As a kid I remember getting my first Estes catalog and when I got to page 18, I fell in love with the Cherokee-D. A short time later, I saved up $3.95 and the local hobby shop got the kit in for me. It became my favorite flyer back then. I am happy to say, I still have that very same rocket from 1975 in my fleet today. (Though I am totally embarrassed by building skills from back then.)
Over the years as my building skills improved, eventually getting into MPR & HPR, I built and flew many clones of that kit.
Recently I began to wonder what if it was slightly bigger and still able to fly in the smaller fields with either single or dual deployment or now maybe even use a JLCR? Could we do a great kit for 29mm RMS? Could we make it a more durable vehicle as well with TTW aircraft birch? Could we improve on the water set decals? Can we upgrade the shock cords? Simply put, what do I want to receive in a kit designed for today?
What about the business model? Since many companies in our hobby have gone for various reasons. Could we leverage various high quality manufacturers instead building our own manufacturing facilities to make the kits? What can we do minimize shipping cost while protecting all the parts and decals?
Hmmm… ideas began to align…
The Rocketry Forum mods approved of me doing a limited run of custom x2.3 upscale kit of the Cherokee-D for 29mm motors with the 1975 style polypropylene Ogive NC vs the original balsa conical NC design. This will be an exclusive run only available via Rocketry Forum.
Introducing our Cherokee-G limited run kit.
Kit features 3.1 inch diameter LOC Body Tubes (laser slotted), laser cut TTW aircraft baltic birch fins 0.125 (3.1mm), 29mm 4 ring Motor Mount with integrated fin locks, aluminum cnc 29mm motor retainer. The internal motor mount tube is 12 inches long for those that want to fly large 29mm reloads. All wood parts are laser cut aircraft Baltic birch.
Kit includes birch bulkhead & hardware for traditional motor ejection single deployment or for a JLCR. PLUS all the parts to make the coupler into an electronics bay for dual deployment flights.
Included recovery components are 4 inch x 40 inch streamer, and a 42 inch (1270mm) coated ripstop nylon main chute with spill hole. 9 in. (228.7mm) and a 12 inch (304.7mm) Hexagon Nomex blankets. 3/8 in Nylon Y harness, 3/8 in. tubular shock cords, stainless steel 6/0 swivel and 3/16 in. Quick Links (4). Kit will also include both traditional style .25 inch rod launch lugs (2) & 1010 delrin buttons (2) and screws for HPR rail
Kit will include a full color and cut decals, printed on clear vinyl sheet for the body tube graphics, and cut vinyl for the fins. This will give us the best results in finish.
I am building the final prototype now for additional pictures and launches.
The rocket is designed to fly on large F to I size 29mm motors.
This will be a full feature kit that also gives you some flexibility on the complexity you want. If you decide to go with motor ejection single deploy, you will be able to use the included E-bay parts to implement a full E-bay in the future.
— Cherokee-G Specifications —
Length: 55.75 inches (133.6 cm)
Weight: 36.2 oz (1026.25 g) or dual deploy configuration is 44.3 oz (1256 g) (without electronics)
Diameter: 3.1 Inches (79 mm)
Fin Span: 14.37 in (364.9 mm)
Fin Count: 3 Laser Cut Aircraft Baltic Birch TTW with fin lock into MMT
Nose Length to Shoulder 11.5 in. (292.1mm)
Diameter 3.0 in (76.2mm)
Overall NC Length 15 in. (381mm)
Shoulder Length 3.0 in. (76.2mm)
Custom 4:1 Tangent/Slightly Secant profiled Ogive
NC Material Heavy Duty Polypropylene blow molded
Motor Size: 29mm (Optional 38mm MMT & Centering Rings can be also included for $10 additional)
Recovery System: 40in. / 1016 mm nylon streamer and 42 in. / 1067 mm coated ripstop nylon main chute with spill hole with 9/0 Swivel (swivel rated for 900 lbs/ 408.2 kg)
15 ft. x .375 in. ( 4572mm x 9.52mm) Nylon Webbing Shock Cords with sewn loop ends (Qty 2 cords)
3 ft x .375 in. (914 mm x 9.52mm) Y Harness - Nylon Webbing with sewn loop ends
.1875 in. (4.76mm) Quick Links (Qty 4) rated for 600 lbs./ 272.1 kg
Launch Lugs: .25 inch / 6.35 mm rod and 1010 delrin buttons for HPR RAIL
Includes 3 in. (75mm) Electronics Bay for Dual Deploy, or can be used single motor deploy
High quality color printed and cut vinyl decals
1 x 6 in hexagon nomex blanket for Drogue Streamer
2 x 9 in. (228.7 mm) hexagon Nomex blanket for Main Chute
CNC machined and anodized aluminum 29mm motor retainer
PLEASE READ:
This kit does not include electronic, wiring, glues, paint, deployment blast cups or rocket motors.
Our pricing is $159 USD for USA addresses and $219 USD for rest of the world (ROW) addresses.
Optional 38mm MMT & Centering Rings is +$10 regardless of location.
Price includes USPS Priority shipping to your PayPal shipping address.
