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  #1  
Old 01-05-2019, 09:05 PM
Les Les is offline
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Join Date: May 2008
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Default US Rockets Trident build thread

This is a new kit from US Rockets. In fact, so new I discovered I am actually a Beta tester (which I did not realize at the time that it was not a production kit). It does not show up on their web site yet. I found out about the kit via their Facebook page.

Frankly - I have to admit I am a bit disappointed. As I previously stated, this is a beta kit - but I was not informed that it was still in the beta stage. The only instructions are a copy of the Estes instructions. The kit includes a note stating it "doesn't officially exist yet" and that the kit contains "No custom parts and only used stock parts". As such, the Trident is, well, Trident-ish. One issue is the scale. The tube diameters are 2.26x the BT5 and 2.31X the BT50. But the lengths range from 1.88x to 2.22x.
The nose cones are a bit confusing. There are 3 pod cones made of plastic and 3 pod cones made of balsa. My first thought was to use the balsa on the rear where the balsa fins would glue. But the balsa cones are shorter than the plastic cones and the longer cones belong on the rear. Even if I use the plastic on the rear, the cones range from 1.55x to 3.28x. The scales are worse if I put the balsa on the rear.

Now, there was some cleverness in the design. The original Trident used a 5E nose cone, 18" BT5 tube, and 5W tail cone for a total length of 22.13. The US Rockets Trident has a 3.75" nose cone, 36" of tube, and a 4.25" tail cone for a total of 44", or about a 2x scale. Similar for the passenger pod (works out to 1.98x). However the motor pod works out to 2.49x. I did notice the fin template states it is for a 2.25x upscale.
Bottom line, since there are different scales and no real instructions, I will be needing to decide where to cut the ducting ports.
The other issue is a blown up copy of the Estes Fin template is provided. However, since the cones are not scale the pattern will not line up. Again, I am going to need to "fudge" things. The fin material is 1/4" thick x 6" wide balsa.

To give an idea on how the rocket will look, I laid out the parts next to my Estes clone.
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  #2  
Old 01-05-2019, 09:10 PM
Les Les is offline
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Time for spiral filling. The pods consist of 3 - 12" tubes, and they are the same size as the motor tube - so 10 tubes. I can set up a bowling alley! Plus the "passenger" and "motor" section.

Did some cleanup of the Trident rings. A before and after picture. Still want to fill the edges for the exposed rings.
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  #3  
Old 01-05-2019, 09:39 PM
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LeeR LeeR is offline
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The nose cone on the motor section of the original is a 50J. You could give that pointy cone a flat top to more closely align with the original.

Here is my scratch-built 2.3X collection of parts. Six nose cones done, three to go.
I thru this picture together last year. Ducting tubes are not full length, I need to splice extenders on. Upper tube nose cones are reversed, the original used a 50K (Alpha) cone on top, a long 50Y at the bottom of the tube.

One of these days I’ll get those nose cones turned, and finish the build.

Looking forward to seeing yours completed.
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Lee Reep
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  #4  
Old 01-06-2019, 10:00 PM
L3Excalibur L3Excalibur is offline
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[QUOTE=Here is my scratch-built 2.3X collection of parts. Six nose cones done, three to go.
I thru this picture together last year.[/QUOTE]

Lee, and I say this with utmost respect, YOUR WORK AREA IS TOO **** CLEAN!!

Obviously the sign of a totally deranged mind.
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  #5  
Old 01-06-2019, 10:41 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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Gotta agree with Buzz here...that work area is far too clean and free of clutter.
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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

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ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Last edited by ghrocketman : 01-07-2019 at 08:45 PM.
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  #6  
Old 01-07-2019, 08:30 PM
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LeeR LeeR is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by L3Excalibur
Lee, and I say this with utmost respect, YOUR WORK AREA IS TOO **** CLEAN!!

Obviously the sign of a totally deranged mind.


Buzz, (and ghrocketman) it’s a really awful condition I have managed to live with all my life. And my wife would wholeheartedly agree with you. She used to have a sign on her desk at work that said “A Clean Desk Is The Sign Of A Sick Mind”.

In all honesty, though, that is just a big assembly table, and often completely bare. The blue technician’s bench barely visible in this picture is not empty, but it is highly organized with tool holders, storage containers for glue bottles and other often-used items, plus bins for parts.
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  #7  
Old 01-07-2019, 08:44 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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I'm a fan of the "pile" organization method.
A pile for everything and everything in it's PILE.
My ex-wife is a neat/clean FREAK.
One of the multitude of reasons for the divorce... lol.

I joke that I got a watch (Rolex) for my wife and it was the best TRADE I ever made.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
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  #8  
Old 01-05-2019, 09:41 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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I hope this one makes production.
Will go good with my upscale Scorpius and Colonial Viper.
__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL
, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !

Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !
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  #9  
Old 01-05-2019, 10:09 PM
BARGeezer BARGeezer is offline
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I'm looking at the US Rockets Facebook page and the last post was Sept. 25. Where, exactly, is the Trident mentioned?
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  #10  
Old 01-06-2019, 07:09 AM
Les Les is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BARGeezer
I'm looking at the US Rockets Facebook page and the last post was Sept. 25. Where, exactly, is the Trident mentioned?


You have to go back to August of 2017....
I purchased it the beginning of 2018 and I am only getting around to building it.
I am somewhat surprised that it still is not on their website after a year and half
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