BAR Fleet #138 - Crossfire ISX

 Source:  Estes Industries Kit #7220

Type: Sport Model

Stages: Single

Engine Type: 18mm

Recovery:  Parachute

Length:  39.6cm (15.6 in.)

Diameter:  25mm (.98 in.)

Weight Empty:  35.2g (1.24 oz.)

Nose Cone:  Conical

Number of Fins: 3

Color Scheme:  White, Silver, Black

Date Completed:  December 24, 2021

An Attractive Sport Model

The Estes Crossfire ISX is one of those model rockets that just has that 'cool' look about it.

Perhaps it has something to do with the sleek 'sounding rocket' nose cone and the added tabs on the fins. Whatever it is, I made the determination to have one in the fleet, despite it being a relatively simple 3FNC bird.

The only variation with this model from the face card illustration is that I went with a metallic silver paint treatment on the nose cone and nozzle shroud.

I am anticipating good times at the launch field with this great-looking model.

BAR Fleet #137 - Cherokee-Icarus

 

Sources: Quest Aerospace #1010, #2006,

Estes Industries #2408

Type: Payload model

Stages: Two

Engine Types: 24mm, 18mm

Recovery:  Parachute

Length:  95.8cm (37.7 in.)

Diameter:  35mm (1.38 in.)

Weight Empty:  122.6g (4.32 oz.)

Upper Stage:

Length: 56.3cm (22.2 in.)

Weight Empty: 63.8g (2.25 oz.)

Booster Stage:

Length: 17.8cm (7.0 in.)

Weight: 40g (1.4 oz.)

Payload Section:

Length:  21.7cm (8.5 in.)

Weight: 18.8g  (.66 oz.)

Nose Cone:  Tangent Ogive, 3 caliber

Fin Type: Raked

Number of Fins: 3 per stage

Color Scheme:  White, black, markings: blue, black

Date Completed:  December 22, 2021

A 'Franken-Rocket' For The Fleet

This model is made up of parts and pieces from three kits: a Quest Icarus, a Quest Big Rage, and an Estes Cherokee-E.

The Icarus (kit #1010) was introduced in 1994. This one is built mostly to stock and flies on an 18mm motor.

The booster stage is made from the body tube that was originally intended as the Icarus' Payload section.  A spare Estes Cherokee-E kit provided the 24mm motor mount, fins, and decal set. The fins were mounted upside down to more closely match the planform of the Icarus upper stage. These booster fins were papered for added strength, and balsa wood gussets were glued along the root joints.  The motor mount was built to accommodate Estes E12-0 motors.

The model's payload section comes from a Quest Big Rage, which met its demise on a December 2nd, 2021 flight.

The Cherokee-Icarus is intended to be the new workhorse booster for 808 camera flights. In two-stage configuration, it will be capable of lofting the camera on higher altitude flights at larger flying fields or in windless conditions.

Here are more detail pics: