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-   -   *Centuri* Phoenix Bird (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=17314)

blackshire 06-10-2018 09:58 AM

*Centuri* Phoenix Bird
 
Hello All,

Last night I was looking up documentation on the Centuri Phoenix Bird (*not* the Estes re-issue) and its higher-powered sister, the Enerjet 1340 Sounding Rocket. The Estes Eliminator kit contains all of the Phoenix Bird's airframe parts except one--the plastic tubing connector, which was a molded plastic component. It was a cylinder with blunt conical front and rear ends (which fit inside the body tube and the payload section tube; the rear cone had [I think] a molded-on loop, not necessarily circular, to which the parachute and the shock cord were tied, and:

When the rocket was fitted together for flight (or display), the only portion of the plastic tubing coupler that was visible was a short section in its middle, which was the same diameter as the 1.34" O.D. body and payload tubes (Centuri #13 and Estes BT-56 designations). Does anyone have the dimensions of this #13 tubing coupler (particularly the length of the exposed "ring section" that matches the body tube diameter)? Re-creating this part would enable the Estes Eliminator to be converted to a Centuri Phoenix Bird or Enerjet 1340 Sounding Rocket clone.

Many thanks to anyone who can help!

BARGeezer 06-10-2018 01:19 PM

It's .10".

http://www.oldrocketplans.com/enerj...340/enj1340.pdf

Where are the plans (if any) for the Centuri Phoenix Bird?

blackshire 06-10-2018 01:30 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by BARGeezer
It's .10".

http://www.oldrocketplans.com/enerj...340/enj1340.pdf

Where are the plans (if any) for the Centuri Phoenix Bird?
Thank you! I'm glad that it's also a nice round number (classroom rulers aren't usually divided into 0.10" divisions, but steel rules are). I've looked online for Centuri Phoenix Bird instructions, but there don't seem to be any (there are for the Argus, though, on JimZ's website).

BARGeezer 06-10-2018 02:36 PM

That's OK, never mind. I see on Ninfinger's site the Phoenix Bird's dimensions are in the 1978 Centuri catalog. Same diameter, just slightly shorter than the Enerjet 1340. Can I pester you with a couple of questions? How do you intend to replicate that part? 3D printed plastic or balsa coupler, perhaps? And are you going to add the tiny strakes to the Eliminator fins, or leave as is? Do you have a scan of the original decals? Or will you be using the Estes version? Appreciate your feedback.

blackshire 06-11-2018 09:15 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by BARGeezer
That's OK, never mind. I see on Ninfinger's site the Phoenix Bird's dimensions are in the 1978 Centuri catalog. Same diameter, just slightly shorter than the Enerjet 1340. Can I pester you with a couple of questions? How do you intend to replicate that part? 3D printed plastic or balsa coupler, perhaps? And are you going to add the tiny strakes to the Eliminator fins, or leave as is? Do you have a scan of the original decals? Or will you be using the Estes version? Appreciate your feedback.
I apologize for the delayed reply; either YORF or my ISP does some kind of "system house-keeping" late at night, which makes it impossible to open YORF to read or post anything. I wouldn't be making the tubing connectors myself. I was just gathering information (on my own) for another YORF member who might--but might not--be interested in 3D printing them. The Eliminator (see: http://www.amazon.com/Estes-1950-El...t/dp/B0007UDS84 ) appears to have the little forward fin strakes.

tbzep 06-11-2018 09:17 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by BARGeezer
I've got to get me a white lab coat so I'll look smart. :cool: :eek: :rolleyes:

ghrocketman 06-11-2018 10:59 PM

I always thought the white lab coat in that photo looked ridiculous.

BEC 06-12-2018 01:11 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by BARGeezer
How do you intend to replicate that part?


I'm not Jason but.....

When I used an Eliminator to make an Enerjet 1340 clone I just used a BT-56 stage coupler (the regular fish paper sort) and put a 1/10 inch long ring of body tube in the center of it. The tube cutter I have (one of Chris Michelssen's but it is similar to the Kuhn cutter currently available) with a fresh blade made cutting a ring that small not terribly difficult.

Then, a ply disc from Semroc inside with a screw eye made a functional replacement part that looked right on the outside.

blackshire 06-12-2018 01:42 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by BEC
I'm not Jason but.....

When I used an Eliminator to make an Enerjet 1340 clone I just used a BT-56 stage coupler (the regular fish paper sort) and put a 1/10 inch long ring of body tube in the center of it. The tube cutter I have (one of Chris Michelssen's but it is similar to the Kuhn cutter currently available) with a fresh blade made cutting a ring that small not terribly difficult.

Then, a ply disc from Semroc inside with a screw eye made a functional replacement part that looked right on the outside.
I had thought about replicating it that way, too. But Bruce Levison ('teflonrocketry1') is working on 3D printing--among other things--the Centuri #13 (Estes BT-56) plastic tubing connector that was used in the Centuri Phoenix Bird and the Enerjet 1340 Sounding Rocket.

mwtoelle 06-12-2018 02:37 PM

Does anyone have the lengths of the body tubes in the kit? I know that it uses ST-13 tubing.


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