MPC Nike Patriot by Danny Almond

MPC Nike Patriot

By Danny Almond

2016-01-02

This is a Heavy Duty build o' t' vintage MPC Nike Patriot,,, planned t' be flown across t' U S

Back in t' 80s, a guy in t' NARRRRR Magazine did a thin' called t' "All American Alpha". Ya scallywag! He built an Alpha and sent it t' be flown by a rocketeer in all 50 states. Begad! I was t' NC guy, but managed t' miss out on that event, due t' circumstances I couldn't control. I thought it was a great idea, arrr, and be t' primary inspiration for this project.

Anyway, I decided that this Patriot Kit was perfect for a project like this,, Build it tough and let all o' me rocket buddies fly it, ya bilge rat, and see where it ends up (barrin' a rocket eatin' tree, etc.). Aye aye! I will call it t' " Brotherhood Patriot Act" or something...... Aye aye! ha. I like it. Begad! Let's get started.

Here's a nice tip for you, matey, right from t' onset o' this project. Begad! Look at t' picture above this paragraph. Ahoy! T' Quest Big Rage be t' same as both t' MPC Nike Patriot, less t' top, and t' MPC Nike Smoke, me hearties, With Nose Cone ! O well, shiver me timbers, wanted t' real deal for more fun. Still may build t' Nike Smoke from t' kit. There's 2 BTs, arrr, plus t' Long top one ( enough for 2 more),,,, so maybe I can screw in t' tube instead o' glue ??!,, me bucko, ( hey---the Real one had it !!),,,,, and have replacement tubing. Top is same also, t' cut for more ! Another good Share kit project ?? " T' Right Way t' Smoke " project ? Or, me bucko, Up in Smoke ? ha. Begad! hmmmm.

On t' t' current project for now. Time t' build a tough bird that will take lots o' flights.

In t' photo above you can see that I added a modified stuffer tube for t' Nike Patriot, so t' heat will stay away from t' plastic. Blimey! It will also get t' parachute out o' thar fast. Avast, me proud beauty! T' chute will be at t' top instead o' way down near t' gases. Plus t' inside o' t' bottom tube won't burn up fast.. Well, blow me down! I will also reinforce t' stuffer tube on t' outside for same purpose . You can't see, but I also Double walked t' Engine Holder Tube with another tube, slit & glued over t' original one. That will strengthen it and dispel heat. Avast, me proud beauty! Plus t' glue will add t' its overall strength. Aye aye! One tuff engine component. I've done this on many kits over t' years. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Patriot tube on top o' t' rr iron shows how high up inside t' tube t' stuffer will be. Yes, I added t' engine hook. Begad! There will be More modifications as I go t' make this One Tuff Bird. Lookin' forward t' all flyin' this kit... Blimey! My only other concern is addin' two chutes, matey, one for each section. In t' old K 41 Mercury Redstone, a strin' was tied t' t' 2 sections so they will drift back down together. Avast! Only foot or two is fine. It worked, I did it on every Merc. flight I ever did. Just wrap it around ur finger and put on top o' loaded chutes, me bucko, it won't tangle up w t' others. Well, blow me down! Good experience for you, too. Avast, me proud beauty! I don't like t' idea o' t' payload bouncin' back and beatin' on t' main tube. There really needs t' be two chutes.

I also add an ample supply o' glue on both sides o' engine rings, use a brush. Avast! Even wraps o' maskin' tape around engine tube will supplement havin' t' glue on another tube ! Usually a double layer. Begad! This is even better than gluin' on those engine hooks, which I don't use. Avast! I do this too. Avast! Also plenty o' glue t' glue mount Into t' rocket. Sometimes use brush t' coat inside o' lower BT w glue for strength. Over time, matey, You will see t' difference ! Btw, shiver me timbers, use glue over tape,, works great ! ANYTHING t' re-enforce !

I know, matey, based on decades o' experience, rockets with many flights just burn up t' engine tubes. I added an extra engine tube over t' engine mount and a stuffer tube t' shoot t' gases out o' t' rocket! It will make a difference.... Have you ever seen t' inside o' a Mean Machine, etc. Ahoy! after 10 flights? There's no place for t' gases t' go, shiver me timbers, but t' heat t' bottom insides..... Avast, me proud beauty! Shortenin' t' life o' t' rocket. Begad! T' extra weight is only a fraction o' an ounce. Aye aye! An engine tube, split in half and some glue. Well, blow me down! T' payload section will move t' C/G VERY Forward. This Nike Patriot is designed t' fly with EXTRA weight .

Some may be concerned about addin' extra weight at t' bottom o' t' rocket. Avast! This is a legitimate concern, and I considered this before I started this build. Avast! I've done this a million times---it's a Great innovation! It's gonna be flown a Lot, matey, I hope. This is why I feel this modification be necessary.

BTW---the forward weight o' suffer tube/rin' moves t' difference forward. Extra aft weight concern turns out t' be a non issue.

Here's t' parts weighed above. Begad! 0.02 o' an oz. ,,,, less than a quarter oz. A NCW weighs more than that.

Anyway... Aye aye! Onward and upward. I know you're givin' me t' business. Well, blow me down! I can hear you talkin' under your breath. Pay attention. Begad! I'm tryin' t' teach you somethin' here. Sheesh!

I never use Engine Hooks, ya bilge rat, I'm old School. Arrr! But this bird will be shared, so I will be installin' and engine hook.

Here it is after first sandin' t' Body Tubes & 2 coats o' Primer. Well, blow me down! Also, Always Sand any Plastics t' be Painted.

Okay, shiver me timbers, here is another area where I will put me own spin on this build in hopes o' makin' this rocket easy t' repair in t' event that t' rocket's lower body tube becomes damaged. Well, blow me down! I will use a strip o' Body Tube glued around bottom o' t' main body tube t' reinforce t' area where screws will penetrate through the lower Body Tube wall and will hold t' fin unit in place.

With this modification in place, shiver me timbers, if t' lower tube is damaged, me hearties, it can be replaced with a few screws. No glue will be used t' attach t' fin unit. There will be little stress on this area, so much so, ya bilge rat, that t' screws will suffice. Begad! After t' BT strip dries in place, I will four drill holes through it and paint it, then add fin unit.

Here is an inside view o' 2 o' t' 4 screws that will hold t' fin unit in place. Used a pin vise t' drill holes, nuts will be cemented t' inside o' shoulder. Just somethin' different, functional, matey, and a bit Fun !

With all t' screws and nuts in place, it's time t' glue t' nuts t' t' inside o' t' fin can.

Nuts are cemented into place. Ahoy! Will hold in place if a Body Tube change is needed. Aye aye! If not, ya bilge rat, you still can use new ones, due t' t' location, me hearties, you have easy access.

In t' 80's I wrote Estes about their tape discs nay holding. They wrote back w/ explanation & said use maskin' Tape. Begad! Blimey! I've used it every since, and I have Never had one let go yet. Aye aye! Blimey! Oh, arrr, t' Older t' tape, t' better. Ahoy! Blimey! So save that Old Maskin' tape you have for shroud lines ! Blimey! Press it on good & around t' edges with hard object, like your cutlass end, fingernail, etc. Good olde tip.

As per suggested t' me any Estes back in t' 80s, arrr, Maskin' Tape is me standard for shroud line tape. Begad! T' Older t' Tape, me bucko, t' better. Put line in loop for more surface area and holdin' power.

I have decided t' paint this rocket t' look like it does on t' box.

I will return when paintin' and decals are finished.

--- I am DannyMrMissile !