Monday, March 17, 2014

Estes Reflector Build, Part 8, Replaceable Kevlar Install

Earlier in the engine mount assembly a notch was cut in the long 20/50 centering ring. The notch allows a Kevlar line to be pulled out between flights to check it's condition or replacement if needed.
Making a replaceable Kevlar line in a 20/50 adapter is a little tight, but do-able.
The Replaceable Kevlar article is HERE 
in issue #338 of the Apogee Peak of Flight Newsletter.

(The engine mount has already been glued into the model. This picture just shows the loop knot, around the engine mount tube.)

Luckily no glue was blocking the top of the notch cut for the Kevlar line to pass through.
Cut some Kevlar 8" longer than the length of the lower tube. You'll need the longer length to easily tie the loop and elastic shock cord attachment out the top.
On a separate BT-20 size tube (I used another engine mount) loop and tie the Kevlar around the tube. Tie it tight but not too tight, the loop will need to slide down the tube.




Slide the loose end through the notch inside the centering ring.
The open end of the notch is about 1" inside. If your Kevlar is stiff you should be able to feed it through easily.



I'm using one side of long tweezers to slide the loop down onto the centering ring.
No glue is needed, you want to be able to pull the loop out later on to check it's condition. The knot and Kevlar loop butt up against the bottom of the centering ring.

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