Future Scale Kits From Estes?

On TRF, John Boren asked for scale rocket suggestions for possible Estes kits.
Mark B posted all the suggested names:

Comrades:
Thus far we've mentioned (in no particular order)

NEW
R-7, Rapier, Terrier, Talos, Typhoon, Standard, Nike -Cajun, Hercules and Zeus, N-1, Proton, HII A/B, Titan III and IV, Ariane 4 and 5, CZ-7, LVM, Vanguard, X-17, Atlas Able, V, Diamant, Thor, Delta (any), AMRAAM, Maverick, SA-2, SA-3, SA-11, Little Joe 1, WAC Corporal (2"+), Antares

GSLV, PAC-3, Pegasus

RE-RELEASE
LTV Scout, Saturn Ib, Gemini Titan, Sandhawk, Black Brant, Nike Ajax, Mercury Atlas, Scud, Bomarc, Pershing
And John said he'd done three of these in such a way that I'm guessing they are in the NEW list.
Cool. Some of these are pretty obscure (Typhoon? Really?), but I'd be thrilled with pretty much any of them.

__________________
NAR 79743, SAM 062

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My response:

I bet you could add the (smaller) 1/100th scale Apollo Little Joe II to the re-release list. You know, the old Centuri Little Joe II, Estes brought that one back before. CLICK HERE
I'm hoping for the Saturn 1B 1/100 scale, LTV Scout and AMRAAM.

A New Rocket Forum?

Rich's Rockets (https://richsrockets.wordpress.com) reported a new rocketry forum has started up!
It's called ROCKETRY CENTER. To check it out, CLICK HERE

This may have been started by some disgruntled TRF members. Some have been banned, other threads disappear or get locked.
As of 10:00 a.m. Sunday June 7, there is 41 members.
EDIT: 42 members, I just registered.

Question About Estes "Starter" Igniters

From TRF, A post and question from member PhlAsh,

"I regularly fly a Sunward Eruption that was given to No2son, who doesn't have time for rockets now. The rocket takes 4 18mm motors, so I bought 3 packs of Estes C6-7s the other night at HobbyTown USA. In opening the packs and transferring the contents to my field box, I noticed that the ignitors had white tips rather than black tips.

Today, we had a Cub Scout pack at our NAR Sport Launch and had numerous discontinuity and misfire issues. My Eruption flew fine on four of the white-tips, but my daughter's Sky Twister had discontinuity on the first, then lit properly on the second (white-tip) ignitor. It lawn-darted, but that was no fault of the ignitor.

Has anyone else had issues with the white-tip ignitors?
Did anyone see anything resembling a press release or announcement that Estes was going to change their ignitors?"

Phill Ash

The response from
JumpJet (John Boren of Estes Industries)

"Phil, the new igniters from Estes are called Starters. Their tips contain NO pyrogen so you must make sure the tip makes complete contact with the propellant grain. The good news is you can now order starters without paying a high hazemat fee. The bad news is you need to spend a little more time inserting the igniter to get proper ignition."

John Boren


The picture directly above was one I took of the new igniter the first time I'd seen one at a club launch. There are now some new engines packages with Starters at Hobby Lobby. I haven't used the new clear tip Starters yet.
Most interesting is Mr. Boren's comment: "Their tips contain NO pyrogen".
Not a press release, but this is the first time Estes has said anything about "no pyrogen".
The webpage description says "Works just like out 2301 igniters." Or, maybe not.

I guess the clear coating is more like a protective dip for the thin bridge wire at the tip of the igniter. 
Personally, I wouldn't try a cluster with these "Starters". I have plenty of Quest Q2G2 igniters for that.
Did anybody else notice Estes has no cluster kits in their product line-up?

I might be buying some pyrogen dip and making my own igniters with the cheap nichrome wire I recently bought.

In another post, Zeus-cat adds: 

Some good news, Estes has gone back to putting 4 igniters in each three pack of motors. We had gobs of extra igniters at the end of the day and a few of us grabbed most of the extras.

Right now it's hard to find Quest Q2G2 igniters for sale anywhere! 
Even on the Quest website it says: This item is currently Out of Stock and will be available soon!
The Apogee website says the Q2G2 igniters won't be available until September, 2014.

Lets hope the Quest igniters keep the pyrogen tip!

Engine Hook and Launch Lug on Same Side? TIP

A question was posted on TRF about new Estes kits.
The Estes instructions have you line up the engine hook and launch lug on the same side.

Genzod posted the question:
"Why do they say in Estes kit instructions to put the lunch lug on the same line as the engine hook? Is it necessary? I'm guessing not I have not done it before w no problems, as long as the launch lug is in between two fins does it matter where the engine hook is located?" 
Genzod

Posts followed with many giving good reasons:
"Well, having the lug and hook lined up keeps the hook and the rod out of the way of the ignitor..."
Rex R

"I don't think the alignment of hook and lug matters. But I've found that having the hook aligned with a swept back fin, such as on an Alpha, makes it just a tad more difficult to get your fingers on the hook."
Plano Doug
Good point! Maybe engine hooks should be glued in place centered between two fins.

Genzod followed up with another post:
"Well you could have the hook on one side rod on another and the leads and igniter on another, still don't matter much"
Genzod

In the end, it could matter - if you've ever had your clips get caught on the extended engine hook:
"These new style hooks have a problem of snagging on the igniter wires, so keeping it as close to the rod and act as a standoff is the best way to handle that. If using that style motor hook I put it right on the launch lug line."
HammerZ2008

So Estes is suggesting putting the lug and engine hook in line for a good reason.
This puts the engine hook close to the rod, on the opposite side of where you would most likely  connect up the micro clips.
This may not eliminate the chance of the clips catching on the extended engine hooks, but it does lower the chance of it happening. 
Estes is trying to improve the chances of a good launch, especially for a first timer.
Most experienced flyers know to keep the clips away from the engine hook, but we've all had a rocket get hung up on the rod for the boost, delay and ejection - the entire "flight" sequence while still on the launcher. 

Another Bully Wannabe on YORF

Anyone who knows rocketry recognizes the designs from Shrox.
Except this guy - "Dyaugo" on the Ye Olde Rocket Forum.

Here's the link to the drama - HERE
I've always hated bullies, whether it was on the schoolyard or now on the Internet.
I remained sarcastic, civil and accepted his design challenge.
But, the moderator shut down the thread after Dyaugo threw around big words.
I would assume Dyaugo is younger and painted himself into a corner.

Too me Facebook is boring. Sometimes the Rocket forums can be hysterical.
You just have to recognize when someone is pulling your leg.
You should see the design ideas that are rolling around inside the box.

Edit: Thanks to Dick Stafford for noticing I wrote TRF instead of YORF the first time I posted this!

TRF Forum Bully?

Before I go on, I should clarify something about the building techniques I use.
Here's a condensed version of what I wrote in the first blog post, almost one year ago:

"Everyone has their own "proven" ways to build rockets. This blog is not to say I know all the right techniques. It's what works for me, but I'm always open for a better way to get it done. Who knows? Someone might pick up a new technique or be inspired to improve on what's written here."

Before the Internet, most developed building techniques on their own through trial and error. We'd pick up a tip here and there, usually from the yellow pages (technical section of the Estes catalog) or the Model Rocket News.

If you'd like to see a lively discussion, go to The Rocketry Forum. Scroll down to the "Techniques" section and read the posts under "Water Decal Solutions."

This isn't the first time Mr. McCoy has gone out of his way to tell me I'm wrong.
I heard about it when I painted my Fliskits MMX Honest John like my old Estes HoJo scheme.
I wasn't trying to build a true scale model, just a tribute to the Estes Honest John, the way their instructions and decal sheet showed.

When I scratch built MicroMaxx motor mounts from card stock I was told they were too heavy and I should be buying commercially made mounts.
That small amount of extra weight wouldn't matter anyway, every cardboard and balsa MicroMaxx I've flown has ejected before reaching apogee.

Once he implied I wasn't being professional.
I corrected him saying: "I IS a professional." I actually make some (okay, a little) money making model rockets.

Yesterday, Mr. McCoy jumped on me for adding a small drop of dish detergent to a water bowl for soaking decals.
I've done it this way since getting back into the hobby. No problems, no lifted decals. Heck, I don't clear coat or use Future over decals.
To quote Mr. McCoy: "It's the BETTER end results that will be obtained by NOT doing something frankly stupid that needs to be encouraged."
So now I'm stupid?

I don't get it. A forum bully?
Mr. McCoy, lighten up. It's a hobby, for Pete's sake.

What's the Argument?

Two days ago on YORF, a builder had questions about how to fill the inside exposed tube spirals on tube finned rockets.
Many great builders responded with suggestions. I put in my two cents.

This response came in:
"You guys have GOT to be kidding here and this MUST be some sort of JOKE.
Filling EXTERIOR spirals is a big-time waste of time on a typical sport model, but INTERIOR spirals on tube fins ?
C'mon now ! BE REAL !
I would not assign that task as a PRISON PUNISHMENT as it is far too cruel, not to mention USELESS. "

My response:
"No, we're not kidding! Internal construction can be as clean and well executed as external constuction.
I can only speak for those who enjoy building side as much as flying.
I applaud anyone who takes pride in their work and wants to improve.
I wouldn't recommend that you stop by my "how-to build" website or blog, you might blow a gasket!"

The simple answer - If you don't want to take the time, then don't!

There are a few forum "bullies" that seem to get satisfaction by knocking any suggested methods - if these methods aren't their own.