Mini Brute to Maxi Brute: an easy upscale

[astronboy]

I have just put the final touches on an up scaled clone that I have wanted to build for some time. I LOVE the early 1970's ESTES Mini Brutes (13mm powered rockets). One of my favorites is the Aero-Hi, a BT-20 based 'pseudo scale' sounding rocket.

I thought that this would make a neat up-scaled model, so I dug out the calculator and drew up plans for a BT-80 version. 24mm powered, will fly on Ds, Es. All ESTES parts were used except BMS 1/8" lite ply centering rings and an 18" ripstop chute. A few nights ago, I applied the decals and then the Future floor polish.


Rocsim says that it will do 550 feet on a D12-5, and 1000+ feet on an E9-6.

The lil' guy in the photo is my 7 year old nephew, who is a die-hard junior rocketeer.

Fred

 

[Fore Check]

SWEET!

I wanna do a mini-brute upscale too, but I'm leaning towards the Rogue. However, since no conical nose cones are available for the BT80 (unless you call Sandman, that is ) I'm leaning towards a BT55 upscale and using a Black Brant style PNC (which I have a few of.) Seems like the Little John could also be done with the PNC 80K, speaking of BT80 class upscales.

(or even - dare I say - a Starliner.... but was the Starliner a mini-brute? Oh well. Still would be cool.)

 

[Micromeister]

Great job Fred:
I've alway liked the Aerobee-HI, very clean model. Estes bought out North Coast Reocketry (Matt Steel) line of rockets. They had a 2.6" size "Heavy wall" Aerobee-HI test. Not quite scale but a nice convertable model... I of course immediately Clustered the beast with 3 D12's What Beautiful Flights
What do you think?

 

[Habu]

Originally posted by Fore Check
SWEET!

I wanna do a mini-brute upscale too, but I'm leaning towards the Rogue. However, since no conical nose cones are available for the BT80 (unless you call Sandman, that is ) I'm leaning towards a BT55 upscale and using a Black Brant style PNC (which I have a few of.) Seems like the Little John could also be done with the PNC 80K, speaking of BT80 class upscales.

(or even - dare I say - a Starliner.... but was the Starliner a mini-brute? Oh well. Still would be cool.)

I had a Rogue back in the day...
Flew straight out of sight maiden flight.
An upscale would be cool, even in BT55 size.

Say, Fore Check, did you get to launch that fine Optima yet?

 

[Fore Check]

The Optima has not flown yet, Habu. But it *will* on Memorial Day Weekend at NSL! I've got two packs of E9-8's earmarked for a pair of launches!