MPC Nike Patriot by Danny Almond

MPC Nike Patriot

By Danny Almond

2015-05-11

Manufacturer:

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

Anyway, ya bilge rat, 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, and see where it ends up (barrin' a rocket eatin' tree, etc.). Begad! I will call it t' " Brotherhood Patriot Act" or something...... ha. Blimey! I like it. Let's get started.

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

On t' t' current project for now. Ahoy! 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. It will also get t' parachute out o' thar fast. Ahoy! 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.. I will also reinforce t' stuffer tube on t' outside for same purpose . You can't see, but I also Double walled t' Engine Holder Tube with another tube, ya bilge rat, slit & glued over t' original one. That will strengthen it and dispel heat. Well, blow me down! Plus t' glue will add t' its overall strength. Blimey! One tuff engine component. Aye aye! I've done this on many kits over t' years. Arrr! T' Patriot tube on top o' t' rr iron shows how high up inside t' tube t' stuffer will be. Aye aye! Yes, I added t' engine hook. There will be More modifications as I go t' make this One Tuff Bird. Lookin' forward t' all flyin' this kit... Arrr! My only other concern is addin' two chutes, ya bilge rat, 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. Ahoy! It worked, matey, I did it on every Merc. Well, blow me down! flight I ever did. Just wrap it around ur finger and put on top o' loaded chutes, it won't tangle up w t' others. Begad! Good experience for you, too. Avast! 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, me bucko, use a brush. Even wraps o' maskin' tape around engine tube will supplement havin' t' glue on another tube ! Usually a double layer. This is even better than gluin' on those engine hooks, which I don't use. Avast, me proud beauty! I do this too. 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, You will see t' difference ! Btw, use glue over tape,, me bucko, works great ! ANYTHING t' re-enforce !

I know, arrr, based on decades o' experience, matey, rockets with many flights just burn up t' engine tubes. Well, blow me down! 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.... Blimey! Have you ever seen t' inside o' a Mean Machine, arrr, etc. Arrr! after 10 flights? There's no place for t' gases t' go, but t' heat t' bottom insides..... Begad! Shortenin' t' life o' t' rocket. Begad! T' extra weight is only a fraction o' an ounce. Ya scallywag! An engine tube, split in half and some glue. 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. This is a legitimate concern, me hearties, and I considered this before I started this build. I've done this a million times---it's a Great innovation! It's gonna be flown a Lot, I hope. Blimey! This is why I feel this modification was 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. Avast! 0.02 o' an oz. ,,,, less than a quarter oz. Avast, me proud beauty! A NCW weighs more than that.

Anyway... Onward and upward. Blimey! I know you're givin' me t' business. Begad! I can hear you talkin' under your breath. Pay attention. Avast, me proud beauty! I'm tryin' t' teach you somethin' here. Arrr! Sheesh!

I never use Engine Hooks, I'm old School. Well, blow me down! 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. Also, Always Sand any Plastics t' be Painted.

Okay, arrr, 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. Ya scallywag! 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, if t' lower tube is damaged, 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, that t' screws will suffice. Blimey! After t' BT strip dries in place, me bucko, 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. Aye aye! Used a pin vise t' drill holes, me hearties, nuts will be cemented t' inside o' shoulder. Just somethin' different, functional, shiver me timbers, 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. Will hold in place if a Body Tube change is needed. Begad! If not, you still can use new ones, due t' t' location, you have easy access.

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

As per suggested t' me any Estes back in t' 80s, Maskin' Tape is me standard for shroud line tape. Begad! T' Older t' Tape, matey, 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 !