Seven different rockets

[KevinP]

Hi all,

PLEASE forgive me. I participate on a couple of message boards dedicated to my car and get annoyed when people show up, put up a for sale post and go away, but now I sorta understand it. If this is inappropriate, then let me know and I will delete it, otherwise, I would like to offer the following:

I am selling seven Estes model rockets. I bought, assembled and flew them when I lived in NC. Since moving to Texas they have been in my attic. They all are complete (recovery system, parts, etc), but all need new shock cords. Prices as follows:


US Army Honest John: $20.00

German V2 (E-engine capable): $25.00

Navy scale replica: $15.00 (needs a fin glued back on, some paint yellowed)

Estes Renegade (two-stage): $12.00 (needs pod glued back on)

Estes Super Big Bertha $10.00

Estes CC Express (two-stage): $10.00

Sidewinder replica (seen better days) $5.00


Buy the lot for $75 and I'll include launch accessories, including several engines (E, C11, C and B), two launch controllers (one for E engines, one standard), launch rods and standard launch pad.

I seriously need to sell this locally. I know those here would understand. It would take a lot of packing to insure a safe arrival.

Also, I have been out of the rocketry loop for a while, so if my asking prices are unreasonable, I would appreciate guidance.

Thanks again!
Kevin

[sandman]

WOW! are those prices low!!!

Seriously! I'd give you $75 right now but you're a long way from Michigan (where I am).

All you say is Texas...That's a mighty big place! Could you narrow it down some?

If you don't need the cash leave them in your attic 'til you get in the mood!

You may be sorry you sold them. :(

[KevinP]

I'm in Killeen, near Fort Hood. I put some pictures up on the internet here:

http://www.carpron.com/multisite/v/Upload/KevinP/misc/rockets/


I am the youngest of 6 kids and the two brothers older than I am have been into rocketry for my entire life and I just turned 40. We still get together every couple of years and have a rocket day. These are pretty big and not exactly easy to transport back to NC for those events. I went to Iraq for 15 months and, upon my return in November, I went into the attic for something. That was when I noticed that the Navy rocket had lost a fin, the Renegade had lost a pod from a fin and all the shock cords were stretched out beyond repair. I'm sure it's the heat (100 degrees outside means 120+ in the attic). I knew then that I had to do something. Would I like to keep them? Yeah, but it's logistically impractical. You would think that I would have easy access to an area to launch. Central Texas is pretty open. I just don't know anyone who doesn't live 10 feet from someone else. All the open land owners are ranchers that I don't know and the Army isn't too keen on activity of that type on one of their largest installations. <shrug> I figured rather than watch them fall apart in the attic, I would find someone who would enjoy them.

EDIT: Oh, and you quoted "Logan's Run" in your siggy. Dude, I used to love that show. I watched it faithfully when I was younger! Good memories!

[Royatl]

I'm in Killeen, near Fort Hood. I put some pictures up on the internet here:

http://www.carpron.com/multisite/v/Upload/KevinP/misc/rockets/

You would think that I would have easy access to an area to launch. Central Texas is pretty open. I just don't know anyone who doesn't live 10 feet from someone else. !

yea, but it seems you can't throw a stick in Texas without hitting a rocket club somewhere around. I think Dallas Area Rocket Society flies high power in McGregor. http://www.dars.org

[Doug Sams]

yea, but it seems you can't throw a stick in Texas without hitting a rocket club somewhere around. I think Dallas Area Rocket Society flies high power in McGregor. http://www.dars.orgWell put, Roy.

KevinP, Being in Killeen puts you in the middle of DARS, HOTROC and AARG. Besides the DARS link above, I suggest you visit http://www.aarg.org/ and http://www.texnet.net/ccent/rockets/HOTROC.htm

Even better, you might drop some posts to these lists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DARS-General/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rocketry-austin/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hotroc/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/THPRA-General/

Lee James is an avid rocketeer, and I'm pretty sure he's stationed at Fort Hood, so you might look him up. You can contact him via the lists above.

I'd love to see you change your mind and go fly the rockets. Members of these clubs will gladly help you with the repairs (if needed).

Doug - DARS


.

[KevinP]

Well put, Roy.

