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Saturday, November 25, 2023

Quest Builds On Display!


Many of my builds are now on display at the new Aerotech/Quest facility in Cedar City, Utah.
I built and finished probably all the Quest builds on the right side, the four cases on the top row.
The first two window cases on the left have my Enerjet by Aerotech builds. 
I've yet to build the tallest models.

Sunday, November 5, 2023

Orlando R.O.C.K. Monthly Launch, November 4, 2023


This'll be a different launch report.
I had charged my camera battery a day before. It was slid into the camera, ready to go. 
Arriving at the site, I realized the camera was left overnight in the "ON" position. The battery was dead. No launch pictures today.

So - 
I'll do a little different coverage, covering some of the small hurdles at the launch.
 
The Custom SLV was launched with a Estes B6-4 to an estimated 425'.
No engine hook on this model. Instead of a friction fit engine, I did a simple tape wrap over the engine mount tube and the extended casing. 

That's a BT-50 at the top but with the adapter and nose cone shoulders there is only 1 1/2" for a packed parachute, shock cord and shroud lines. After spiking the chute, I fold the chute only once. Shroud lines are wrapped, but the chute is pushed beyond the short BT-50, down into the BT-20 tube.
 


No, that's not Squidward - 
Another build with not enough room for a chute. The parachute is packed into the BT-50 tube below the balsa adapter.

The Estes KLINGON BATTLE CRUISER had a first flight with a B6-4 to 350'.
The chute did eject and brought the model down without damage.






Another first launch with the Blue Angels treatment of the Odd'l Rockets F-18 HORNET. A B6-4 got it to around 350'.
High winds were expected, many opted for streamer recovery. I used the 12" chute - see the last picture below. Rods were angled so the models would drift back to the launchers and not in the trees.
I like to fly an occasional Micro Maxx rocket, this was the only one at today's launch. First timers are always surprised by the speed and altitude.

You can get descent MMX launches from kits that use balsa and Kraft tubing.

The FlisKits HONEST JOHN is a great performer. After ignition we all lost sight of it until the streamer ejected. I would guess the altitude was above 100', but with the rocket being so small it seems much higher.

I made a MMX launch rod adapter from a Brian Coyle design. A 1/8" lug is taped to and empty casing. a MMX launch rod is taped on the other side. 


By the time the F-18 was prepped, the expected high winds were stirring, While most used streamers, I opted for a "Hillbilly Hat" recovery.

The chute canopy is taped close about half way down. Only the bottom of the chute opens, sort-of.

Just be sure to get rid of some of the tape stickiness before taping the thin chute plastic closed. Stick the tape to your pant leg, lift and stick - lift and stick. The tape will pick up some lint and not grab as much.

I did have a Mega Mosquito ready with a D12-3 manufactured in 1975! The winds were picking up and the equipment was being broken down. I'll try the old engine next month.

Four launched, four recovered with no damage.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Another Estes Re-release -

FROM THE VAULT 
"If you know what this rocket is, you have either been in the hobby for a long time or are hard core! This is a rocket that hasn't been produced or sold in decades. Keep an eye out for the release because it is a limited run!"

Hardcore? Not hardcore, just old.

I built a Starlight kit in the early 1970s. This model taught me to fill the balsa grain before gluing it together at the root edges.

It's nearly impossible to brush on and sand filler when assembled. Fill and paint the model before the rings are glued on. Even then, access is difficult with the fins and long strakes so close together.

Looks like the Starlight was first released around 1968. 
I remember going through the old Estes catalogs and wondering how they got the finishes so smooth. Later I worked in the print shop and  realized catalog models got touched up with an airbrush.

The kit instructions are now online: CLICK HERE
Looks like the Starlight has a balsa nose cone - but the instructions also mention an "optional" plastic nose cone.
To see the original K-32 kit instructions: CLICK HERE
The main fins were 3/32" thick balsa, strakes (inside the ring strips) were 1/16" thick balsa.