Build Thread: Mega Der Red Max, 38mm: New Clone Kit

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swatkat

Down these mean skies, a kat must fly!
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Wanted to post a build thread on Toby's (Big_Red_Daddy on the forum) cloned Mega Der Red max kits. He's doing them in both 29mm and 38mm flavors and since I already have the Estes one with the 29mm, I got this one with the 38mm. (more fun right!?) I also got the optional nosecone bulkplate for nose-cone A/V and deploy. My guess is that the "Standard" clone comes with the standard MRDM nose. The kit arrived in a nicely padded box and came complete with Estes-type instructions, with a supplemental page that had additional notes on items that were added like a Kevlar shock cord, rail buttons, 38mm retainer and the nose cone additions. Out of the box, the quality is fantastic for a realistically-priced clone kit. (He also has Leviathans, but someone already did a write up on that one...) One delta I noted was that the balsa skins that go over the birch ply are pre-cut two piece items, and they are perfect in their fit/shape to the underlying ply. Saves a lot of exacto cutting like in the original kit. Rail buttons (3-piece versions) are included as well. 38mm retainer is an estes-like screw retainer. And the stock 30" Estes chute is included.
 

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I got started by sanding down all adhering surfaces and getting the motor mount and fins put together. I did substitute 2000# Kevlar in place of the 500# that was included, just to help increase burn through time from number of ejection charges, and added a cable loop bolt instead of an eyebolt to the top centering ring.
 

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I then sanded the edges on the balsa skins, getting a nice round edge and sanded the surface of the fins after filling in the minor seam on the two piece balsa skin with some wood glue. I then tacked things in place with BSI Maxi-cure and then did thick internal and external fillets with Titebond Moulding and Trim. Rail buttons were then installed and the back centering ring put in place. I also put the retaining ring threads in place using J-B Weld.
 

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The nose cone mount is a two-piece deal, I sanded the inner portion of the nosecone to help it to stick and used J-B fillets on both sides to anchor it in place. There are four mounting holes with nut wells to attach the sled mount. This is where I stopped over the weekend. I need to go get an eyebolt at the hardware store (8" x 1/4-20) Will check back in once I get that completed and set up. I also put a 800# swivel on the shock cord.
 

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In that first photo, there was already two holes and a flat tab hole already drilled. The cable loop that I already had was a nearly perfect fit.
 
I originally did the same thing with the loop instead of an eye bolt. However, it sits very close to the centring ring and lies in a longitudinal direction. Having read lots of posts about similar problems, I switched it out for a forged eye bolt through just one of the holes that has a bigger hole, sits tangentially to the airframe and is much easier to access once installed. I too upgraded the shock cord. I have some 1000lb and some 2000lb I’m currently debating between. I used Toby’s cord to upgrade a star orbiter that came with the standard Estes elastic. I need to update my build thread. I’m flying mine this weekend.
 
Very nice. I'm so glad people are cloning these old kits instead of fighting over the leftovers on eBay.
 
Agreed, 90 bucks is much better than 300 on ebay. 50 for the Leviathan!
 
Are these being offered as "kits"? If so, how/where do I find out more info about them/order them?

I'm making the kits. Tubes, nose cones, parachutes, whatever I can get from Estes I get from Estes. I laser cut the wood parts in quality plywood and balsa. I'm pretty sure no other clone kit is as true to the original as mine, with the exception of the 38mm mmt which I think is a great upgrade since you can always adapt down to 29mm. The nose cone electronics mount is for single deployment at apogee and paired with a JLCR is a great recovery team. The nose cone mount works great with Lab Rat Rocketry nose cone sleds, since you just put an eye bolt through, but you can make it work with others.
 
Check out AMWs kit line.

Their fiberglass model is a lot more accurate than the one out of LOC parts, which isn't entirely satisfying. I'd go AMW fiberglass or get a kit from somebody who's buying Estes nose cones and body tubes and laser cutting the wood bits.
 
More progress, eyebolt in, bulkheads mounted, rocked sanded and primed. 20190816_151424_resized.jpg 20190816_151739_resized.jpg
 
Final weight prior to paint... very near my regular 29mm MDRM
 

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First coat of paint on.20190816_224028_resized.jpg My daughter is calling this one Jiggly Chuff (Pokémon and rocket pun). Vinyl ordered and on the way, will be in next week. Will clear coat afterwards.
 
Thanks Jozef! And the final shot with Vinyl. I'm thinking "Getting Jiggly with it" or "Jiggly Chuff"... Coated with one layer of krylon triple glaze and a wipe of Pledge.69215646_750406132059894_7473302004811431936_n.jpg
 
For those interested in the final weight with the clear coat and vinyl, etc. It was 31.17Oz with recovery and retainer.
My regular Estes MDRM is 30.75 Oz. So within the noise so to speak for the clone with the 38mm mount.
 
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