Trying to clone a Soaring Eagle
 

I tried cloning a Soaring Eagle many years ago (it was a pain locating those BT-51s), but never finished the project. But I figure now would be a good time to finish it off. I've built most of the rocket already: the booster/pop pod, the tail section, and the wing support assembly. But now I have some questions after looking over the JimZ rocket plans. I refer to page 1 of the instructions and its listing of parts:

1. The pattern sheet (A) that goes underneath the main body tube. Is that cardstock, or some other kind of paper?
2. The main body tube (D) is a BT-50, but the length isn't specified. So does that mean it's 18"?
3. I bought a PNC-50SP from Moldin' Oldies. Does that weigh about the same as the original Estes nose cone?
4. How long is part (Q), the shock cord that attaches to the wing spars? Is it the usual 1/8" wide?

Thanks in advance for the help! :)

The details on the body tubes are as follows:

#1373 Soaring Eagle -

P/N 030352 BT-50 18.00"

P/N 030320 BT-20B 8.65"

P/N 030375 BT-51 (2) 2.00"

Hope this helps, and hope others can chime in on the other requirements. Good luck with your build!

Here's what I've done so far. I've attached a photo.

What you have looks good. Please keep us informed on how this project is coming along.
I wouldn't mine trying to clone this kit also.
By the way where did you find the BT-51 tubes?

Looking good so far. This is a favorite kit of mine, one of my fraternity brothers in college had this and we got some good flights out of it (a bunch of us flew rockets together in those days). I have a kit in the bag still unopened that I keep debating whether or not to pull the trigger and open it and build it but haven't gotten up the nerve yet. I paid a good amount on ebay for it but still intend to build at some point.

I have had decent success with all the rocket gliders I have built except the Soaring Eagle.
I built one when they originally came out and one in the early 2000's.
Never could get them to glide decently.

The two I built glided well. Too well. I built the first one in 1987. I launched it twice with a B4-2 and got it back both times. The next time I used C6-3 on what I thought was a calm day - it was near the ground - and it circled twice then straightened up and took off to the north towards Weatherford ( I lived in Granbury, Tx) at a high speed. Never saw it again. I built another one a few months later and flew it several times on B4-2's, then again on what I thought was a calm day, I tried a C6 again and watched it go off into the sunset......

Yeahhhh, mine flew nothing like that.
They were barely "controlled crashes".
The second one flew ok when "hand tossed" but not when launched.
Not sure what I did wrong, but was annoying enough that I'm not attempting again.
That said, I always got decent glides out of my 1284 Space Shuttle orbiters and my Orbital Transport orbiters. I built them always with lower than stock elevator angle and about 50% more nose weight than the instructions.

It's been so long since I started this clone that I cannot remember where I got the BT-51s. I have a vague recollections of buying it online from someone who specialized in body tubes.

This will probably be a static model when I'm done. After all the time and effort it takes to build it, I'm afraid it would lawn dart on its first flight. Or just sail off in a a straight line for the next county.

Maybe I'll have to build two...

One of my favorites tho I never got the chance to build one. Anxious to see how your build turns out.