It looks like I already sanded the coupler.
Sometimes these red couplers are too tight and can get locked up in the wrong position when gluing.
Why are two joined tubes used in this design? Was it a SPEV?
The parts list says it's balsa, but a blow molded nose cone is included. No screw eye is provided, it's not needed.
The instructions don't mention using glue on the screw eye threads.
The plastic nose cone has one of the small, breakable eyelets for shock cord and parachute attachment. I'll fix that in a later post.
GOTCHA - In order for the rocket to sit flat on the fin tips,
The fin sanding instructions are wrong!
The leading edge (shown here) is actually the root edge.
The root edge is the leading edge.
I'm not going to use the Monarch fins.
The next post will show something more interesting.
Seems funny hope goof ups make it into the instructions.
ReplyDeleteThis type of mistake in the instructions is one of the harder types of mistakes to catch when proofreading (especially by the author) -- as you'd be apt to "correct" the mistake subconsciously (as you know what you *meant*). That's why it's usually recommended to have *someone else* proofread -- it sometimes you need a "fresh set of eyes" to catch such mistakes.
DeleteHi Bill,
DeleteI worked for years in a print shop. We had a good proof reader but mistakes still happened.
As for the tube being in two parts does seem a bit odd, given that the total length of the joined pieces would be 15" -- short of the 18" of full length of body tube.
ReplyDeleteAside from possibly being a SPEV -- another thought that comes to mind, is the coupler seems to be located where you might find a Centuri-style ejection baffle. Although Estes and Centuri had their own body tube sizes, I do vaguely recall by the late 1970s and early 1980s there appeared to be some "crossover" between the brands (as by the early 1970s both brands were subsidiaries of the same parent company) right before the Centuri brand had been phased out.
The #7214 Monarch had a fairly short run, 2010-15. The fins are very Bertha-esque, hard to tell from photos and pictures in the instructions if they're the same size as either BB or Baby Bertha fins. They're very "Estes" in shape and not consistent with typical Centuri designs. Centuri did use standard Estes tubes and cones toward the end rather than original Centuri parts but I don't recall any Centuri designs that resemble the Monarch - it is very much a 3 finned, BT55 based BB with a pointy nose, similar to an ASP Sky Ferry. It does have nice, clean, simple lines even with the somewhat oversized fins. Curious to see what Chris has in store with his version.
ReplyDelete