PDA

View Full Version : Stupid Question


akuma109
01-29-2012, 08:15 PM
Greetings!
I'm a newbie with a, probably dumb, question! I hope this is the right part of the forum. I was wanting to get back into rocketry (last made rockets many years ago and very easy kits), but saw few "historic" kits out there. Was looking for something scaled (or nearly so) and representing a historic rocket, but found a dearth of kits, besides very complex kits. I'm 37 with little recent experience in rockets (though have added a new throttle to my car and built some plastic kits) and was looking for a model of a historic rocket (preferably Soviet) that isn't high-power (not qualified), isn't something for a teenager, but isn't a kit that needs years of experience to build! Any hints would be appreciated! As an add on question, if one isn't going high power... is it still a good idea to join NAR and/or WOOSH... I know the fees are reasonable, but is the time commitment worthwhile if you're building E motor or less? Thanks in advance!

-Chris

tbzep
01-29-2012, 08:24 PM
Greetings!
I'm a newbie with a, probably dumb, question! I hope this is the right part of the forum. I was wanting to get back into rocketry (last made rockets many years ago and very easy kits), but saw few "historic" kits out there. Was looking for something scaled (or nearly so) and representing a historic rocket, but found a dearth of kits, besides very complex kits. I'm 37 with little recent experience in rockets (though have added a new throttle to my car and built some plastic kits) and was looking for a model of a historic rocket (preferably Soviet) that isn't high-power (not qualified), isn't something for a teenager, but isn't a kit that needs years of experience to build! Any hints would be appreciated! As an add on question, if one isn't going high power... is it still a good idea to join NAR and/or WOOSH... I know the fees are reasonable, but is the time commitment worthwhile if you're building E motor or less? Thanks in advance!

-Chris
I don't know of any current Soviet scale kits, but there are several scale kits out there.
SEMROC has several SEMROC scale kits (http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=75)
Fliskits has a few Fliskits scale kits (http://www.fliskits.com/products/01prod_fs.htm)
Estes has one that I can think of Estes D Region Tomahawk (http://www.acsupplyco.com/estes/d-region_tomahawk.htm)

chrism
01-29-2012, 08:27 PM
Dr. Zooch has several Soviet-era space rockets. Estes did have a Scud missile but it's long out of production.


http://drzooch.com/

A Fish Named Wallyum
01-29-2012, 08:41 PM
Dr. Zooch has several Soviet-era space rockets. Estes did have a Scud missile but it's long out of production.


http://drzooch.com/

That's where I was going to point him. Sounds like the Zooch kits will be just what he's looking for. :cool:

CenturiKid
01-29-2012, 09:10 PM
Chris,

I'm a member of WOOSH and don't fly any high power. In fact, I've never flown anything over a C. You don't have to be a member of the NAR to join WOOSH, and they are a bunch of great, helpful guys to launch with. At the sod farm (1st Saturday every month usually), all you can really fly is low(er) power and its nice to have a spot to fly where you don't have to worry about finding a field (I live in West Allis and have been hassled by neighbors/dog walkers in my local parks)

I'll also second the Zooch kits. They are really well made kits, and you don't have to spend a small fortune to get them.

akuma109
01-29-2012, 09:26 PM
To all:
Thanks. Looks like I'll be heading to Dr. Zooch. I had seen their site, but was initially a little put-off by their jokes about a $22 mil ride on the real thing being less frustrating than building one of their kits! However, it sounds like they come well recommended. Once I get the kit built, I'll join 'Woosh' and join you for a launch. Thanks again!

-Chris

Daddyisabar
01-29-2012, 09:58 PM
You can always take a regluar production kit, get some green, white, silver and orange paint, with some Soviet decals off EBAY, and make a fantasy ship. Good easy ones that I have given a Soviet look include the Quest Force Five, Estes Thunderstar (out of production -OOP) and D Region Tomahawk - soon to be OOP. An Estes F-15 or Rubicon -soon OOP- would work well too.