KevinP, Being in Killeen puts you in the middle of DARS, HOTROC and AARG.

<SNIP>

I'd love to see you change your mind and go fly the rockets. Members of these clubs will gladly help you with the repairs (if needed).

Doug - DARS


.

See, now you went and done it. I had no idea that I was that close to so many opportunities. Rocketry has always been a family thing for us, but I would love to come out and fly my meager models (those HPR flights are amazing). It's not like I would have to invest a lot more in equipment. I may need to get some igniters, but otherwise, I have engines, and the launch pad stuff. Well, I think my E engine deflector staying in NC the last time I went.

Ahh. Yeah. I could keep them. Repairs won't require much. Just to glue a couple of things back on and replace shock cords. Well, there are a couple of parachutes that need a suspension line or two reattached. And, my mom won't be disappointed that I sold them AND, you have to admit, that V2 looks sexy. :D

Kevin

[sandman]

Ha ha haaaa!

I think we snagged another one into our clutches! :D

[sandman]

Kevin, let us know which one you are going to start with first.

I'd reccomend the V-2 . We have a LOT of V-2 advice. She's big and beautiful!

Decal source

Fin reinforcement

Motor selection and upgrades

Paint schemes

No shortage here!

[KevinP]

Are you saying that I can take my average, run of the mill Estes E-powered V2 and modify it to accept, use and be successful with bigger engines?

Now that would be KEWL!

EDIT: In rocketry, what's the difference between a motor and an engine? We have always bought engines. <shrug>

[tbzep]

Are you saying that I can take my average, run of the mill Estes E-powered V2 and modify it to accept, use and be successful with bigger engines?

Now that would be KEWL!

EDIT: In rocketry, what's the difference between a motor and an engine? We have always bought engines. <shrug>

The engineers amongst the modeling community fight over that all the time. Most of them say that our solid fuel whoosh generators are motors and the liquid fuel variety with moving parts like turbopumps, etc. are engines. I'm sure there's one or two folks that will really enjoy ripping my reply apart.

As far as most of us are concerned, the terms are interchangable.

[Chas Russell]

Kevin,

I would like to thank you for serving your country. I only had one overseas tour during my Air Force career, as most of my time was spent babysitting ALCM's and the like (boomers).
I highly recommend reviving your models and checking out the central Texas launches. This time of year DARS launches the last weekend of the month in McGregor, southwest of Waco. It is a 120 mile drive from Fort Worth. The neat thing is next to the launch site is where Space X test fires their Merlin motors for the Falcon vehicle. Launches depend on a lack of a fire ban or more recently cancelled due to flooding.
You can get all sorts of help here and on the other rocketry sites. Just ask. We are here to help. You have models, you have motors, the clubs have the launch gear.

Chas

[sandman]

Are you saying that I can take my average, run of the mill Estes E-powered V2 and modify it to accept, use and be successful with bigger engines?

Now that would be KEWL!

EDIT: In rocketry, what's the difference between a motor and an engine? We have always bought engines. <shrug>

Why yes you can use bigger engines in the V-2!

In fact it NEEDS bigger engines!

As for the engine/motor thing...

Potato/potato.

Makes no difference. The terms are interchangable.

Shut up! I have spoken...this discussion is over! :mad:

[KevinP]

Alright. I shall return my rockets to lauchability (did I just make up a word?) and I shall find an event within driving range and go. It's really too easy.

With all that space these groups have at their disposal, I may buy and launch another Comanche III which is by far my favorite "ordinary" rocket. I have bought probably four and if you count my brothers, we have bought, launched and lost probably eight. There was just never enough room back home for recovery. :(

I have already started gluing stuff back on. I just need to source some shock cord material and I'll be G2G.


Also, thanks for the kind words. I consider it a privilege to serve our country. Even with all the "issues" we have, I still believe that we live in the best country on the planet.

