#1
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Vintage Estes Honest John 1227 build
While I am waiting for my Centuri F-16 built to be completed I decided to start on my next vintage build. This is a bit more challenging build and I plan on building it per the plans using everything in the kit except the rubber cords. Even though this is an old kit the rubber is in great condition but I will still replace it with Estes new rubber.
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#2
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Why use the stupid rubber at all?? That crap is WORTHLESS IMHO... I've had practically new rockets where the rubber failed at deployment and dropped the rocket to streamline in and core sample while the nose cone floated into the next county.
After that, first thing I do is throw that worthless rubber away in a box for rubber band guns or cat toys, and replace it with good quality sewing elastic. Have yet to have one of those cords fail... Later! OL J R
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#3
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Quote:
Hear! Hear! I too have had boosters fall to the ground at mach 2 and watched helplessly as the canopied nose cone drifts away to the next zip code from a broken rubber shock cord. I too have NEVER had a quality sewing elastic cord break (even a burned one.)
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#4
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Joe Wooten won himself a Starport Sagitta Cantina T shirt for coming up with the best idea on what you can do with the rubber shock cord over at the Cantina forum.
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#5
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Never had any issues.
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#6
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Estes rubber shock-cords have ALWAYS SUCKED.
For decades I have replaced them with sewing-elastic as well. For the past 20 odd years I have used a Kevlar leader on the engine mount that I tie the shock-cord to about 3" above the top of body tube. I zipper-proof the Kevlar for about 1/2" above and below the top of the body tube. Yes, it is a non-stock method even on the 'vintage' kits I build, but it makes them BETTER and more durable. It should be the STOCK method of ALL LPR and MPR recovery harnesses.
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#7
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This kit was a favorite of mine. I had the original of this, the K-27. I wasn't crazy about the shroud for the lower part of nose cone, and I certainly don't remember tapering the fins. That would have been way above my skill level at age 13 or 14.
I'm actually building the new Estes Honest John now -- really nice kit, by the way. Fifty years later, I've decided to taper the fins on this one. The laminated design of the fins makes it much easier. I'll be interested to see your completed model.
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Lee Reep NAR 55948 Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold! Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp |
#8
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It looks like a challenge, and I am not going to crazy with it will make it look like the face card picture. I noticed the face card had imperfections but still looked nice. Also the face card was a simple paint job, no black like it shows on the instructions, just all white.
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#9
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One of my best ever builds. I put my heart and soul into it. Tapered the fins, paint job exactly like on the face card, lots of Krylon clear to seal everything in. I even made a removable motor mount so that I could fly it on 13mm, 18mm and 24mm motors. Hangar queen though.........it has never flown to this day. My bad.
Joe |
#10
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Well, I certainly understand the "hangar queen" mentality. I've decided to launch a few rockets at NSL this year that have not been flown. Perhaps my biggest concern is my only old rocket in my fleet -- an Estes Saros I built in 1976. It's not a hangar queen, but it last flew in the early 90s. I removed the old shock cord and replaced last year, so there really is minimal risk in flying it. (Famous last words ...)
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Lee Reep NAR 55948 Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold! Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp |
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