We save about $96.00 per kit vs piecing out the kit individually.
This run will be limited to a total of 30 kits.
If you are interested in this run, and want to get your name on the run list to reserve a spot, post a message in this thread and pm me your email address, your PayPal address, and please make sure your PayPall address is correct.
If you want more than one kit, your RF handle name will be on the list more than once.
Once we reach 20 commitments, I will place the orders with the various respective manufacturers. Then we’ll notify everyone that the run is a go and will send a PayPal invoice to those builders on this list. Status will be changed to reflect invoiced. Payment will be expected within 7 days once the invoice is sent. Once PP amount is received, status will reflect Paid and a date. We’ll log our progress with images, and status of orders here in this thread.
The goal is to have all the kits shipped by 15th September, assuming we receive enough interest in the run.
— FAQ —
Q1: When will the Cherokee-G Kit ship?
A1: The sooner we hit 20 commitments, we’ll do the final order. We expect kits to ship by September 15th 2019.
Q2: Can we do this kit in fiberglass?
A2: This is our first custom run. Maybe on a future kit run model we can do fiberglass, assuming this business model works for those manufacturers as well.
Q3: When or what is the next kit run going to be?
A3: We’ve got some ideas in the pipe, but we want to get this run done first and prove the business model.
Q4: Can we have the plans or RockSim files to do our own kit bash?
A4: Absolutely! We are going to release the final RockSim files as soon as we begin shipping the kits. It will be posted in the following post, along with the instruction "recommendations" with photos, 38mm fin TTW cutting template.
Q5: Can we change this to be a 38mm MMT?
A5: Dave & Chuck convinced me. Instruction PDF will now include a template to cut the fin TTW tab for a 38mm MMT. For $10 additional, we'll include a 38mm MMT and 38mm centering rings. You will still get the 29mm hardware and parts as well.
Q6: Why do a custom kit run, just make your own one-off upscale?
A6: Its purely a labor of love of both the original #1247 kit and rocketry community. It also allows me to explore a new business model cost effectively. Plus everyone saves about $96.00 USD
Q7: I don’t need the electronics bay, can I delete that and save money?
A7: Sorry, we can not, the key is to do quantity pricing.
Q8: Can we order 2 or more kits?
A8: Yes, we'll place your name on the list for the number of kits you would like reserved. However we'll only send you a single PayPal invoice for the number of kits you committed for.
Q9: Can you ship to a USA shipping aggregator to save on shipping?
A9: Yes, as long as that aggregator address is your PayPal shipping address at the time of invoicing.
Q10:How does this compare to the original sized Cherokee-D?
A10: About like this:
Q11: What if we don't get 20 builders wanting the Cherokee-G kit?
A11: No one will be invoiced unless we do... but we did get to 20, so the invoices have been sent.
Over the years as my building skills improved, eventually getting into MPR & HPR, I built and flew many clones of that kit.
Recently I began to wonder what if it was slightly bigger and still able to fly in the smaller fields with either single or dual deployment or now maybe even use a JLCR? Could we do a great kit for 29mm RMS? Could we make it a more durable vehicle as well with TTW aircraft birch? Could we improve on the water set decals? Can we upgrade the shock cords? Simply put, what do I want to receive in a kit designed for today?
What about the business model? Since many companies in our hobby have gone for various reasons. Could we leverage various high quality manufacturers instead building our own manufacturing facilities to make the kits? What can we do minimize shipping cost while protecting all the parts and decals?
Hmmm… ideas began to align…
The Rocketry Forum mods approved of me doing a limited run of custom x2.3 upscale kit of the Cherokee-D for 29mm motors with the 1975 style polypropylene Ogive NC vs the original balsa conical NC design. This will be an exclusive run only available via Rocketry Forum.
Introducing our Cherokee-G limited run kit.
Kit features 3.1 inch diameter LOC Body Tubes (laser slotted), laser cut TTW aircraft baltic birch fins 0.125 (3.1mm), 29mm 4 ring Motor Mount with integrated fin locks, aluminum cnc 29mm motor retainer. The internal motor mount tube is 12 inches long for those that want to fly large 29mm reloads. All wood parts are laser cut aircraft Baltic birch.
Kit includes birch bulkhead & hardware for traditional motor ejection single deployment or for a JLCR. PLUS all the parts to make the coupler into an electronics bay for dual deployment flights.
Included recovery components are 4 inch x 40 inch streamer, and a 42 inch (1270mm) coated ripstop nylon main chute with spill hole. 9 in. (228.7mm) and a 12 inch (304.7mm) Hexagon Nomex blankets. 3/8 in Nylon Y harness, 3/8 in. tubular shock cords, stainless steel 6/0 swivel and 3/16 in. Quick Links (4). Kit will also include both traditional style .25 inch rod launch lugs (2) & 1010 delrin buttons (2) and screws for HPR rail
Kit will include a full color and cut decals, printed on clear vinyl sheet for the body tube graphics, and cut vinyl for the fins. This will give us the best results in finish.
I am building the final prototype now for additional pictures and launches.
The rocket is designed to fly on large F to I size 29mm motors.
