in pristine condition, however the order was pretty well thrashed by the time it arrived.
Of course, the damage was done to the upper side of the fin can's body tube, so there'd be no hiding it. However, it could be cut off, but what to do with the remainder?
I advised Estes, and was surprised to receive a 2nd (complete) order (I was expecting them just to be send a body tube). Oh boy! Now I have 3 Argents (one damaged). However, the 3rd Argent's transition was defective (warped due to uneven cooling). I told Estes about this (and advised them that I didn't need a 4th Argent). So, they sent me just the replacement transition. Now I've got all these parts. Hmmm, what to do with them.
I also picked up a Partizon, and in looking at that, I was reminded of how closely it resembles a streatched version of the Cherokee D. Hmmm
I was able to cut down the damaged body tube, and with a 2.5" nosecone that I ordered from Estes, I've begun making a Pro Series II 2.5" Cherokee D (long version).
The motor tube was built and installed some time ago, but the project languished for some time. In a rush to build it, I somehow got the scale of the fins wrong. Instead of the 187.97% increase (yielding fins that are 7" at the root). I think I messed up a BT-60 build with the BT-55 and printed a fin layout that was only 5.XX" long. Annoyed, I set it down for a while, and went on with several other builds.
Well, that's in the past. Last weekend, a cleaning of my building area turned up the 7" fin pattern. Today, I have the materials, and some time to work on it. So, the fins have been cut out, and are now fitted to the tube. I've got a fin guide made, and things are progressing. I've had to slot the tube for the longer fins (thus supporting them better), but the middle section between the top centering ring, and the middle centering ring will not be able to be filleted.
Seems to me that this would be the perfect modification to a Partizon, as its nosecone (9.75" long) is a close match to the Cherokee D's PNC-55AC in upscaled length (10.15").
Decals are Stickershock. All other parts are Estes, except for the baffle, and the fins.
I'll be building this as a zipperless design, parting just under the wide wrap.
Cherokee D (Long Version)
Overall Length 23.403"
Nosecone Length 5.403" (Estes PNC-55AC)
Body Tube Length 18"
Diameter 1.33" (Estes BT-55)
Cherokee D (Long) (187.97% upscale)
Overall Length 43.948"
Nosecone Length 9.75" (072413 - Pro Series II 2.5" Plastic Nose Cone)
Body Tube Length 34.125"
FYI, if you want to make the short version, here's the info I've got...
Cherokee D (Short Version)
Designed by: Gene Street
Overall Length 21.753"
Nosecone Length 5.403" (Estes PNC-55AC)
Body Tube Length 16.35"
Diameter 1.33" (Estes BT-55)
Cherokee D (Short) (187.97% upscale)
Overall Length 40.48"
Nosecone Length 9.75" (072413 - Pro Series II 2.5" Plastic Nose Cone)
Body Tube Length 30.73"
Seeing my opportunity to score an Argent, I ordered one, and unknown to me at the time, Estes sent me one as a thank you. The gift arrived first, and was in pristine condition, however the order was pretty well thrashed by the time it arrived.
Of course, the damage was done to the upper side of the fin can's body tube, so there'd be no hiding it. However, it could be cut off, but what to do with the remainder?
I advised Estes, and was surprised to receive a 2nd (complete) order (I was expecting them just to be send a body tube). Oh boy! Now I have 3 Argents (one damaged). However, the 3rd Argent's transition was defective (warped due to uneven cooling). I told Estes about this (and advised them that I didn't need a 4th Argent). So, they sent me just the replacement transition. Now I've got all these parts. Hmmm, what to do with them.
I also picked up a Partizon, and in looking at that, I was reminded of how closely it resembles a streatched version of the Cherokee D. Hmmm
I was able to cut down the damaged body tube, and with a 2.5" nosecone that I ordered from Estes, I've begun making a Pro Series II 2.5" Cherokee D (long version).
The motor tube was built and installed some time ago, but the project languished for some time. In a rush to build it, I somehow got the scale of the fins wrong. Instead of the 187.97% increase (yielding fins that are 7" at the root). I think I messed up a BT-60 build with the BT-55 and printed a fin layout that was only 5.XX" long. Annoyed, I set it down for a while, and went on with several other builds.
Well, that's in the past. Last weekend, a cleaning of my building area turned up the 7" fin pattern. Today, I have the materials, and some time to work on it. So, the fins have been cut out, and are now fitted to the tube. I've got a fin guide made, and things are progressing. I've had to slot the tube for the longer fins (thus supporting them better), but the middle section between the top centering ring, and the middle centering ring will not be able to be filleted.
Seems to me that this would be the perfect modification to a Partizon, as its nosecone (9.75" long) is a close match to the Cherokee D's PNC-55AC in upscaled length (10.15").
Decals are Stickershock. All other parts are Estes, except for the baffle, and the fins.
I'll be building this as a zipperless design, parting just under the wide wrap.
Cherokee D (Long Version)
Overall Length 23.403"
Nosecone Length 5.403" (Estes PNC-55AC)
Body Tube Length 18"
Diameter 1.33" (Estes BT-55)
Cherokee D (Long) (187.97% upscale)
Overall Length 43.948"
Nosecone Length 9.75" (072413 - Pro Series II 2.5" Plastic Nose Cone)
Body Tube Length 34.125"
Upper 10.25"
Mid 15.5"
Fin Can 8.375"
Diameter 2.5" (Estes Pro Series II 2.5")Mid 15.5"
Fin Can 8.375"
FYI, if you want to make the short version, here's the info I've got...
Cherokee D (Short Version)
Designed by: Gene Street
Overall Length 21.753"
Nosecone Length 5.403" (Estes PNC-55AC)
Body Tube Length 16.35"
Diameter 1.33" (Estes BT-55)
Cherokee D (Short) (187.97% upscale)
Overall Length 40.48"
Nosecone Length 9.75" (072413 - Pro Series II 2.5" Plastic Nose Cone)
Body Tube Length 30.73"
Upper 6.855"
Mid 15.5"
Fin Can 8.375"
Diameter 2.5" (Estes Pro Series II 2.5")Mid 15.5"
Fin Can 8.375"
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