BAR Rocket Fleet - #106 Star Trooper

Sport Model

Scratch-built per published plans for

Centuri Engineering Kit # KM-3
Single Stage
13mm Engines
Streamer Recovery

Length:  8.125”  (206.3mm)

Diameter (BT-5):  .544”   (13.82mm)

Weight empty:  .3 oz. 

Fins: (3) Raked, Inverted

Nose Cone: Parabolic

Launch Lugs for standard 1/8” rod.

Color Scheme: 

Fins, Nose Cone and lower body - Model Master Pearl Yellow

Upper Body – Testors Gloss Green

Trim:  Lower band – Chrome Trim Monokote

Roll Pattern – Estes Decal

Model Number – Dymo label, clear

Finish: Pledge w/Future / Simple Green

(Gloss Sauce)

Completion Date:  2016, August 22^nd

The Star Trooper is constructed according to the original Centuri Engineering kit plans / instructions. This model is built to the long-tube version option, with the body tube (Estes BT-5) fashioned from a single length, rather than two-piece as shown in the plans.

The recovery system also deviates from the plans in that it uses a standard forward shock cord mount and front deployment of the streamer.

The nose cone used is an Estes PNC-5A from the company’s current PNC-5 nose cone pack.   Initially plans called for turning a balsa nose cone for this model, but it was found that the PNC-5A was a mere 1/8 inch shorter than the original kit nose cone, so that was deemed ‘close enough’.

The current Estes re-make of the Star Trooper uses an even shorter nose cone.

Because the Star Trooper is intended to be used for sport flying, the fins were not air-foiled to high-performance specs, rather they were finished with leading and trailing edges rounded.

The model also carries a small amount of clay weight in the tip of the nose cone to provide a little bit more momentum during flight coasting phase.

The classic yellow and green color scheme was chosen for this model, even though some rocketeers point out that it looks too ‘John Deere-esque’.  The chrome trim and white roll pattern help to somewhat alleviate that issue.

No attempt was made to duplicate the decals of the original kit, as they are small and somewhat complex.  I did not have access to the proper printing equipment to make exact copy decals.