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I was on the way home yesterday and was thinking about changing my IntR/Ceptor model into an elevon only model, instead of one with full flying tail surfaces. This would require moving the wing back and making it larger. I remembered that the hobby shop had an Interceptor E kit still on the shelf for a long time, and way over priced, I did some quick checking and thought I could do a modification of this to keep the tube and nose cone and see if I could get it to fly ok. I know Estes has the cosmic interceptor on sale for $18 plus $10 shipping so I could get the cone but the tubes I think are shorter on this kit and the slots in the wrong place, and they are a custom size. I talked them down to $32 out the door. I've also ordered two of the close-out Cosmic Interceptor kits for the tubes/cone and will try to do two other variations as well, plus maybe a rocket variation, stay tuned...
I did some quick wing planform checks for the first version and came out with something I think will work.
I dumped the wingtip pods since they are heavy and will re-make those from foam. I enlarged the existing wing/tail slots to fit my depron surfaces and installed the wing. I made the forward tube section removable along with the strakes so that I can access the mid mounted rail button. It turned out for CG I did need to use the plastic tail piece. Here is is framed up but with out the wing tip pods finished. 11.5 ounces ready to fly, no nose weight needed. Wing loading is 7.5 ounces/sq foot, slightly more than my full profile version. The need for the tail piece for CG means the motor is inset about 3/4" so hopefully not in the crushnik range....
We'll see if I got the CG close enough when I can test it out. Here is it with the tip pods just roughed out and not glued on yet. I don't think it's horrible looking, still captures the essence....
I did some quick wing planform checks for the first version and came out with something I think will work.
I dumped the wingtip pods since they are heavy and will re-make those from foam. I enlarged the existing wing/tail slots to fit my depron surfaces and installed the wing. I made the forward tube section removable along with the strakes so that I can access the mid mounted rail button. It turned out for CG I did need to use the plastic tail piece. Here is is framed up but with out the wing tip pods finished. 11.5 ounces ready to fly, no nose weight needed. Wing loading is 7.5 ounces/sq foot, slightly more than my full profile version. The need for the tail piece for CG means the motor is inset about 3/4" so hopefully not in the crushnik range....
We'll see if I got the CG close enough when I can test it out. Here is it with the tip pods just roughed out and not glued on yet. I don't think it's horrible looking, still captures the essence....
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