Frank Claunch sent me an email - Hi Chris,
A little X-24 tidbit.
Frank
Thanks Frank,
I actually got that one in the mail from Enerjet/Centuri way back when.
I wonder if anybody other than Larry Brown (in the picture) would "sacrifice" a Saturn V just to deploy an X-24 off the top of it? I wouldn't!
Chris Michielssen
To see the Enerjet News, CLICK HERE
Reminiscent of DynaSoar, very cool idea. Could also ride atop of a modified Little Joe 2, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteIt might work, the Little Joe is short and the new kit does require clay nose weight. Nose weight in the "Bug" won't help the glide. It'd probably nose in!
DeleteBut you don't have to put the weight in the Bug -- the noseweight would be inside the "stub" nosecone on which the Bug rests during launch (the "stub" nosecone has a BT-20 size noseblock or coupler section on front which is fitted into engine mount of the Bug).
DeleteThe main hitch that I'd find with such a "booster" configuration is trying to find some BT-101 tubing (which luckily with the revised reissues would resolve).
Another idea for getting a "booster" to fit more "cleanly" without overhanging bits is probably to make a custom adaptor section that transitions from the round "booster" cross-section to the "triangle" section of the Bug -- sort of like what's seen on this plastic model:
http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/CONVAIR%20SPACE%20SHUTTLE%20PAGE.htm
A TV/movie craft which looks similar to the Centuri X-24 Bug is the SHADO SID 2 lifting body from the Gerry Anderson TV series "UFO."
Deletehttp://www.thepropgallery.com/filmed-in-miniature-the-models-of-ufo/
(scroll down to heading "SID 2 shuttle")
The interesting thing is that for launch it is enclosed in a shroud like the Boeing X-37 (I guess that's because SHADO is supposed to be a covert international organization that sometimes uses commercial launch facilities. IIRC in the episode the SID2 shuttle was launched under the guise of a commercial satellite launch).
You're right Naoto,
DeleteIt does look like the Shado Sid 2!
I have a 2x18mm Big Betty in-work that just might end up carrying an X-24. Lots of interesting ideas for stuff to do with the Bug design.
ReplyDeleteHi Openroad,
DeleteThe Big Betty might work fine. Two C6-3s whould get it higher up than the single C6-3 in the Bug. Let us know how it goes.
Seeing this again in your top ten reminded me of the Big Betty Bug Launch Vehicle experiments - three tries, three spectacular crashes! What's left of the BBLV booster will be cut up for parts and what's left of the Squirrel Works X-RV is providing parts for a new skin. Ended up using a single 24mm engine but couldn't get a stable configuration. I think I needed a longer booster rocket, the BB isn't quite the length of a 1/100-ish scale Saturn V. Still was a fun time experimenting and I'll try it again sometime...
ReplyDeleteHi Openroad,
DeleteOuch! sorry to hear of the crashes.
The "Bub' might require something much larger in diameter. The conical shape of the Bug could deflect the air stream outside the fins. Who knows?
That and all that forward fin area/drag from the X-24. I added what I figured was plenty of "nose weight" though it was in the adapter module, not the nose of the Bug, of course. I'll try some different solutions again some day - plenty of ideas but there's only so much time! Lots of rockets to build...
DeleteJust realized that the X-24 in the Enerjet News article is not only close to the Sat V diameter, it also has "clipped fins". Didn't notice that before. Back to the X-24 drawing board to build a clipped fin variation out of what's left of the X-RV...
DeleteHi Openroad,
DeleteLarry Brown (the designer of the X-24 Bug) emailed me with a long letter about it. The original didn't have fins. He said it flew and glided better without them. The president of Centuri like the model but wanted fins of some sort.