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Kit-bashing the Crossfire into the Black Brant III.
I decided to take a later flight to Portland today, so I have a little bit of time to scratch the surface of my next project:
Building a Black Brant III using a few parts from the new Estes Crossfire ISX #7220. With it's slot-mounted and stylized fins, the Crossfire ISX is a nifty little LPR in it's own right, but the "treasure" of the kit is the PNC and nozzle stack that was once included in the Estes BBIII kit! I've collected all of the parts needed to do the build (except for the decals that should get here this week from Sandman) and I've blade cut three fin blanks from my best sheet of 1/16" Midwest basswood. Main BT is BT50 x 14" long. Launch lug is .125" x 2.375". The Crossfire's engine mount tube, thrust ring, and AR-2050's are the same as what the original BBIII kit contained. I'll use an original-type "non-snelled" engine hook for the build, but I'll modernize the guts with a kevlar shock cord leader and an extra long, elastic fabric shock cord. TBC
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Never trust an atom. They make up everything. 4 out of 3 people struggle with math. Chemically, alcohol IS a solution. NAR# 94042 SAM# 0078 |
#2
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I was glad to see this cone return. The BBIII is on my "to clone" list.
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Bill Eichelberger NAR 79563 http://wallyum.blogspot.com/ I miss being SAM 0058 Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Gee'Hod, Shrike, SST Shuttle In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III Ready to fly: Estes - Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Snake Jumper |
#3
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The nose and tail cones can also be used to clone the #1323 Stiletto and it's coldpower ancestor, the #1111 Shark.
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I love sanding. |
#4
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That was a Coldpower Convertible even (IIRC). I had one a million years ago.
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#5
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This Nose and Tailcone are also shared with the Satellite Interceptor.
Never found the Shark or Stiletto particularly interesting. I got a built Stiletto in a kit/built lot I bought of ebay years ago. There was no motor mount in it, so I naturally sent it into orbit with an old Composite Dynamics 24mm E20. I put a 90" streamer in it for 'recovery', but launched in a backyard with no hopes of actually getting it back. A full 80n-sec F40 would have been even better.
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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 ! |
#6
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I'm back from Oregon and back to the bench. The NC/nozzle stack of the Crossfire kit was molded poorly (offset halves) so it needs work. After the initial scraping I've filled th offset with Squadron green. The inside of the nozzle needs a lot of detail work, so I use a heavy plastic cone as a mandrel and wrap a piece of 320 grit around it and carefully detail the inside of the nozzle. TBC
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Never trust an atom. They make up everything. 4 out of 3 people struggle with math. Chemically, alcohol IS a solution. NAR# 94042 SAM# 0078 |
#7
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Gee, I never thought to use Cool Whip as a filler.
I would think it would gum up the sandpaper real fast. I guess it's probably similar in shelf lfe to Twinkie filling.
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"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run" http://sandmandecals.com/ |
#8
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Oh yes, Gordy. After 3 days with the cover removed, Cool Whip turns green and is machinable. Plus it's non-dairy, so if your rocket is lactose intolerant............................
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Never trust an atom. They make up everything. 4 out of 3 people struggle with math. Chemically, alcohol IS a solution. NAR# 94042 SAM# 0078 |
#9
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Quote:
Which is why I said, "and it's coldpower ancestor, the #1111 Shark."
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I love sanding. |
#10
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"The Vixen" graciously sanded the hardened Squadron Green from the BBIII's PNC.
She actually ENJOYS sanding, cutting decals, masking, hand painting camouflage, and (when necessary) correcting my finishing disasters. TBC
__________________
Never trust an atom. They make up everything. 4 out of 3 people struggle with math. Chemically, alcohol IS a solution. NAR# 94042 SAM# 0078 |
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