Estes LTV Scout, Build, Part 14, Parachutes & New Decals

The finished build is just over 36" tall and recovers on a single 18" parachute. 

Those fin tips can break off on a hard landing.

Suggested by Ken C. in a comment, I'll recover the lower body on the 18" chute and add a 12" chute for the upper body assembly.

Note the position of the shroud line hole. It is punched towards the outside of the reinforcement ring. This puts shroud line tension against the plastic ring preventing the start of a tear.

I replaced the paper tape disks with plastic Avery Reinforcement Rings, #5271.

Paper rings tear.

Old kit decals are iffy and on this kit, difficult to apply.

I ordered some replacement decals from CMR Products. 

CMR has taken over decal production of Tango Papa Decals. CLICK HERE to see their catalog.

Prices are reasonable (as things go today) and free shipping.

NARCON 2022 Manufacturers Presentation Highlights

Here I'm listing some of the new products from the manufacturers. I finally got to listen to the presentation Sunday afternoon.

This blog is LPR based so most of my comments from the Manufacturers Forum will reflect that.

Click on the NAMES to go to their websites.

IMPLS (IMPULSE) LAUNCH SYSTEMS

Central Storage - Everything needed stores in PVC tube built into launcher. Field tough controllers and launchers for LPR, Sport, MPR, HPR, TARC and STEM Education.

12 volt LiPo Battery

New PA-Zazz Public Address System. 8 ft. tall Horn Speaker stands. 150w RMS, 2 Channels

LOC/PUBLIC MISSILES

Working to combine both LOC and PML into a single website.

Integrating both LOC and PML parts and systems.

NORTH COAST ROCKETRY

Now available:

Scorch - Vinyl décor

Corporal

Coming soon:

Artemis SLS - quite a lot of 3D printed parts, 29mm

Star Launch - Shrox design, 3 gliders on the low end.

USMX 2100 - 2.6" tube, sport flyer

Bring backs - First two of six NCR models before next December

4" diameter Phantom

4" diameter A14 Archer XL

GALACTIC MANUFACTURING

Scale upgrade kit for Estes Doorknob

Durable 1/100 scale Apollo escape tower lattice

3D printed, tougher resin print

1/70 Apollo tower in the works

Upscale parts to convert a Big Red Max to a Citation Patriot

(Wraps from Sticker Shock)

First kit to be released this year:

FAI Tube Competition Kit (Parachute, Streamer & Helicopter Duration competitions)

FAI Fin Jig

     

ESTES

Fun to see a few of my builds. That's my Super Mars Snooper and Vesta Intruder.

Super Orbital Transport - upscale of the classic kit.

Coming:

B.O.S.S. Bill Simon Designer’s Series kit

Blue Origin Builder’s Kit, 18mm engine

Blue Origin New Glenn, for 2023

Space x 1/100 Falcon 9, clear plastic fin unit, display nozzles

Only available from the Estes and Space X websites

A3-2t and A3-6t engines, shipping in May

24mm “long” engine, “Somewhere between an E57 and an E65 A deep-core burning, black powder engine.” USPS shippable.

* Estes gets it’s balsa from Malaysia.

* Estes owns the MicroMaxx engine making machines, purchased from Quest. Possible MMX products in the future.

* Estes did purchase Goex Black Powder 

FLISKITS

60 kits are back in production

24mm Tres upscale

Gigabucks (Buckshot upscale) 24mm, different decors available

Coming:

Upscale Deuces Wild 3" diameter, two 29mm engines

Radial Velocity, 29mm, ring fin model with many strakes.

Smaller tri-motor version possible

Upscale Mudwasp, 24mm

Two possible models inspired by the Thunderbirds

EROCKETS/SEMROC

New Scissor Wing Transport - Clone kit of the classic Estes kit.

40% off Excel Knives, blades and accessories for one month.

Upscale Super Blue Bird Zero in development. 

Even larger Mars Snooper and Orbital Transport in development.

* Some balsa shortages. More 3D parts to be developed.

* Heavier walled Centuri style tubing used in larger kits.

ASP Aerospace Specialty Products

New 13mm Astrobee D kit, BT-5 based, wire antennas $12.95 introductory price

A few large Wac Corporal 2.6" diameter kits are available

AEROTECH / QUEST

Again, this blog deals with LPR,

New 24mm x 95mm Q-Jets. White Lighting propellant E35 and F41 motors with 5, 8 or 11 second delays. Can ship using USPS with no hazmat fee. Available Spring 2022.

* A new 15,000 sq. ft. production facility

* New website combining Aerotech and Quest to be unveiled soon.

J & H Aerospace Boost and Rocket Gliders

On TRF, Rktman posted a Swing-Wing boost glider build (CLICK HERE) from a vendor I didn't know about.
J & H Aerospace produces swing-wing boost gliders, standard boost gliders and Micro R/C boost gliders. To visit the website: CLICK HERE

"J&H Aerospace was founded by Joshua and Hope Finn in March 2015. We specialize in model airplane designs and components of unique design that are not available from any other supplier. Our products are proudly made in the USA from top quality materials.

