By Jeff Curtis
Published: 2024-12-01
Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | New Way Space Models | |
Length: | 14.6750 inches | |
Skill Level: | 3 | |
Style: | Futuristic/Exotic |
When New Way lost their source for square tubes, owner Rick Randol turned to cloning old Centuri and Estes kits. The Xarconian Destroyer is a complete but modern clone of the old Estes kit #1903.BT-55
BT-55 body tube, 10.625"
P/N 071037 Nose Cone
Paper shroud
12" Parachute Recovery
Kevlar shock cord
Laser Cut Balsa Fins
Color Water Slide Decal
Quick Release Motor Hook
Elastic Shock Cord
1/8" Launch Lug
BT-20 body tube
2 2055 centering rings
18mm motor block
1/8" x 6" Dowel rod
1/8" launch lug
Copy of original Estes instructions
Also includes rhe Sandpaper, emory board, Q-tip packet New Way puts in all their kits.
I started with the motor mount. I notched the forward centering ring and threaded the Kevlar shock cord through the notch. I added a knot to the shock cord and glued the tag end along with the centering ring. Otherwise the motor mount is standard construction. I used Titebond II for most of the construction. I added fillets to both side of the centering rings and glued the motor block into the aft end of the motor tube. Once that glue was dry I glued the motor mount into the aft end of the body tube.
I then marked the fin positions on the body tube using the fin marking guide on the instruction sheet. I then attached the wings using Aileen's Fast and Tacky glue. This glue grabs quick and is great for attaching fins. Add fillets to the wings before you add the shroud. You then cut out the enclosed paper shroud. It must be glued in place before you attach the rudder. Here's where I made a mistake. The rear of the shroud is a concave curve and I aligned the center of the shroud on the end of the body tube. I should have aligned the pointed ends of the shroud to the back of the wings. This resulted in part of the shroud extending past the end of the body tube. The rocket srill looks good and it doesn't seem to impact flight. Once the shroud is in place the rudder glues on top of the shroud. There are two small balsa sub fins that you glue perpendicular to the end of the wings. The dowel rod is then cut into 4 1 1/2" sections and are glued onto the subfins to represent guns. Then I glued on the 1/8" launch lug.
Next I assembled the parachute. New Way includes jeweler tags for attaching the shroud lines. Jeweler price tags fold over themselves, forming a loop. The loop would normally go around a ring or piece of jewelry, but in this case provide an attachment point for the shroud likes. There is also a hole at each point of the parachute. This allows the jeweler tag halves and their adhevive to contact each other, making the attachment very secure. The shock cord and parachute were then attached to the nose cone.
Finishing is easy as you paint the entire rocket white. The cockpi is then painted black. I did this with a brush as it would be difficult to mask. It is the decals that really give the rocket a snazzy look. Be attentive with New Way decals as they don't take long as all to release from the backing paper. I then sealed the decals with Minwax polyurethane clear.
Final weight was 2.6 ounces.
I've flown the Xarconian Destroyer twice. First flight was a B6-4. The delay was a bit long but there was plenty of time for the parachute to deploy and there was no damage. One the 2nd flight I used a B6-2 and deployment was right on time. Unfortunately, the rocket landed on pavement, cracking both dowl rod gun assmeblies. An easy fix. Altitude was low, so I think a C motor will be the sweet spot. It does fly straight and can probably handle a Quest Q-Jet D.
New Way did us a real service bring back this seldom seen Sci-Fi rocket. This kit provides an exotic looking Sci-Fi rocket that flies well. The guns on the wing tips are a bit fragile but
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