Down the road you can try the Dynastar Firefox SHX. Sunward Maverick (Mig-27) or Sunward Su-47 - they are OOP but still show up on ebay. Real Soviet stuff is hard to build and if you have a lot of patience go for a Zooch. Build and fly one of those and then you are ready to build any of the kits mentioned, or even move up to the super hard Skill Level 5+ R-7s

Russ
01-29-2012, 10:24 PM
If there is one thing I have learned about this hobby, there is no such thing as a dumb question. First of all "welcome" to what I find as a great hobby. I recently joined Woosh and I can tell you that everyone I have met at a club meeting or launch has been helpful in answering all of my questions. I think you would find that your rocket expercience can be enhanced by joining a club such as Woosh.
Once again welcome.

jharding58
01-30-2012, 12:08 AM
You can clone the Estes Scud very easily. The plans are available The Nosecone can be had at Sirius Rocketry. The tube is a simple procurement; BT-60AE and BT-20D from Semroc. The centering rings are RA-2060 and the support ring for the aft balsa blocks can be simulated with a RA-5560, the fins are dead easy, and the decals can be cajoled from Excelsior Rocketry. Go on, ask me how I know.

http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/est1340.htm

http://www.siriusrocketry.biz/ishop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_26_32&products_id=170

luke strawwalker
01-30-2012, 12:48 AM
To all:
Thanks. Looks like I'll be heading to Dr. Zooch. I had seen their site, but was initially a little put-off by their jokes about a $22 mil ride on the real thing being less frustrating than building one of their kits! However, it sounds like they come well recommended. Once I get the kit built, I'll join 'Woosh' and join you for a launch. Thanks again!

-Chris

Realize that Wes, owner of Dr. Zooch, is a cartoonist as well (has several cartoon strips running on the internet including a funny ant-satire of NASA and aerospace in general called "The Program". He writes his instructions in the same satirical manner, poking fun at the builder as well as the rocket itself at times, and throwing in offhand references to some of the more aggregious examples of foolishness in the space program or the government in general...
in short-- it's just his style...

Some find it offputting or un-funny, but personally I think most of his comments are pretty close to the mark... perhaps a little TOO close, which is why he sometimes takes some heat for his humor...

The Dr. Zooch kits are probably about the only offerings you're likely to find of Russian space program vehicles in kit form... there are some HPR offerings, but even those are pretty limited in number and availability, and besides you asked for LPR. Another possibility is the Noris kits from Apogee Components, though I'm unsure of the availability-- they come and go. I've also heard some pretty bad stuff about the quality of the Noris kits-- they CAN be made to work, but with a LOT of "rework" and modification that might not be a good "starting point" for someone just getting into (or back into) the hobby...

The Dr. Zooch kits also use a lot of paper modeling skills, such as rolling paper transitions, paper rocket nozzles, etc. from cardstock... it's not a DIFFICULT skill to master, but a little practice doesn't hurt, and the results can be quite impressive...

I have a number of builds here in the scale forum of the Dr. Zooch rockets kits-- I 'beta build" many of the kits for him (test builds before he releases them to the public, to find any 'gotchas'... I haven't done any of the Russian kits yet though...

Later and Good luck! OL JR :)

PaulK
01-30-2012, 09:05 AM
Welcome Chris,

You don't need to be a member of NAR or WOOSH to attend our launches so come on out. You may find it is so much fun, you'll want to join the club. We have 2 great low power fields. I love to see scale stuff fly!

-Paul(K)

jadebox
01-30-2012, 01:53 PM
... is it still a good idea to join NAR and/or WOOSH... I know the fees are reasonable, but is the time commitment worthwhile if you're building E motor or less? Thanks in advance!


Joining NAR not only provides you with insurance, a subscription to Sport Rocketry magazine, and other benefits - it helps promote the hobby and educate kids. It's definitely worth the dollars.

And, I definitely recommend joining and flying with a local rocketry club (http://www.rocketreviews.com/rocketry-clubs.html). Not only do you get access to a good place to fly, you get to see other's fly their rockets! :-)

Welcome back!