This will be a full feature kit that also gives you some flexibility on the complexity you want. If you decide to go with motor ejection single deploy, you will be able to use the included E-bay parts to implement a full E-bay in the future.
— Cherokee-G Specifications —
Length: 55.75 inches (133.6 cm)
Weight: 36.2 oz (1026.25 g) or dual deploy configuration is 44.3 oz (1256 g) (without electronics)
Diameter: 3.1 Inches (79 mm)
Fin Span: 14.37 in (364.9 mm)
Fin Count: 3 Laser Cut Aircraft Baltic Birch TTW with fin lock into MMT
Nose Length to Shoulder 11.5 in. (292.1mm)
Diameter 3.0 in (76.2mm)
Overall NC Length 15 in. (381mm)
Shoulder Length 3.0 in. (76.2mm)
Custom 4:1 Tangent/Slightly Secant profiled Ogive
NC Material Heavy Duty Polypropylene blow molded
Motor Size: 29mm (Optional 38mm MMT & Centering Rings can be also included for $10 additional)
Recovery System: 40in. / 1016 mm nylon streamer and 42 in. / 1067 mm coated ripstop nylon main chute with spill hole with 9/0 Swivel (swivel rated for 900 lbs/ 408.2 kg)
15 ft. x .375 in. ( 4572mm x 9.52mm) Nylon Webbing Shock Cords with sewn loop ends (Qty 2 cords)
3 ft x .375 in. (914 mm x 9.52mm) Y Harness - Nylon Webbing with sewn loop ends
.1875 in. (4.76mm) Quick Links (Qty 4) rated for 600 lbs./ 272.1 kg
Launch Lugs: .25 inch / 6.35 mm rod and 1010 delrin buttons for HPR RAIL
Includes 3 in. (75mm) Electronics Bay for Dual Deploy, or can be used single motor deploy
High quality color printed and cut vinyl decals
1 x 6 in hexagon nomex blanket for Drogue Streamer
2 x 9 in. (228.7 mm) hexagon Nomex blanket for Main Chute
CNC machined and anodized aluminum 29mm motor retainer
PLEASE READ:
This kit does not include electronic, wiring, glues, paint, deployment blast cups or rocket motors.
Our pricing is $159 USD for USA addresses and $219 USD for rest of the world (ROW) addresses.
Optional 38mm MMT & Centering Rings is +$10 regardless of location.
Price includes USPS Priority shipping to your PayPal shipping address.
We save about $96.00 per kit vs piecing out the kit individually.
This run will be limited to a total of 30 kits.
If you are interested in this run, and want to get your name on the run list to reserve a spot, post a message in this thread and pm me your email address, your PayPal address, and please make sure your PayPall address is correct.
If you want more than one kit, your RF handle name will be on the list more than once.
Once we reach 20 commitments, I will place the orders with the various respective manufacturers. Then we’ll notify everyone that the run is a go and will send a PayPal invoice to those builders on this list. Status will be changed to reflect invoiced. Payment will be expected within 7 days once the invoice is sent. Once PP amount is received, status will reflect Paid and a date. We’ll log our progress with images, and status of orders here in this thread.
The goal is to have all the kits shipped by 15th September, assuming we receive enough interest in the run.
— FAQ —
Q1: When will the Cherokee-G Kit ship?
A1: The sooner we hit 20 commitments, we’ll do the final order. We expect kits to ship by September 15th 2019.
Q2: Can we do this kit in fiberglass?
A2: This is our first custom run. Maybe on a future kit run model we can do fiberglass, assuming this business model works for those manufacturers as well.
Q3: When or what is the next kit run going to be?
A3: We’ve got some ideas in the pipe, but we want to get this run done first and prove the business model.
Q4: Can we have the plans or RockSim files to do our own kit bash?
A4: Absolutely! We are going to release the final RockSim files as soon as we begin shipping the kits. It will be posted in the following post, along with the instruction "recommendations" with photos, 38mm fin TTW cutting template.
Q5: Can we change this to be a 38mm MMT?
A5: Dave & Chuck convinced me. Instruction PDF will now include a template to cut the fin TTW tab for a 38mm MMT. For $10 additional, we'll include a 38mm MMT and 38mm centering rings. You will still get the 29mm hardware and parts as well.
Q6: Why do a custom kit run, just make your own one-off upscale?
A6: Its purely a labor of love of both the original #1247 kit and rocketry community. It also allows me to explore a new business model cost effectively. Plus everyone saves about $96.00 USD
Q7: I don’t need the electronics bay, can I delete that and save money?
A7: Sorry, we can not, the key is to do quantity pricing.
Q8: Can we order 2 or more kits?
A8: Yes, we'll place your name on the list for the number of kits you would like reserved. However we'll only send you a single PayPal invoice for the number of kits you committed for.
Q9: Can you ship to a USA shipping aggregator to save on shipping?
A9: Yes, as long as that aggregator address is your PayPal shipping address at the time of invoicing.
Q10:How does this compare to the original sized Cherokee-D?
A10: About like this:
Q11: What if we don't get 20 builders wanting the Cherokee-G kit?
A11: No one will be invoiced unless we do... but we did get to 20, so the invoices have been sent.
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