Estes Crossfire ISX "E" motor capable(A-E)build.

[86mustang408w]

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I couldn't wait to start the Estes Crossfire ISX "E". So last night I started it, already did a normal one so it was easy plus I didn't use have Estes parts most are mine I had from their kits, leftovers, or bought exactly for this build. First thing was to get the forward motor ring it, and did that. I've mocked every next step up about 4 or 5 times before I glue, and use thin CA to take things in place. But got a ring and drilled, we pushing a drill bit thru it, then ran the rest of what I had from my 135# kevlar shock cord spool from RocketryWorks($.99 24mm 3D motor retainer is from him also)thru that hole which was about 4 feet long im gonna keep it that long for now, knotted it, then used an E motor to push the ring in here it had to be for the motor retainer to fit on, then used CA to hold the ring in place, it took a while O mocked it several times like said. But after that fought with my medical syringe the end was still clogged bc I didn't clean it good enough after I used it, that BTW I've used since 2013 on my builds. You just fill it with glue OR 30 min epoxy and use it inside the tubes and such. Then glue squeeze what you dont use back into the bottle or expos you just keep washing and using it with hot water. But its tricky epoxy can run. Them the first time. So think of them as disposal use for epoxy. But glue you can soak it in hot soapy water. But the syringe got messed up and it was about 4 or 5 inches nows its half...So I used that to out glue on each end of the ring, from each side letting it dry, then let it dry until today. So while I used JB weld on the motor retainer) I'm letting it cure for 24 hours before I resume the build)I cut out the fins, rhen mocked them in to clear the retainer, labeled them, filled the gaps where the little fins are supposed to intersect, but im gonna fill that in and just have the little one go on. I'm going to have to trim down the fin tabs and while I glue the upper edges to the body tube ill put frog tape over the slots so no glue gets in the tube as its really the motor tube. So after that MR cures, all do the fins, the tiny ones are the ones I chopped off the main fins Im gonna put those by the nosecone above the main fins. Gonna be chute recovery, probably with a massive spill hole. And def epoxy fillets for the fins. Wanted to do epoxy for the forward green little motor ring, but used Titebond II instead. Gonna fly it on A and B motors around here but its gonna fly on an E July 29th with SPAAR in PA. So much fun, its gonna be the colors as they are, I love it like that..
And I'm prob gonna use JB weld with the fins because of its heat resistance. Then epoxy or Titebond Thick n Quick for fillets. I still wanna use the tube slots and fin tabs, but its gonna be down to the thousandths of an inch contact with the fins tabs going into the body tube...

 

[86mustang408w]

JB weld is more than cured, build resumes later today!!

 

[86mustang408w]

Still working on old projects, it's given me a little time to think about this build, it will resume shortly!!

 

[86mustang408w]

Started back at it, ill add text later on but pics for now...

 

[Wrightme43]

Thats very cool, Sir.

 

[86mustang408w]

Thats very cool, Sir.

Thank you, im building a Apogee Aspire the same way but with a 29mm retainer to run a Aerotech G80-10T. Should be wild too! Have a Baby Bertha with an E. And one more of those another E or its going to be a 29mm option! A Quest 29mm Big Dog, and now making a boosted section for Super Big Bertha, thats already extended...Little preview. Oh and a Alpha Upscale that can fly on a D12-3, or H165R..So cool to build these!! Extended SBB...

 

[PDawg]

You might want to skip using the retainer on that Crossfire. As shown the retainer will stick out into the airflow and also add weight to the very end of the rocket. The threaded part can be left on if already glued but you can friction fit without the retainer.

 

[86mustang408w]

You might want to skip using the retainer on that Crossfire. As shown the retainer will stick out into the airflow and also add weight to the very end of the rocket. The threaded part can be left on if already glued but you can friction fit without the retainer.

I was thinking about that. I want to do some tests, starting with a A8-3. Like you said, I could leave it off. But for the E or Even D12-5, I think it would add the drag and resistance I want to slow it down a little and make a stabilized flight. I'm almost thinking with that and the drag it will cause I might not even need any or much nosecone weight. That was kind of thinking buy adding it. I'm still working on this thing, lol. I'm going to focus now on getting it done. And testing before an E motor goes near it, with an ignitor in it. I have a Baby Bertha faith an E. Bit its got a hook. And I'm making a 29mm Baby Bertha so ill have real world results shortly. I know others have done it, but its my turn. I appreciate the insight. Kind of why I post to see if I could do it better. If it doesn't work ill use that idea for sure! I'm going to work on the fins today. I almost can leave a little bit of fin inside the motor tube as a little guide for the motor. If I can get it done today, I fly it hopefully Sunday. I will post results! I have a bunch to test, a 29mm Super Big Bertha tail Swap, Boosted Big Daddy, and my E motor BB. Thank you, I appreciate the feedback!

