I'll be honest, I never connected the two.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion

Unflown: Estes - Der Red Jinx, Eliminator, F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Firebird, Jayhawk, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Spartan, Surveyor, Wizard (13mm), Xarconian Cruiser, Mach 10, Asp-1, Microsonde 3 Payloader, Aerobee 300, Cyber III, Earmark, Marauder, Mini Dactyl, Scrambler

Wasn't the Phoenix Bird much shorter ?

__________________
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, AGITATION, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, AGGRAVATION, INSTIGATION, NUISANCE-ACTION, and HAVOC !

It was a little longer, 31 inches vs the Phoenix Bird 26 inches. So, not a huge difference.

Earl

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Well, that's not exactly a paint and decal match. With five extra inches, I'd be 6' 3".

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion

Unflown: Estes - Der Red Jinx, Eliminator, F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Firebird, Jayhawk, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Spartan, Surveyor, Wizard (13mm), Xarconian Cruiser, Mach 10, Asp-1, Microsonde 3 Payloader, Aerobee 300, Cyber III, Earmark, Marauder, Mini Dactyl, Scrambler

With an extra 5" I'd be 6'6" which is REALLY tall instead of just "regular " tall.
I have a buddy that is 6'8" and played on a Big Ten final-four team back in thr 90's.
That's TALL.

__________________
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, AGITATION, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, AGGRAVATION, INSTIGATION, NUISANCE-ACTION, and HAVOC !

Sorry if I gave the impression that the Eliminator was an exact clone of the Phoenix Bird. I said it was basically (almost) a re-issue of the Phoenix Bird (see Post 10). And they certainly had different decor. However, they are very, very similar and built largely from the same components.

I guess one could say the Eliminator is stretch Phoenix Bird. And to circle back around to the Enerjet version, the Phoenix Bird was released by Centuri as a 'consumer' version of the more 'industrial' 1340, albeit after Enerjet had been phased down.

Earl

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

I have a Challenger2 which is basically a 1340 with a black fin can and yellow nose cone.
24mm power. Shoulda made it 29mm.

__________________
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, AGITATION, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, AGGRAVATION, INSTIGATION, NUISANCE-ACTION, and HAVOC !

Yep, another very good example. It is amazing that 52 year old Enerjet fin can design has had such a long life! I assume Estes still has the molds, so maybe it will be used in another kit at some point in the future.

Earl

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

The only BT-56 application that's still available is the Amazon as part of the Tandem-X launch set at Hobby Lobby. That appears to be all old stock at this point. I don't expect to see that fin can ever in a kit again. Although, if Estes has any stock remaining, it would be interesting for them to blow them out as standalone parts.

They fit perfectly on LT-125, obviously, but many if not mosty of the people who are going to build a rocket with 0.045-in thick airframe will also want to put big 29mm power in it and the fin can can't handle that.

I would love to see it retooled with somewhat stiffer fins to fit BT-55.