paulk
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- Joined
- Oct 19, 2005
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Hi,
I wanted to share with you Cherokee-D fans my latest build, a Cherokee-D clone built with a Thrustline parts pack, and Excelsior decals.
This is my all-time favorite rocket. I'm not sure exactly why, maybe because it is just so cool looking, or maybe because this is the first one that got away in my youth. Lost my original on its maiden flight in 1975, last thing I saw was an orange spec high in the air over the local industrial park, after following it for maybe a mile over the hill and through the woods (really!). So I built a second one that year, and never flew it... Until this summer... I put a smaller 15" chute in, with a 4" spill hole. It flew twice one day on a C11-5 and D12-7, calm day, great flights. Next day I was simply too confident in what seemed like only a light breeze, used the big motor right away, and lost it in a marsh at a local WOOSH event.
I had read about cloning through this forum, so lookup Thrustline Aerospace, and Excelsior Rocketry, and decide to build number 03. What a nice kit! Being only my 3rd BAR build, I was real happy with the final outcome. Sure the fillets are not perfect, the nose cone red is darker than I wanted; it still is way better looking than the two I lost (sniff). The kit worked out real well for me, along with plans from JimZ. Only change I made was to substitute a smaller thickness screw eye, the snap swivel wouldn't fit over the one in the kit. Decals went on great, had a couple specs of red that lifted off the big wrap, I think during my application of MicroScale Decal film. No big deal, I'll be more gentle next time. I didn't apply the Micro Sol, wanting to see what it would look like without it. I wonder if I can still apply it?
I now hope to clone what is left of my vintage fleet.
It is just really great to see the Cherokee-D born again . I look forward to flying this bird. Thanks Jim! Thanks John! Thanks Phred! (oh, and Thanks TRF!)
-Paul
I wanted to share with you Cherokee-D fans my latest build, a Cherokee-D clone built with a Thrustline parts pack, and Excelsior decals.
This is my all-time favorite rocket. I'm not sure exactly why, maybe because it is just so cool looking, or maybe because this is the first one that got away in my youth. Lost my original on its maiden flight in 1975, last thing I saw was an orange spec high in the air over the local industrial park, after following it for maybe a mile over the hill and through the woods (really!). So I built a second one that year, and never flew it... Until this summer... I put a smaller 15" chute in, with a 4" spill hole. It flew twice one day on a C11-5 and D12-7, calm day, great flights. Next day I was simply too confident in what seemed like only a light breeze, used the big motor right away, and lost it in a marsh at a local WOOSH event.
I had read about cloning through this forum, so lookup Thrustline Aerospace, and Excelsior Rocketry, and decide to build number 03. What a nice kit! Being only my 3rd BAR build, I was real happy with the final outcome. Sure the fillets are not perfect, the nose cone red is darker than I wanted; it still is way better looking than the two I lost (sniff). The kit worked out real well for me, along with plans from JimZ. Only change I made was to substitute a smaller thickness screw eye, the snap swivel wouldn't fit over the one in the kit. Decals went on great, had a couple specs of red that lifted off the big wrap, I think during my application of MicroScale Decal film. No big deal, I'll be more gentle next time. I didn't apply the Micro Sol, wanting to see what it would look like without it. I wonder if I can still apply it?
I now hope to clone what is left of my vintage fleet.
It is just really great to see the Cherokee-D born again . I look forward to flying this bird. Thanks Jim! Thanks John! Thanks Phred! (oh, and Thanks TRF!)
-Paul