 

[PDawg]

Rock on! I've built and launched many big motor/small rockets that many claimed couldn't possibly fly but they flew great and some flew several times before getting lost. Here's an E-12-6 Minimum diameter that flew great, was recovered, and built up a little longer. Itwas a great flight.

 

[86mustang408w]

Rock on! I've built and launched many big motor/small rockets that many claimed couldn't possibly fly but they flew great and some flew several times before getting lost. Here's an E-12-6 Minimum diameter that flew great, was recovered, and built up a little longer. Itwas a great flight.

Cool man! I'm not really going for a speed record but like doing this, for some builds. I'm upgrading my Super Big Bertha too like said, working on the motor tube now but used CA to tack the top ring in place I need to get the fins done, before I can do the other 2 rings. I'll leave the aft one out until the end. It was an old 24mm D rocket. Well I thought about friction fitting an E, but thought booster section would be cooler. Then it turned out so nice. The heck with it. 29mm, I'm not gonna fly anything crazy in it, but definitely have that option. I'm mocking up parts now to finish that, then I'll get back to this Crossfire, then that booster idea for one of my Big Daddys. Was watching videos this morning and I'm debating how to do it. The rocket is 10 years old too. So last night it was bugging me bc I wanted to do this booster idea for SBB. So. I made another tail section or booster and will test that! I was even thinking I could make some sort of fillet around the bottom of that Crossfire to cut out drag a bit. I'm cutting and making my own find with tabs, so they need support being balsa. Its all I had and it will b enough. I've been taking some rockets and just making them 29mm, then use that adapter to fly BP motors but I posted all that above. Ill add updates on all for sure. Soon! Thank you, again!

 

[86mustang408w]

I have some time right now. So i'll sand down to fins, use maybe titebond or JB weld for attachment for the top and bottom fon to body tube points. Then JB weld for fillets. Ill put frog tape on the inside to keep the stuff from leaking down into the tube and making a mess. But I decided some of the fin will be on the motor. It will give it a little more stability. So, that now....And probably a filler around the motor retainer to help reduce drag. But I can do that after I fly it. I really think it will be a perfect drag effect with that retainer hanging out. If anything like mentioned ill just sand that retainer down and friction fit an E. But I wanted to try this retainer idea out....Pics will follow.

 

[86mustang408w]

I marked the fins, 1 to 3. Ill sand them down a little and fit a spent motor, a little at a time ill wait to put those tabs on until later. I'm still debating on them but think ill be ok. And have little fins for the top on hopes to make some sort of airflow above the main fin. I'm sure I said thst wrong but you know what I mean. I feel adding them will help the aerodynamics and help to take some stress off those lower fins. I may yet even airfoil the edges. But im not 100% certain yet. Thoughts are welcome, but feel I have a good idea of how I would like to finish this.

 

[86mustang408w]

Hard picture to take, but you can see the amount of tab I need to take off.

 

[86mustang408w]

Got one sanded down. Debating on leaving the fin off the BT just a little, then using the fillets to help with attachment and using that tab to go right on the motor.... Time to think a little...

 

[86mustang408w]

Another pic. Think like this is best for all three.

 

[86mustang408w]

JB weld time, after tape on the inside. That will dry tonight..

 

[86mustang408w]

Set in the "jig", lol... Just need to mix JB after I get a template to make sure its set at the right angle.

 

[86mustang408w]

I slept on it... Just used a little Titebond Quick and Thick on just the where the fin contacts the body tube at top and on bottom. After that dries for a few hours, Ill do JB weld fillets after I do the other fins like this. One at at time and then put in a jig(so the fins will be spaced equally apart) while the JB weld fillets dry.

 

[tsmith1315]

Why the wrap around the fin can?

 

[86mustang408w]

Why the wrap around the fin can?

It was an idea to keep the tube from ballooning out as the fin tabs won't go thru the body tube very far and it did help me little. But I just kept it in place it could be used for a little more thickness for the fin tabs, even though the contact surface is minimal. With that thought I wanted a little more on the tube, for the fins to grab onto. As when they go in normally to the motor tube It takes that "balloned" look away. It's still a think while building process, I'm just going day by day with it.

