Estes DOM Starship Excalibur

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tonypv

And so it begins...
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I have seen this plan a number times over the years and always thought it was a cool design.

Recently I was on the Semroc site looking through the Classic Model Rocket page and saw it again. When I clicked on it I found that Semroc had laser cut fins as well as most of the parts so I decided to build it. I down loaded the plans from JimZ's site and ordered the parts that I would need, nose cones, fins and the 1/12" dowel, tubes I had.
https://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/eirp_55.htm

There are a lot of things about this model that I liked that are different from most builds. The Crew Module is a strip of 1/4" balsa that runs along the top of the air frame. I didn't have any 1/4" balsa long enough (15 3/16") so I glued two 1/8" pieces together. This also has a slot cut into it for the fin to go though and glue to the body tube. There is a BT-5 tube cut in half with a nose cone half on each side with a slot cut into it for the two lower fins like the Crew Module. The aft end of the tube halves are angled with a card stock caps. The fins have a dowel glued to the small angle at the aft end. The launch lugs are incorporated into the design to "hide" then. The forward lug is a balsa Shuttle craft Bay and the aft lug has a dowel on each side (Transfer Line) with a fin on top (Reactor Radiator).

I drew up some decals to match the gif image that are with the plans. I also drew the cock pit to match the one that is in the plans. I used clip art drawing of a sword that I liked for the upper fin. And I added a few more, wraps for the two lower pods and I could see a couple of dark shapes along the side so I made some shapes to represent these.

This was a very fun project and I'm very pleased with how this came out.

Spaceship Excalibur 1.jpg

Spaceship Excalibur 2.jpg

Spaceship Excalibur 5.jpg

Spaceship Excalibur 6.jpg

Spaceship Excalibur 7.jpg
 
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Wow! really nice Tony.

Will you launch it at the next CMASS launch?
 
Very nice, Tony. I have plans that Mark Bundick sent me back in the early 90s, back in the days of r.m.r. -- back before scanning and emailing! It basically got forgotten, I'll have to dig it out of the box of plans, and maybe reconsider my build priorities.
 
Wow, that's lovely. I have gone as far as gathering the plans and the parts from Semroc and cutting the little pod tubes to size but haven't actually "built" anything yet. It is in the winter build queue and you've certainly done an inspiring job there.

Right now I'm scrambling to get a Trident xKit and a from-scratch (except for Semroc laser cut fins) Ranger done for Rolling Thunder's "Northwest Classics" event weekend after this one.....I wish I'd gotten the Starship Excalibur done, too.

Again, a lovely job!
 
That Starship Excaliber has been on my "one day" list since I first saw it in a reprint years ago.
The plans only had a rendering of it, no picture if I remember correctly.

Great work as usual, Tony. It's nice to actually see it in pictures.
 
I painted mine differently and the decals were...scraps.

This was from NARAM 46.

Now that I can I'm working up a decal set and I'll repaint it white.

excalibur.JPG
 
Superb work Tony....
:clap:

Very nice, Tony. I have plans that Mark Bundick sent me back in the early 90s, back in the days of r.m.r. -- back before scanning and emailing! It basically got forgotten, I'll have to dig it out of the box of plans, and maybe reconsider my build priorities.

Wow, that's lovely. I have gone as far as gathering the plans and the parts from Semroc and cutting the little pod tubes to size but haven't actually "built" anything yet. It is in the winter build queue and you've certainly done an inspiring job there.

Right now I'm scrambling to get a Trident xKit and a from-scratch (except for Semroc laser cut fins) Ranger done for Rolling Thunder's "Northwest Classics" event weekend after this one.....I wish I'd gotten the Starship Excalibur done, too.

Again, a lovely job!
Thanks you everyone.
 
That Starship Excaliber has been on my "one day" list since I first saw it in a reprint years ago.
The plans only had a rendering of it, no picture if I remember correctly.

Great work as usual, Tony. It's nice to actually see it in pictures.
Thanks Hans.
Here is the gif image that is with the plans on JimZ.

Starship Excalibur.gif
 
Thanks Hans.
Here is the gif image that is with the plans on JimZ.

That Picture is of JimZ's personal Excalibur model.

Glad you liked the silver, Tony, but I got a major chewing out by JimZ when he saw it.

"It's not white!"

I think I will either repaint it white or build another to test out my decals set.

This is what I have so far.

excalibur2.JPG
 
This is one that I've never seen, so it isn't in my build pile.

Thanks for posting it, as I really like both the design and your build and might give it a try!

Sandy.
 
Tony,

Most Excellent!!

Of course, that's one I intended to build some day and of course you beat me to it.

I still have the plans that I got from Estes back in the late 60's or early 70's. They came with a set of cardstock patterns and by mistake they sent 2 sets of the patterns.

I ordered all the parts to build it but never got around to it. I'll bet I still have some of the parts but laser cut fins seem like the way to go.

Looking forward to seeing it on the 18th.
 
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This is one that I've never seen, so it isn't in my build pile.

Thanks for posting it, as I really like both the design and your build and might give it a try!

Sandy.
Thanks Sandy.
I really liked the fact that this model had a lot of different challenges and looks cool too. :)
Tony,

Most Excellent!!

Of course, that's one I intended to build some day and of course you beat me to it.

I still have the plans that I got from Estes back in the late 60's or early 70's. They came with a set of cardstock patterns and by mistake they sent 2 sets of the patterns.

I ordered all the parts to build it but never got around to it. I'll bet I still have some of the parts but laser cut fins seem like the way to go.

Looking forward to seeing it on the 18th.
Thanks Bob.
Now you have to build one so we can have a drag race. ;)
 
That thing could be a prop in a movie. Nice job :clap: Scotty Dog
Thanks Scotty Dog. :)
I know it's a long drive but you should come down to one of CMASS's launches in Amesbury sometime. It's right on the NH boarder. The schedule and directions can be found on the CMASS site.
 
Thanks Mark.
You know I will, can't miss the FlisKits Anniversary Launch. :)
See you there.

Great! I plan on being there early. I'll have to leave by 11-12, I have to work in the afternoon. I hope Jim will have the cake out early!
 
Thanks Bob.
Now you have to build one so we can have a drag race. ;)

OK, you made me do it... I had some of the parts already and ordered the rest of what I needed (and the laser cut fins).

I don't build as fast as you so I won't have it ready for the launch next Saturday. Maybe the second October launch.
 
Flew the Starship Excalibur yesterday at the FlisKits 8th Anniversary launch.
It flew on a C6-3. Nice slow boost. Good recovery with no damage. :)

Starship Excalibur otp.jpg

Starship Excalibur lo.jpg
 
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