In addition to the products offered here, we take custom orders including new product design. If you see something here that interests you but doesn’t quite fit your needs, please contact us!"

Odd'l Rockets Now At eRockets.biz!

The entire Odd'l Rockets product line is now available from eRockets.biz!
To see the kit and accessories lineup: CLICK HERE




Semroc will also be producing some MicroMaxx kits -

The Blue Bird Zero is first up,
soon to be followed by the MMX Fat Boy, Goblin and Hawk.
The specs are interesting - but I doubt a 13" tall MicroMaxx rocket will get to 215 feet!

Body Tube Manufacturers

On YORF, a question came up about body tube manufacturers, specifically CMR and MPC style tubes. These body tubes had a slightly rough white outer layer. Instead of a small open seam was a little overlap of the outer wrap. This overlay could be sanded and you'd end up with a tube that didn't need any seam filling!

I found this website after a search for body tubes:

"Precision Products Group Inc. has re-branded the four leading precision tubing product manufacturers: Paramount Tube, Stone Industrial, Euclid Spiral, and Pheonix Tube. All four are now operating as Paramount Tube. Each company brings new strengths, technologies and capabilities from its respective industry to form one of the largest custom tubing companies in the industry."

Here's the website address for Precision Products Group: http://www.ppgintl.com/

As explained above, there has been a merger of four different tube manufacturers. It seems Euclid style body tubes are now made under the Paramount name.

Unless you are buying in BULK, don't try ordering single tubes from this website. You are better off buying single project tubes from your favorite vendor.

Speaking of that, jonrocket.com has acquired most all the tube inventory from Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack. Check out the Body Tube Sets and "Plenty Of Tubes" packages. 

New Kevlar Supplier, Part 2

For a while, FlisKits included braided Kevlar in their MicroMax kits. Braided Kevlar is made up of smaller lines, is softer and more flexible. The braided Kevlar will burn through and break quicker than the twisted line.

Here's how the Emma Kite line is shipped. The label is marked: "1,000 feet - 150 lb. - Twist".

Will this line be better than the stiffer line from The Thread Exchange? Time will tell!
My past experience with the stiffer 135 lb. line is it will last for about 20 flights before breaking, usually right above the engine mount. That's one reason I developed a "Replaceable Kevlar Engine Mount" CLICK HERE. If Kevlar is tied beneath the upper centering ring of an engine mount there is no way to tie on a new line once it breaks.

Emma Kites includes a snap swivel with each spool of line. I don't know if I can use this style swivel on a rocket but I'll hang onto it for now.

New Kevlar Supplier? Part 1

NOTE: Before you order any Kevlar line from this supplier - Emma Kites, 
PLEASE WAIT and read the third post in this series. There is a concern with this Kevlar that some might have trouble with.

I had known about emmakites.com for quite some time. They sell Kevlar line for kite flying.
They are much cheaper than thekevlarstore.com or thethreadexchange.com.
I was running low on the Kevlar I had bought from The Thread Exchange and this time ordered through Emma Kites.

On the left is 135 lb., #346 Kevlar from the Thread Exchange. I usually buy it in 4 oz. spools that are 264 yards for $37.00.
On the right is the Kevlar from Emma Kites. This is 150 lb. line, 1,000 feet for $23.00.

The Thread Exchange line (bottom) is three strand and a bit stiffer than the Emma Kite line on top. The Thread Exchange line is very similar to what you would find in a Quest kit.
The Emma Kite line (top) is made up of finer lines twisted into three strands. Those three strands are twisted into the final line. The Emma Kites Kevlar is close to what you get from The Kevlar Store.

Contrary to what some believe, Kevlar line can burn and degrade after many ejection charge hits. It's fire resistant, not fireproof. I did a very unsophisticated test holding a burning match under each line. Repeated match burn tests had both catch fire at about the same time.

No More Sandman (Excelsior) Decals!

From a post yesterday on Y.O.R.F. -

See the posts: CLICK HERE

Sandman Decals used the OOP Alps printers, a specialized unit that could print white and metallic decals. Home and office inkjet and laser printers only use red, yellow blue and black.
Sorry to hear this, I have rockets with Gordon's decals. They were always great quality and transferred easily.
Gordon did add he still makes custom nose cones and adapters.

Another Kevlar Resource

Here's another source for Kevlar shock cords:
EMMA KITES
http://www.emmakites.com/Wholesale-kite-line_c365

1,000 feet of 150 lb. twisted Kevlar for $16.50?
WOW!!!
Braided Kevlar is also available.

I haven't ordered from this vendor, it was suggested to me in a Kevlar post comment. 

Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack and Odd'l Rockets!

Odd'l Rockets are now being carried by Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack!
You can check out the site listing HERE

Think ahead to the holidays -
Odd'l Rockets kits and accessories are a great stocking stuffer!

A big welcome and thanks to Uncle Mike!

Odd'l Rockets Now Available from Sirius Rocketry!

I'm proud to announce a new vendor carrying Odd'l Rockets products:

SIRIUS ROCKETRY
To go to the Odd'l Rockets page click HERE.

Be sure to check out all three Interogators, the U.S.S. Atlantis, the S.S. Cestris and one of the largest Saturn V kits out there!