 

[86mustang408w]

Got one fin in and it looks good but im slowy building it on to the BT. I'm leaving to fin off the body tube ever so slightly so I can build around it. Yet im still using the fin tabs as a motor "guide" of sort. It might help with heat too.... I'm using titebond quick and thick to basically a little at time, build the fin into or onto the body tube. This is gonna take a few days, once I get the tops and bottoms glued, I'll use JB weld and do all the outer fillets at once. I'm using JB weld for its heat resistance properties, and mentioned before its body tube is the motor tube. So glue or epoxy will crack over time, im trying to avoid that. Even a few short seconds of heat, many times till take its toll..Ill add updates when the fillets are ready to be done. Probably a few days...Back to Super Big Bertha 29mm transplant.

 

[86mustang408w]

I'm going to fly A thru D, and E motors in this eventually(Hopefully 13 days from now after testing). It really doesn't fit into the mid power forum well, and debated for a bit where to post it. So I chose to put it here. I have one built normally, this is more of an experimental(but safe...) rocket. For future builds and testing. Ill update soon, Thanks guys!

 

[86mustang408w]

Fin one is dry. I moved on with fin number 2 and just made fillets at the top of the fin and bottom at the root chord. Ill do the same with this fin as the last one and the next. And only doing this until I get them secure enough to do JB Weld fillets.

 

[86mustang408w]

Second fin was dry when I just checked it(I just adjusted it a little as I proof read, lol). So messed around with number 3 for about 15 mins to get it to this, lol. But its in place and I'm watching it. I had to move that yellow jig or the rocket itself(yellow jig doesn't line up well compared to the other one buts that's occupied)to another spot all 3 didn't line right up. One this with those is it only holds it, you have to still do alot of work. But once its done it really cuts working time down. This is a special occasion and really not having a jig would be a nightmare. I've been adding glue to this for about 2 or 3 days. And I still have fillets in JB weld to do. But I picked up some composite E-30 motors that may take a ride in once its done, retrieved, and maxed out on black powder motors. But I should get it in primer and start small and see what it needs adjusted. So once again, dry time..

 

[86mustang408w]

Guys if there's any spelling errors or words that are just mashed together like example here, "masdtocgeidfber". Its my phone that im using and autocorrect is wacked out and I'm attempting to go back and edit some of these threads. But for some reason my phone won't let me into certain threads to edit them even logged in. I apologize, I really can type great on a computer and I have very little errors with spelling in them. So its a bad habit with the phone that I don't proof-read well. So I'm going to do better at that and probably messed up with this paragraph and went back and edited it, if I can...lol..

 

[86mustang408w]

I didn't like how far the 3rd fin was out from the body tube. So I got a better clamp(s) with the use of foam board pcs to not damage the fin. Whej it was where I wanted it to be. I dropped two drops of medium CA to tack it in place. Same thing I was doing with the glue basically just faster. I didn't wanna use something like CA on all the tack spots it would have been to hard to make sure it stayed it place and its very runny. I needed something like the Titebond Q&T to just stay put.. Ill probably hit it with that glue in the spots it do not have CA on them. Then when it dries, sand it down easy and nice. Then the JB weld fillets. I've checked the motor too constantly to make sure it still moves. Thats why I put painters tape on the inside so anything doesn't seep down thru and make it a pain to sand down to get that motor to fit back in. Or getting that jig block stuck in permanently. Soon as thats well beyond dry ill do some glue, and like I said trying not to over lap adhesives in case it would have a funny reaction and not cure or bubble up oddly. You know what I mean...lol. updates as I go...

 

[86mustang408w]

CA was dry. So I put two small fillets on the top and bottom of the 3rd fin. Ill sand the excess away before the other fillets are done. Its still a think while build type deal. Ill probably start on the recovery system, I'm thinking a streamer and a small almsot drouge chute, probably 6" or so with a spill hole. And a very visible large streamer to make. Then deal with nosecone weight and the bottom fin tabs. So....That will dry for a day or so, then ill do JB fillets and think about the laundry.

 

[86mustang408w]

The one fin is up a little higher(maybe a 1/32") then the other two. It was too late, but its not going to hurt anything. I might see how bad it would be to cut the glue and re-do it. But at the same time its gonna probaly make more of a mess. I could sand the others down or add a little to this, I'll figure out something. Its a little mistake like that, that will drive me nuts...lol.

 

[86mustang408w]

Final drying is pretty much done. All the fins are at least pretty comfortably in place. I might sand it a little but, but JB weld finally. Not sure if ill tape it off(for fin fillets), or just put it on. Updates later.!

 

[86mustang408w]

The fins are held in place. Time to sand it down in a few spots, then get these fillets done, and start working on the recovery system so I can get this up in the air.