Upscale Estes swiftly

[wadavidson]

Ok, starting another big goony bird. The Super Big Bertha didn't go as well as planned but will be back eventually, but in the mean time I am going to build a super upscale of the Estes swift.
I didn't know much about this bird till I bought a Madcow cricket and flew it last summer at MDRA. Obviously gears turn and we are now building an upscale of the upscale.

Airframe will be glassed 11.675 PML (apparently my favorite tubing at the moment). Fins will be made from 3/4" euro birch, and I have got Dan over at Python building the nose cone.

Hope to fly at MDRA in July on L motors and on M motors at larger fields.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

That sounds very cool. What do 3/4" fins of that size end up weighing? That backswept fin design does a lot to move the CP aft, but this most be some pretty heavy fins too.

 

[TangoJuliet]

I don't do HPR, but your smaller upscale is appealing to me. :wink:

 

[wadavidson]

That sounds very cool. What do 3/4" fins of that size end up weighing? That backswept fin design does a lot to move the CP aft, but this most be some pretty heavy fins too.

I will have to weigh the fins but they are probably about 7 lbs each. I like to use laminated euro birch because of the phenolic lamination on either side/ no grain. It can be heavy but it is tough.
CP is near the rear of the tube so the majority of the motor is in front of the CP. will still need some nose weight

 

[wadavidson]

I don't do HPR, but your smaller upscale is appealing to me. :wink:

That is a Madcow Cricket and you can have Mark at Stickershock make you the decals

 

[wadavidson]

Additional progress
Motor mount with all thread and spacing for electronics bay



First fin attachment

Moving quickly

 

[wadavidson]

All fins attached
Not the correct nose cone but gives you the idea. Dan @ Python is working the correctly shaped cone as we speak!

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

Is the electronics bay going to be next to the motor mount in the "fin can" area? How will you access it?

 

[LW Bercini]

I don't do HPR, but your smaller upscale is appealing to me. :wink:

There's a guy in my club who does 150% to 250% upscales of classic Estes kits. The results are remarkable. They are not so large that they go beyond mid-power, but they are "hefty" enough to increase the cool factor.

 

[wadavidson]

More progress.... Just received the cone from Dan at Python and the results are fantastic. The shape is perfect and now it really does look like a Swift

Fillets, tail guides, and a couple of epoxy pours and we will be off to paint.

 

[wadavidson]

4th of July fillets using the spoon method

 

[wadavidson]

Primed

 

[wadavidson]

Ready for decals

 

[wadavidson]

Ready for clear coat

 

[NateLowrie]

Very nice. I will be onsite Saturday with a crew. If you need help I'll be around.

 

[NateLowrie]

Very nice. I will be onsite Saturday with a crew. If you need help we'll be around.

 

[neil_w]

It goes without saying that that is awesome, but I'll say it anyway: That is awesome.

Transporting it looks like it'll be fun.

 

[Bat-mite]

So this is going up at MDRA on Saturday?

 

[wadavidson]

Very nice. I will be onsite Saturday with a crew. If you need help we'll be around.

Thanks Nate, I will count on it.

Still want to talk to you about machining some bulk plates/ thrust plates. Maybe we could discuss Saturday?

 

[wadavidson]

So this is going up at MDRA on Saturday?

Saturday or Sunday but most likely Saturday

 

[wadavidson]

The

clear coated

 

[NateLowrie]

Thanks Nate, I will count on it.

Still want to talk to you about machining some bulk plates/ thrust plates. Maybe we could discuss Saturday?

Absolutely. We'll talk.

 

[CORZERO]

Final weight? How will you transport it?