That looks awesome!

Some say I’m a master at understatement ...

__________________
SAM #0031

Well, that WAS MASTERFULLY understated.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

OUCH!

Oh and SEL you misspelled *torching* ..... it’s not spelled *scorching*
Okay SEL ... so now I’m concerned. I made the holes in the seven 18mm motor tubes per the instructions. There will be a tiny bit of space between the completely assembled motor mount assembly and the ID of the main airframe tubing judging from my centering ring OD and the back view your burnt toast business end photo.

I can’t imagine the hot gasses from clusters of 18mm zero delay black power motors venting through those 1/4” diameter holes in such a small space and out the rear not causing damage initially and certainly on repeated flights. I am thinking of pouring an epoxy plug into the end of any zero delay black powder motors that I use in the 18mm outboards and if I use say any Quest D16 composites remove the ejection charge and epoxy plug those as well to avoid a torch fest ...

If epoxy plugging the motors would be considered a motor mod I would fly either before the range officially opened or after the range officially closed for the day or on an EX day.

Any suggestions? Bueller? Bueller? ... Anyone? Anyone?

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
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

Put a balsa plug ahead of the motors and EJECT them

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Well, it took a month to get here because of the D16’s but I got my Quad Runner to bash for the other build. Almost feel sorry doing that my first impression is that it’s a very well thought out kit. I’m pushing this on the back burner for now I want to finish my MINI KATANA first and the Quad Runner / MINI KATANA 418 at a later date. I need to update my signature our club put out launch dates and rain dates for the fall season unless COVID-19 interrupts our flying season.

Saw on the news yesterday Louisiana leads #1 with COVID-19 in the USA per capita so no telling what could happen

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
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

If I were on my own property I could use short delays and do that however one year at our club launch a sparky motor caused a bad fire on the field so I doubt they will allow that. They no longer allow sparky motors because of the fire.

I am leaning towards plugging zero delay motors with epoxy and flying before or after our range opens or on the EX day.

__________________
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 have been very busy with work for the last two weeks but I made some progress
I used the 18mm standard engine casing from my fin alignment guide to set the seven thrust rings 2.5” deep into the seven motor mount tubes. That lands them just below the vent holes. With an Estes A, B or C in each mount you would have 1/2” of space left in the mounts between the front of the engine and the centering ring but with the ejection charge well on the Q-jet D16 those fit with very little space there. With Q-jet D-16’s I’m going to remove the ejection charges and plug them. I did not use a thrust ring in the center 24mm mount so I wouldn’t limit any motor length selections.

Motor mount is finished but haven’t glued the forward centering ring on yet. I used Gorilla wood glue for all the bonding. Super strong stuff. I will use a cable mount through the front centering ring same as the original kit. I have some 1.8mm vinyl coated stainless steel cable with 2.2mm double ferrule crimps and a crimping tool to set the loop in each end. I will use 30 min epoxy when I bond the motor mount in the body tube. That way I will have enough time to get a good ring of epoxy ahead of the front centering ring and as I slide the mount in also put a bit more epoxy to be pushed up ahead of the second centering ring to get a good ring of epoxy there too.

I cut 10” off the T80H tube to get the required 24” for the main body tube. That took a LOT of passes and some patience with the vintage #6 X-acto to get through that thick walled tube. I built up a tape ring around the tube and got a perfectly cut tube and didn’t even need to sand it! I still want to coat just the exposed ends of all motor mount tubes and both ends of the body tube with a little thin CA.

Attached Thumbnails

                 

__________________
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

Used Brodak Sanding Sealer for the very first time today. I applied two coats to both sides of each of the six fins sanding before and after each coat and the fins look perfectly smooth. I used tape over about 1/8” to 3/16” of the root edge to insure a good bond later when I attach the fins to the body tube.

I’m very impressed with this butyrate dope sanding sealer. It dries incredibly quick in our sweltering Louisiana heat, sands easily and smells delightful in my garage. I don’t foresee ever returning to a water based filler ... as they say “To Each His Own”.

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
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

Glad you liked the experience with the Brodak Sanding Sealer.
It's every bit as good as old Pactra Aero Gloss.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !