Open Rocket User Manual

For those needing help getting started with Open Rocket, A User's Manual is available at the following address: CLICK HERE






From the Website:

Contents
1. Introduction
2. Downloading & Installing
3. Getting Started
4. Basic Flight Simulation
5. Basic Rocket Design
6. Advanced Rocket Design
7. Advanced Flight Simulation
8. Rocket Analysis
9. Simulation Listeners
10. Other Stuff

Appendices:
A. Component Details

Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 3, Fin Pattern Printing

To get a print of the re-sized fin patterns,
Go to FILE,
Click on PRINT / EXPORT PDF







This window is brought up.
Click on ARAPAHOE, to clear all the boxes,
Then click on FIN TEMPLATES.





These patterns should show up.
This main fin is from Page 3.
Pages 1 and 2 show the long gussets as two pieces.


From that print out, I drew up a fin pattern sheet. I'll print it out on card stock.
The name font is close to the original. The downloaded font took some editing to get it close.

I made a mistake here -
I took the fin pattern from the Open Rocket file. You can't draw fin root edges that curve around a tail cone. I went back and added the root edge curve to my Corel art.

Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 2, Background and Sizing

Go to the right under EDIT, go down to SCALE.








At the SCALE FROM line,
change the 1.637" (BT-60 dia.) to 1.325" (BT-55 dia.)
Hit the SCALE button.

Here's the model in BT-55 size, Open Rocket does the work for you.
The model looks bigger in the window, I just adjusted the percentage in the View Type lower window.

Thrustline Arapahoe C, Part 1, Background and Sizing

I've always liked the OOP Thrustline Arapahoe E design.
This picture is from Rocket Reviews: CLICK HERE
John McClure did the build and review.

The original kit was made for D and E engines. The main body tube was a BT-60.

I picked up a few Estes Monarch kits in the recent clearance sales.
I'm not too hot on the Monarch design, it reminds me of a three fin Big Bertha or the Quest Big Betty in a BT-55 body.
This was one of those kits where the face card advertises: "Water Slide Decals!" The only decal included is the MONARCH name in a smaller size than shown on the face card. Masking and placement of all those silver pinstripes wouldn't be easy.

I bought the kits for parts or a possible kitbash. A down scaled Arapahoe C might put the Monarch parts to better use. This will end up with a BT-55 body tube and 18mm power.

I downloaded the original (BT-60)RockSim file:
http://www.rocketreviews.com/unknown-arapahoe-e.html
and loaded it into Open Rocket:

Some changes were made and component materials fixed. When you use online RockSim files you do have to double check the parts. This file was missing a launch lug, among other slight things.

Continued in Part 2 . . .