Thanks to an error I made on an Ebay auction (I didn't read the fine print well enough, and scored a pair of TLP-26L's instead of Estes PNC-80K's). As these were intended for my Optima clones, I now have an extra nose cone that doesn't match. So... What to do with it?
I have a small surplus of BT-80 body tube (Sunward's 18" tube), and I've never built a Phoenix missile before. Why not try that?
So the question I have, is should I build it with a 24mm motor tube, or red shift it to a 29mm? Anybody else build a BT-80 based 29mm Phoenix? Tips appreciated.
Thanks!
Jim
Jim,
As you are aware, the Estes #1380 PHOENIX missile kit is a "Dramatic Semi-Scale" kit. The Estes PNC 80-K Plastic Nose Cone in that kit, definitely is not scale. But it's what came with that kit.
I have 2 Opened original Estes #1380 PHOENIX kits here. Both are from their original release back in the early 80's. I have one set of the Balsa fins that are all loose, and I have one set of the Balsa fins sheets intact.
These first release #1380 kits had a Part H #JT-80C Tube Coupler that was only 1" long. (This was way too short of a tube coupler for this kit and the BT-80 #1291 Maxi Alpha kits. That JT-80C is the part in my #1380 kits. Re-released versions of this kit had a Estes 3" long Tube Coupler.
If you are building a stock Estes #1380 Phoenix missile kit or cloning it with Estes equivalent ID x OD Body Tubes, then I'd recommend that you not go to 29mm motor mount tubes, but rather use thick walled BT-50 motor mount tubes for 24mm motors.
If you wanted to build a 2.6" diameter Phoenix Missile to fly on 29mm or even 38mm motors, then I'd recommend thick walled BT-80 tubes and the Madcow 2.6" Plastic Nose Cone + Plywood Centering Rings and fins.
I have one of the Madcow 2.6" Plastic Nose Cones, and it is somewhat more accurate for a 2.6" Phoenix semi scale build. I have about 60 34" long thick walled BT-80s for building close of Estes BT-80 kits. And I only have about 40 Estes PNC-80 Plastic Nose Cones left for clone kits. I recently sold 50 PNC-80's.
For myself, I plan on buying the Madcow 4" Phoenix missile kit as the nose cone on their 4" kit is closer to what it should actually look like.
I still have 3 - Estes #2035 Optima (boxed and shrink wrapped) kits and 1 - Estes #2094 Shadow - Challenge Series ( boxed and shrink wrapped)
Larry B