Estes army hawk
 

I just opened an Estes army hawk kit #2031 that comes in a box to discover that the main body tube is in 2 pieces and includs a coupler. Only thing is the instructions only have 1 body tube listed and without a coupler.

Did the baged kit have a one piece body tube?

Where does the smaller body tube go you think, top or bottom?

:)

How long are the two sections? I can see two schools of thought here:

If you put the shorter section forward, it will help the CG be a bit more forward.

If you put the longer section forward, the CG will be a bit further back, but you will have more room for the laundry. Personally, I think this is the better solution - you can always add a bit of clay to the nose cone to affect the CG, but getting the chute or wadding hung up on the coupler would ruin your day - or at least your rocket! ;)

Greg

Leo,
Is the total height going to work out correctly (25 inches)? Strange how that happened. Maybe Estes ran out of the one long tube and opted for the two? If the rocket was truly sealed, I think that's the only explanation. I guess it's possible someone at the factory loaded the wrong tubes...
I would most likely opt to use the smaller tube for the bottom which would allow more room (if needed) in the longer tube for the parachute and wadding. That way, the coupler would be more out of the way. To me, that sounds reasonable!
Allen

Whoops! I agree with Greg! :D

The box was sealed.

Here the contents:


The short BT is 5" long. The long BT is 13.36".

If the BT were one piece it would not fit in the box. Just wondering if the baged kit had a one piece BT as the instructions would suggest.

As you have recommended, the shorter BT would be better off on the bottom :)

Body Tube Reference Chart
 

Leo,

According to the BT reference chart, http://rocketshoppe.com/info/Estes_...be_List_3.1.pdf, the body tube should be a single 18" length BT60.

Yes, the bagged kit had a one-piece tube. I never saw a boxed Army Hawk. What is the part #?

Since you have a coupler, cut yourself three half moons and turn it into a baffle. Two birds with one stone. :cool:

I would have never thought of that! Thanks :)

It says part nr. 2811

The bar code has a big fat #227011 above it.

Sorry, I meant to ask for the kit #. Is that the kit #? Most boxed Estes kits I've seen had a 7000 series kit number.