-- Roger

Scott6060842
01-30-2012, 02:24 PM
[QUOTE=jadebox]Joining NAR not only provides you with insurance, a subscription to Sport Rocketry magazine, and other benefits - it helps promote the hobby and educate kids. It's definitely worth the dollars.

and the MAIN reason I am a member ... SEMROC discount :)

Signed ... another low power guy (but looking to venture into composites soon)

A Fish Named Wallyum
01-30-2012, 04:07 PM
[QUOTE=jadebox]Joining NAR not only provides you with insurance, a subscription to Sport Rocketry magazine, and other benefits - it helps promote the hobby and educate kids. It's definitely worth the dollars.

and the MAIN reason I am a member ... SEMROC discount :)

Signed ... another low power guy (but looking to venture into composites soon)

AND if you become a Semroc SAM you get another 10% discount on top of the 10% NAR discount. Trust me, it makes explaining large rocket purchases to the wife a lot easier. :rolleyes: :D

http://www.semroc.com/store/scripts/SAM.asp :cool:

jeffyjeep
01-30-2012, 09:43 PM
Although it's not really a scale model, the Custom Rocket Company SAM-X is a scale-ish representation of a Soviet surface-to-air missile and it's it's still available. It's a reletively easy two-stager.

Here's a fraction the SAM-X's I've built and my wife painted:

jharding58
02-01-2012, 01:59 AM
Scud SS-1C built from the original templates, Semroc BT-60 and a Sirius Rocketry NC. I never relaized how much of a pain the fin can was. It is worse than fairing an A-4. Prime and paint when I return in a few days. There is also a tabulation of votes for Semroc to kit this under the "Classics" table. So far there are 120 votes! Not sure how many are needed to win the nomination.

There is also the SAM-3 from Semroc; granted it is a clone of the Centuri "sorta wants to be a Guideline".

mwtoelle
02-01-2012, 03:39 AM
Actually, the Centuri/Semroc SAM-3 kit is based on the SA-3 Goa. The SA-2 Guideline appeared to be longer and with bigger fins on the upper stage.

chrism
02-01-2012, 11:38 AM
Scud SS-1C built from the original templates, Semroc BT-60 and a Sirius Rocketry NC. I never relaized how much of a pain the fin can was. It is worse than fairing an A-4. Prime and paint when I return in a few days. There is also a tabulation of votes for Semroc to kit this under the "Classics" table. So far there are 120 votes! Not sure how many are needed to win the nomination.

There is also the SAM-3 from Semroc; granted it is a clone of the Centuri "sorta wants to be a Guideline".

Really nice build of the Scud. It's too bad that it was only available for 2 years. I am glad to hear that the NC is still obtainable.

jharding58
02-01-2012, 11:51 AM
The cone is available now, I guess as long as people buy it and David has a viable mold then they can be purchased in plastic. I believe that there are a couple of balsa versions floating around too, but it is nice to have the rasied surface detail and painting trenches on the cone.

jeffyjeep
02-01-2012, 11:59 AM
Scud SS-1C built from the original templates, Semroc BT-60 and a Sirius Rocketry NC. I never relaized how much of a pain the fin can was. It is worse than fairing an A-4. Prime and paint when I return in a few days. There is also a tabulation of votes for Semroc to kit this under the "Classics" table. So far there are 120 votes! Not sure how many are needed to win the nomination.

There is also the SAM-3 from Semroc; granted it is a clone of the Centuri "sorta wants to be a Guideline".
Oh! I think that's the same cone as the Estes D.A.R.T. I've often wondered if it was used on something else.

akuma109
02-01-2012, 07:16 PM
Thanks for all of the help and suggestions... here's the deal. I've ordered the Dr. Zooch Soyuz kit and it's inbound. If I actually get build it, I will:

1. Post a photo.
2. Show up to a launch.
3. Join NAR.
4. Join WOOSH!

Thanks again!

-Chris

jharding58
02-01-2012, 07:55 PM
A perfect combination. I might make only one suggestion; 3,1,2,4. Insurance, however seemingly purposeless matters.

chrism
02-01-2012, 08:00 PM
Thanks for all of the help and suggestions... here's the deal. I've ordered the Dr. Zooch Soyuz kit and it's inbound. If I actually get build it, I will:

1. Post a photo.
2. Show up to a launch.
3. Join NAR.
4. Join WOOSH!

Thanks again!

-Chris

There are some reviews of the Soyuz kit. You can find them here:

http://www.rocketreviews.com/dr-zooch-model-rocket-soyuz-by-chan-stevens.html

kapton
02-01-2012, 09:37 PM
Next WOOSH launch on Saturday the 4th, 10 am at the sod farm.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=18090%20lincoln%2C%20new%20berlin%2C%20wi

X-wooshprez
02-23-2012, 06:29 PM
Glad to hear that you are building and on your way to launching with us.
I'm looking forward to the summer flying season.