estes executioner

Hey everyone, I picked up an executioner on the estes BF sale and i would like to convert it to 29 mm over the 24 that comes with it. My curiosity is if the stock tube is strong enough for it or not. It feels kinda flimsy. Should i use this rocket as a first try at glassing or would it be acceptable as is. I do have open rocket and haven't created anything on it just yet, i wanted to put some feelers out first.

I grabbed a few as well and plan to go 29mm on at least one.

I've done a scratch built BT80 big Bertha upscale with 29mm MMT and fly it on G motors.

I did not glass, though I did run the 29mm motor mount up quite a way for 2 reasons... 1) added structure as the 29mm MMT is thick wall, and 2) it reduces pressurization volume vs the same length of BT80.

If I had enough ceiling at our site I wouldn't hesitate to fly it on an H. Actually with as draggy as bertha is .... I may try an H next season! FYI, mine was TTW fins with internal and external fillets.

Good luck!

Dave

dmgrime said:

I grabbed a few as well and plan to go 29mm on at least one.

I've done a scratch built BT80 big Bertha upscale with 29mm MMT and fly it on G motors.

I did not glass, though I did run the 29mm motor mount up quite a way for 2 reasons... 1) added structure as the 29mm MMT is thick wall, and 2) it reduces pressurization volume vs the same length of BT80.

If I had enough ceiling at our site I wouldn't hesitate to fly it on an H. Actually with as draggy as bertha is .... I may try an H next season! FYI, mine was TTW fins with internal and external fillets.

Good luck!

Dave

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Ok Thank you! for the 29mm mount, what site did you order it from?

There are lots of great suppliers out there but most of my low/mid power stuff I get from balsa machining...

They have airframe tubing, couplers, motor mounts, center rings, bulkheads, etc. in just about every LPR (estes compatible) size...

For 29mm MMT I use their T52H and for CRs for BT80 airframe CR52H80-W.

Hope this helps!

Dave

I'm totally new to rocketry, but I had to join the forum to participate in this thread, as I'm doing something similar. I also bought the Executioner during the BF sale. I actually bought two. The first I made stock. The second I'm building right now with a 29mm motor mount.

For the motor mount, I am using https://www.unclemikesrocketshack.com/Motor_Mounts_Accs/Wolverine_HPR_Motor_Mounts.html

I actually just placed it in the bottom Bt this morning, so I couldn't take a picture. I liked the fact that it was 11 inches and came with 3 plywood centering rings. It is also extremely strong compared to the previous 29mm motor mounts I have gotten.

I also purchased the bulkhead kit from them. Thinking I'll design it so that I have the option of adding a dual deploy at some point in the future.

The only other modifications I'm making are papering the fins and adding a baffle in the coupler tube.

Here are some pics of the baffle, the bulkhead kit and the stock Executioner I just built.

I have one with a 29mm mount. I've flown it on a G64 and G76's. No problems. If you plan on larger motors I cant answer however I believe it could handle H motors as well as long as you can recover it. Build it stoutly using epoxy and replace the "wimpy" parts.
I made 1/8th" plywood thru the wall fins and replaced the complete recovery system with quality parts.

That was what I was thinking on recovery for sure, same with fins. Thank you Dave for mentioning bms, i had completely forgot about that site.
Today is finally an calm day here in nd, so I've prepped some launches.
Vapor for its 4th flight e12-4
Cherokee e on its 6th with a e12-4
Red flare for its second on a e12-4
A humdinger for its maiden on a a10-3
Longshot for #2 b6-4

MidLifeMike said:

I'm totally new to rocketry, but I had to join the forum to participate in this thread, as I'm doing something similar. I also bought the Executioner during the BF sale. I actually bought two. The first I made stock. The second I'm building right now with a 29mm motor mount.

For the motor mount, I am using https://www.unclemikesrocketshack.com/Motor_Mounts_Accs/Wolverine_HPR_Motor_Mounts.html

I actually just placed it in the bottom Bt this morning, so I couldn't take a picture. I liked the fact that it was 11 inches and came with 3 plywood centering rings. It is also extremely strong compared to the previous 29mm motor mounts I have gotten.

