Well, I will have a couple of extra fin cans left over after I run out of EnerJet sounding rockets to clone

But what to do with those fin cans instead of just another carbon copy of the Estes Maniac or Eliminator design?

I tweaked a file I used for my "Reunited Ripper" rocket that placed 3rd in the EMRR Reunion Virtual Rocket Contest. (Well Nick said it looked like a worm so I figured it needed a makeover).

http://www.rocketreviews.com/virtual_contest8.shtml

I call it "Wormloader". I dropped two fins and added a parachute to the sustainer. Basic EnerJet 1340 with a transition to the sustainer for a total of three transitions. Would need electronics in the sustainers worm-like payload section to stage it so I guess that's what it's there for A new variation on the fin can color too - bright green!

Any of you guys have any other design suggestions for what to do with those fin cans? Since I didn't use the RockSim "subassembly" feature to make the fin can a single part, you would have to copy and past these three parts from the design file to use them: Fin Can Molded Launch Lug, Fin Can Sleeve Only & Fin Can Fin Set (4).

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Attached Files

Reunited Ripper 2-Stage Variant Wormloader.rkt (52.7 KB, 189 views)

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

I built a Challenger-II clone. It's the official unofficial D powered booster for the Astrocam.

Catalog Link 1981.

This was also what I had planned, but the Enerjet kits are too cool to ignore.

__________________
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 Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

I didn't remember the Challenger-II. Funny you should mention that one. Earlier this month I had read the article Bill sent to EMRR for his Challenger-1. The decal scheme looks to be about the same as the smaller Challenger-1.

Black fin can, white body tube & yellow nose cone. Was the nose cone molded in yellow or do the catalogs just show it that way?

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

Molded in Yellow; photo of my Challenger II kit-in-bag, below.

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__________________
John
YORF #003
SAM #004

I just reread the catalog link and with the molded colors for the nose cone and fin can with the pre-colored white tubes it was one of those "less than one hour" builds.

My thanks to all of you for your suggestions. This is do-able. I have a fin can from the Longshot, a nose cone from the Eliminator and the white tubes from an Eggspress. I have all the engine mount parts from the Eliminator too. I pretty much have everything I need.

John your built Challenger-II looks great! I guess I'll have to put this one in the build queue too. Did you clear coat the nose cone along with the rest of the rocket to get it looking so nice? I noticed you sent a .tiff decal scan to YORS for this one as well

Also, is it a single 18" length of BT-56? All I have are short 12" sections unless I cut what I need from some Semroc ST-13 I have on hand.

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__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

Thanks Steve - the nose was taken from an Estes NC-56 nose cone pack. It was one of the canary yellow ones (same one that goes with the Eliminator). I sprayed it with Testors #1214 Gloss Yellow, as this color is a good match to the orignal (you can see this in the photo). Out of the bag, the Eliminator nose cone is a bit bright and light by comparison.

The body tube is a single 18" length of BT-56 per the original - I believe it came from the now hard to find (at least around here) BT-56 Tube Packs that Estes used to produce. Sunward, ARG, and others offer direct equivalents.

My fin can came from either a Maniac or an Eliminator (I can't quite recall), so it had to be painted. A quick word about the fin can - unlike the nose cones, which are ABS, the fin can is a type of polystyrene, so Krylon is a big no-no. You have to go with a non-lacquer based paint, like Testors, or Rustoeleum, or perhaps Duplicolor - I think it's Duplicolor Gloss Black that was used on my Challenger.

The decals were printed directly from that TIFF file you found on YORS on Expert's Choice clear decal film. I think Expert's Choice is one of the best decal films around to work with - thin, but tough, so it can take a little handling during the application process without breaking up, like some other thin films tend to do. The whole rocket was clear coated with Testors Gloss Cote.

When building my clone, I went ahead and made the motor mount the right length to take an E9 size (or F21!) motor. Haven't tried that impulse in this model yet - so far it's been flying great on a C11.

Make sure you post some photos of your Challenger II when you have it done!

__________________
John
YORF #003
SAM #004

I belive the yellow cones are still included in the PNC-56 cone paks, at least they were in the last one I got a year or so back.

Then if someone wanted a true ' no painting' clone - Semroc tubes are white , get a black fin can , and have at it .

~ AL

( unopened Longshot kit sitting here next to me, awaiting it's sacrafice to make a Challenger II, plus likely an Enerjet 1340 - I already have a Maniac in non-stock paint, just don;t try it on a G200 ...

Although this isn't the most original plan around, I was able to get some interesting performance out of it.

I call it "Hyper Loader"...

G35EM-10......3490'......Dv 18 FPS......60" Tower
H165R-14......4290'......Dv 21 FPS......36" rod 3/16" dia
H238T-14......4350'......Dv 14 FPS......36" rod 3/16" dia
H220T-14......5300'......Dv 18 FPS......36" rod 3/16" dia

Length: 43.1"
Diameter: 2.34" (ST-225 payload, ST-125 main body)
Weight: 15.53 oz

Enjoy!

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Attached Files

HyperLoader.rkt (57.0 KB, 104 views)

__________________
Craig McGraw

BARCLONE Rocketry -- http://barclone.rocketshoppe.com
BARCLONE Blogsite -- http://barclone.wordpress.com
BARCLONE Forum -- BARCLONE Forum

BARs helping BARs

SAM 0044
AMA 352635

Very cool Craig! You used the big 10.3" "Fat-Ogive" cone from Semroc and the new BR-125-225

Not a Centuri Hustler and not an EnerJet 1340/20 either but definably EnerJet-Ish because of the fin can. I like this one! I'm surprised with the large cone and transition that the dry weight still comes in under a pound.

I've only used the RockSim subassembly feature once or twice and it's been a while. Can I add the molded plastic launch lug for that fin can into your subassembly or do I have to create an entire new subassembly?

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates