Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > Work Bench > Projects
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-09-2022, 09:14 PM
MarkB.'s Avatar
MarkB. MarkB. is offline
Surfrajettes Fan
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: El Paso
Posts: 1,113
Default Afternoon Project

Druziv:

(Ukrainian for friends or comrades).

So I built a rocket today, a Semroc Cherokee-D. Nothing particularly interesting about it: 3 fins and a nose cone. I tripped over the kit twice while I was cleaning out the computer room and took that as a sign to build it. I was unsupervised today and so I opened the package at noon and by 4:00 it was completely assembled with the fins drying in the jig.

What intrigued me was the time usage. By far, the most time-consuming portion of the build was assembling the parachute. In fact, it wasn't even close. I took an hour to carefully cut out the chute, make sure the adhesive rings lined up and then with my increasingly bad eyes, tying tiny knots in the the lines. Even with progressive lenses, I was just guessing. The chute in this kit was one of those thick plastic, orange and white, 24 inch, Jolly Logic chutes you could buy 100 at a time a few years ago. It has lines to cut for 12", 15", 18" and 24" diameters. I went with 15". I cut the lines of the proper length from the provided spool. When I finally got it all done, I looked up and couldn't believe how long it took.

The other stuff was easy:

motor mount: 10 minutes,
sand the fins: 10 minutes,
mark and line the tube: 5 minutes,
pin hole the lines for glue rivets and pre-glue: maybe 10 minutes,
find the drill and bit to add dowel to the nose cone: 15 minutes
locate fin jig: 15 minutes
everything else was letting the glue dry.

It's been a while since I built a simple kit more-or-less straight from the package. It was fun, but I wouldn't want to do that again for a long time.

Comments?
__________________
NAR 79743
NARTrek Silver
I miss being SAM 062

Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
Repair/Rescue: Cherokee-D (2); Centuri Nike-Smoke; MX-774
On the Bench: 2650;
Dream Stage: 1/39.37 R-7

Last edited by MarkB. : 03-09-2022 at 09:44 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-10-2022, 04:22 AM
mojo1986's Avatar
mojo1986 mojo1986 is offline
Old Canuck Modeller
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kingston, CANADA
Posts: 2,160
Default

Would like to see pics. The dowel is for a sturdier screw eye attachment?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-10-2022, 05:06 AM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
BP Mafia
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ft. Thomas, KY
Posts: 8,596
Default

The nice thing about the Cherokee D is that the paint masking is easy. I've built A, B, C, D and E so far, some of them multiple times. I have the MicroMaxx one from Semroc waiting for me to decide I can work on something that tiny, and I have the fin pattern drawn up for a BT-70 Cherokee F. Good choice.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-10-2022, 07:09 AM
tbzep's Avatar
tbzep tbzep is offline
Dazed and Confused
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,610
Default

Druziv,

I've got a late 60's version of one of these that helps for tiny detail. Our school was about to throw it out and I happened to notice it. I use it to find splinters, do fine soldering work, etc. If I need extra magnification for that tiniest sliver of invisible metal sitting right on a nerve in my finger, I wear some readers underneath. It along with a nice work light make quick work of tiny tasks and might help with your fine knot work.

__________________
I love sanding.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-10-2022, 07:14 AM
tbzep's Avatar
tbzep tbzep is offline
Dazed and Confused
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
The nice thing about the Cherokee D is that the paint masking is easy. I've built A, B, C, D and E so far, some of them multiple times. I have the MicroMaxx one from Semroc waiting for me to decide I can work on something that tiny, and I have the fin pattern drawn up for a BT-70 Cherokee F. Good choice.

The Cherokee is one of my favorites. I personally like the short bodied version. You're right, a white base coat and a couple shots of red on the NC and she's ready for decals. My cousin's was the first D powered bird I ever saw and a 2" upscale Cherokee was my first 29mm bird. I used to love to fly it on F100 Silver Streaks.
__________________
I love sanding.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-10-2022, 11:01 AM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

Any chute larger than a 12" on a Cherokee-D when powered with a D or larger and you have a 90% chance of losing it to massive drift in ANY wind.
I fly mine on C's with any chute and a nice long double streamer if with a D.

I have built more Cherokee D's than any other kit.
Not because it is my favorite, but because I like having one in the fleet and have lost a TON of them.
__________________
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 !
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-10-2022, 11:08 AM
Scott6060842 Scott6060842 is offline
Master Modeler
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NW Pennsylvania
Posts: 665
Default

I always liked the picture from the '73 Estes catalog .... the Mighty' D'
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:  73est56.jpg
Views: 84
Size:  179.9 KB  
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-10-2022, 07:12 PM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
BP Mafia
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ft. Thomas, KY
Posts: 8,596
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
Any chute larger than a 12" on a Cherokee-D when powered with a D or larger and you have a 90% chance of losing it to massive drift in ANY wind.
I fly mine on C's with any chute and a nice long double streamer if with a D.

I have built more Cherokee D's than any other kit.
Not because it is my favorite, but because I like having one in the fleet and have lost a TON of them.

My first Cherokee D back in 2001 was the victim of a D12 CATO, I think my very first one. It completely blew the motor mount out of the body tube, but aside from some soot, left the body tube in great shape. I immediately replaced the D mount with an E mount and flew it with a full 18" parachute.
Once.
I still remember watching it float out of VOA. I felt like Henry Blake watching his antique desk head to Tokyo on the helicopter.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-10-2022, 09:57 PM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

My first Cherokee-D was built and LOST within 2 weeks time in 1978 on a D12-7 and that idiotic 18" chute.
The only D engine that I regularly got them back on with a 12" chute was the D11-9.
__________________
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 !
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-11-2022, 05:15 AM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
BP Mafia
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ft. Thomas, KY
Posts: 8,596
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
The Cherokee is one of my favorites. I personally like the short bodied version. You're right, a white base coat and a couple shots of red on the NC and she's ready for decals. My cousin's was the first D powered bird I ever saw and a 2" upscale Cherokee was my first 29mm bird. I used to love to fly it on F100 Silver Streaks.

I never built the short bodied Cherokee. Might have to rectify that this spring.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:40 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024