I also purchased the bulkhead kit from them. Thinking I'll design it so that I have the option of adding a dual deploy at some point in the future.

The only other modifications I'm making are papering the fins and adding a baffle in the coupler tube.

Here are some pics of the baffle, the bulkhead kit and the stock Executioner I just built.View attachment 402308 View attachment 402309 View attachment 402310

Click to expand...

Love the paint job! and thank you for that link. I do like that its 11" and has the ply rings. This will be what i go with for this build. I won't get started on it for a while yet, theorycrafting and making plans right now. this may be my first DD rocket too. I am undecided on that.

My launch day today went so so. All rockets were recovered, but my vapor took some damage as the chute got hung up in the tube. a little bit of crinkle but i can cut it out and repair it. Also launcched my mean machine and it snapped a fin on landing. easy fix there as well.

Mean machine fins hang down and are first to hit ground. I installed 1/8th" plywood fins on mine. They can take a licking.

MidLifeMike said:

I'm totally new to rocketry, but I had to join the forum to participate in this thread, as I'm doing something similar. I also bought the Executioner during the BF sale. I actually bought two. The first I made stock. The second I'm building right now with a 29mm motor mount.

For the motor mount, I am using https://www.unclemikesrocketshack.com/Motor_Mounts_Accs/Wolverine_HPR_Motor_Mounts.html

I actually just placed it in the bottom Bt this morning, so I couldn't take a picture. I liked the fact that it was 11 inches and came with 3 plywood centering rings. It is also extremely strong compared to the previous 29mm motor mounts I have gotten.

I also purchased the bulkhead kit from them. Thinking I'll design it so that I have the option of adding a dual deploy at some point in the future.

The only other modifications I'm making are papering the fins and adding a baffle in the coupler tube.

Here are some pics of the baffle, the bulkhead kit and the stock Executioner I just built.View attachment 402308 View attachment 402309 View attachment 402310

Click to expand...

Nice paint.

My first "Big" rocket was the Executioner. I got it from Giant Leap Rocketry for Christmas in 2003. I flew it at LDRS in Geneseo in 2004. I still have the kit. It has survived through many repairs.

Two years ago I built one that I slightly modified. It is the first rocket on the left in my emoji photo. I ended up having 1/8" plywood fins cut out at a local woodworking shop. I used to balsa fins to build that tall rocket in the middle of my emoji photo. I call it SOE (Son of Executioner). The biggest motor I have used is a composite E30.

Dollar for dollar the Executioner is one of the best deals when it comes to mid power rocket kits. I can see why some of you purchased more than one. How much did you all pay for yours?

When it comes to paint jobs, MidLifeMike is not having a mid life crisis. Beautiful job.

BTW the rocket on the right is an Estes Leviathan that I build from parts. That kit was the best deal available back when Estes was selling it as a Pro Series II kit.

I paid the 34.00 for the first one, much less for #2, purchased from Estes during their Black Friday sale.

I paid $35 for my Executioner back in 2003 so I would say that you got a great deal. AC Supply sells them for $20.99 https://www.acsupplyco.com/estes/executioner.htm

deangelo54 said:

I paid $35 for my Executioner back in 2003 so I would say that you got a great deal. AC Supply sells them for $20.99 https://www.acsupplyco.com/estes/executioner.htm

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Plus shipping how much?

They were 10.24 each during the Black Friday sale, with free shipping over $50. Looking back, I should have ordered a third just for parts or some other crazy project.

I have one kit on my shelf waiting to be built. After reading this thread, guess it might get mods too.. I like the ideas shared here...

Victor

I'm in the same situation, Vdutel, picked up one during the Estes xmas sale, not sure exactly what I want to do to it so far. At the fields I have access to, it isn't wise to send rockets much higher than 1000 feet, lest they drift into the trees.

John Taylor said:

Plus shipping how much?

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10 bucks. Orders over 100 ship free. They’re my go to for all things Estes!