Background

T' Eliminator is NCR's highest flyin' rocket. Aye aye! It gains a lot o' altitude for its size, makin' it one o' t' most popular mid power rockets in t' model rocketry world. Blimey! Begad! T' rocket itself has been made by North Coast Rocketry for many years. However, t' design was improved and new features were added when North Coast Rocketry was bought by Estes. And with Estes' powerful marketing, it has become a very well known rocket.

Construction

Dependin' on what you want out of the rocket, me bucko, it can be built one o' two ways. You can always build it exactly like t' instructions tell you. However, thar be a slight difference in motor selection with this rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' original design is for North Coast F62 and G70 Dark Star motors. Avast! However, shiver me timbers, all Dark Star motors are single use, and therefore, are very expensive. If you want t' use t' cheaper AeroTech RMS motors, the rocket will need some modifications.

First o' all, NONE o' t' AeroTech motors will fit inside o' any o' the North Coast rockets. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Obviously, they want t' make sure they sell a lot o' Dark Star motors with their rockets. Arrr! Blimey! But nay very many people I know have trees in their back yard that grow t' loot needed for t' $12/flight needed for the Dark Star motors. Ahoy! Blimey!

If you wish t' use AeroTech motors, you will need t' replace t' motor tube that comes in t' kit with a LOC/Precision 29 millimeter motor tube. Ahoy! Blimey! T' LOC 29 millimeter motor mount tubin' is sold in lengths o' at least 76 centimeters. You'll need t' cut it down t' a tube t' proper length for t' rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! Then, follow t' instructions for puttin' together t' motor mount. Arrr! Blimey! But remember that you will need t' sand t' inside diameter o' t' centerin' rings in order to get them t' properly fit onto t' 29 millimeter motor tube. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

In addition, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, a red retainer rin' is supplied in t' kit. Avast, me proud beauty! This will nay work with AeroTech motors. Ahoy! It will nay fit over t' aft gold closure o' the AeroTech reload motors. Arrr! Begad! Instead, arrr, you will have t' use a retainer o' your choice. I have information on a common retainer which I used for me Eliminator in t' segment Motor Retention.

I also recommend installin' a LOC Modular Baffle Unit. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Waddin' isn't very reliable with larger diameter rockets, at least t' North Coast waddin' isn't. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

T' six decimeter parachute that comes in t' kit is a little too small. Avast, me proud beauty! I would recommend usin' a seven decimeter parachute. Arrr!

Other than t' modifications for AeroTech motors, t' quality o' t' kit is very high. Aye aye! It features T3 fin attachment for extra strength, me hearties, strong plastic centerin' rings, and an excellent shock cord mount. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I recommend havin' a crimpin' tool handy for when you install t' shock cord mount. Aye aye! T' shock cord mount is a steel cable which connects via loop t' t' forward centerin' rin' of the motor mount. Aye aye! Then., arrr, me bucko, a loop is made on t' other end o' t' cable toward the front o' t' rocket, which is where you tie your shock cord to. T' loops are held together with metal sleeve connectors. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' sleeve connectors slide onto the cable at t' bottom o' t' loops, and then crimped t' be held in place. This is a very strong and reliable method o' mountin' t' shock cord, ya bilge rat, and the entire recovery system. Aye aye!

When assemblin' t' motor mount, its easy t' get confused. Begad! Go over the instructions several times before you glue t' motor mount together. Well, blow me down! It especially gets confusin' when you glue t' motor mount inside o' t' rocket. T' instructions say t' put a band o' epoxy inside o' t' body tube at the front o' t' fin slots and then feed t' shock cord through t' tube and slide the motor mount in. Ahoy! This isn't t' proper way t' install a motor mount that has a shock cord attached t' it because you are too likely t' get epoxy on the shock cord, which will weaken it. Well, me hearties, blow me down! What I suggest is, arrr, do nay tie on t' shock cord after you put t' steel cable shock cord mount on t' motor mount. Blimey! Aye aye! Its pretty easy t' avoid gettin' epoxy on t' steel cable since it is stiff and doesn't move all over t' place inside o' t' body tube. Begad! If a little bit of epoxy gets on it, me hearties, it shouldn't affect it since it is steel. Aye aye! T' loop o' the steel cable where t' shock cord attaches will be near t' front end o' the body tube. You will be able t' tie t' shock cord on easily. Ahoy!

Remember also that t' fins will attach t' notches in t' centerin' rings. When you glue t' motor mount in, arrr, make sure that t' notches are aligned with the fin slots, me hearties, and test fit t' fins while t' epoxy is settin' t' ensure proper alignment. Avast!

T' constant warpin' o' t' birch plywood fins drove me nuts. Aye aye! Take a look at your fins, me hearties, and if they're very warped, boil some water on t' stove. Arrr! Avast! Hold each fin in t' steam makin' sure that all areas o' t' fin are bein' steamed. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Steam the fins for a minute, shiver me timbers, and then stack them under heavy books for a day or two. This won't get them totally flat, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but it will get them flat enough so that they won't make t' rocket unstable or squirrelly. Begad! Blimey! T' only thin' that t' rocket could possibly do in flight is roll, ya bilge rat, me bucko, but rollin' can add stability.

Flight

T' Eliminator is an outstandin' flyer. T' Eliminator is a very stable rocket that can reach altitudes up t' nearly 457.2 meters. Arrr! Well, arrr, blow me down! It flies well on F62 Dark Star motors, matey, ya bilge rat, but is spectacular t' watch on AeroTech G33 Black Jack and G64 White Lightnin' motors. Begad! It refuses t' weathercock, matey, and its lift offs are slow and realistic. Ahoy!

Grades

Design: A 
Construction: C 
Flight: A+ 

As you can tell, construction isn't very easy. Well, blow me down! This rocket is a good one if you're tired o' t' same old AeroTech and LOC rockets every time, but like all mid power rockets, it is nay recommended for beginners. Ahoy! Ahoy! I also do nay recommend it as a first mid power rocket. Avast! I only recommend it if you have at least a year of experience with mid power rockets. Begad!

Note: For more Eliminator pictures, shiver me timbers, visit Dave's site.

T' Eliminator kit is a kit I highly recommend. It has t' Estes glossy design packagin' and t' design o' t' rocket is sleek and easy t' build. This is a good kit t' start out with and will get on you on the way t' high power in good kit design. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' only problem with this kit is the slightly smaller engine tube. Aye aye! Avast! It is designed for North Coast Rocketry's 'Dark Star' engines, arrr, ya bilge rat, me bucko, but will except a 29mm reloadable casing. Avast, me proud beauty! Anyway, ya bilge rat, if you are goin' into high power you will save loot by usin' reloadables in t' first place. Aye aye! Avast! Because o' t' motor tube difference I give this kit a 90% rating. It would get a 100% if it had a 29mm tube instead o' 28.987mm. I think this was done so Estes would be sure o' t' success o' their "Dark Star' engines. However t' 'Dark Star' engines are excellent motors, t' only problem t' 'G' motors are nay yet available. Well, ya bilge rat, look at t' pictures and see this rocket in flight with t' 'Dark Star' F62-6 motor, they do have an impressive black smoke trial. Avast! Begad!

T' Eliminator Kit

The 'Eliminator' in Flight