Kevin

[Chas Russell]

If Kileen has a Hobby Lobby or a fabric store, just buy eighth and quarter-inch elastic (not the braided or swimsuit type). If you really want to improve them, purchase some kevlar line from any of several souces, such as SEMROC (out of NC), Fliskits, ASp, BMS, etc. DARS.org has a link list that can help. Kevlar tied and glued to motor mount to the top of body tube and tie on the elastic. It is best to have the knot at the top of the tube, as the kevlar will slice through the tube at some ejection attitudes. I also make masking tape "cushions" at that point to prevent the line from cutting the tube.
Commanche 3: consider a streamer for recovery of the third stage.

Guys and Gals, we hooked another!

Chas
USAF, E-7 (ret).

[barone]

If Kileen has a Hobby Lobby or a fabric store, just buy eighth and quarter-inch elastic (not the braided or swimsuit type). If you really want to improve them, purchase some kevlar line from any of several souces, such as SEMROC (out of NC), Fliskits, ASp, BMS, etc. DARS.org has a link list that can help. Kevlar tied and glued to motor mount to the top of body tube and tie on the elastic. It is best to have the knot at the top of the tube, as the kevlar will slice through the tube at some ejection attitudes. I also make masking tape "cushions" at that point to prevent the line from cutting the tube.
Commanche 3: consider a streamer for recovery of the third stage.

Guys and Gals, we hooked another!

Chas
USAF, E-7 (ret).
If no hobby shops, there's got to be a Wal-Mart. They sell the elastic in the domestics section...from 1/8" widths to 1" widths. You can also get them in cords (round) as opposed to flat.

The hardest part of flying the Commanche 3 for me is finding someone to watch the assigned boosters. "You watch where the first one goes and you watch where the second one goes." 5-4-3-2-1- Launch "WOW...that was great!" "Okay guys, where are the boosters?" "I don't know man. I was too busy watching the rocket"

Oh, its so hard to leave when everyone wants you to stay ;)

[KevinP]

Oh, yes. We always used streamers for the C-III. And contrarily, the boosters were always fairly easy to find. We would have my mom or wife watch the first one and my cousin would always track the second one. The rocket, however, would just leave. :)

There was that one time when I got the second booster engine in <ahem> upside down. It was awesome. It took off and the first stage engine did it's thing. The booster section tumbled back to earth and the rocket just acquired this graceful arch and burned in. Literally. We waited until the flames went out to approach it. The stage two booster was way beyond repair. When I figured out what had happened, I was so mad at myself (in a funny way). It had speared the ground and messed up the end of the tube. We just cut a couple of inches off, glued the shock cord mount back in and we flew it a couple more times as a two-stage. It fell victim to some high-altitude winds, though and wound up in another time zone. :)


Is there a more appropriate forum in which to post stories, questions and such? It looks like this isn't a for-sale thread anymore. :D

[sandman]

Oh, yes. We always used streamers for the C-III. And contrarily, the boosters were always fairly easy to find. We would have my mom or wife watch the first one and my cousin would always track the second one. The rocket, however, would just leave. :)

There was that one time when I got the second booster engine in <ahem> upside down. It was awesome. It took off and the first stage engine did it's thing. The booster section tumbled back to earth and the rocket just acquired this graceful arch and burned in. Literally. We waited until the flames went out to approach it. The stage two booster was way beyond repair. When I figured out what had happened, I was so mad at myself (in a funny way). It had speared the ground and messed up the end of the tube. We just cut a couple of inches off, glued the shock cord mount back in and we flew it a couple more times as a two-stage. It fell victim to some high-altitude winds, though and wound up in another time zone. :)


Is there a more appropriate forum in which to post stories, questions and such? It looks like this isn't a for-sale thread anymore. :D

The "Free For All" thread is just for that purpose or just about anything else.

[KevinP]

I think that's where I put my intro noob thread.

[Rocketflyer]

See, now you went and done it. I had no idea that I was that close to so many opportunities. Rocketry has always been a family thing for us, but I would love to come out and fly my meager models (those HPR flights are amazing). It's not like I would have to invest a lot more in equipment. I may need to get some igniters, but otherwise, I have engines, and the launch pad stuff. Well, I think my E engine deflector staying in NC the last time I went.

Ahh. Yeah. I could keep them. Repairs won't require much. Just to glue a couple of things back on and replace shock cords. Well, there are a couple of parachutes that need a suspension line or two reattached. And, my mom won't be disappointed that I sold them AND, you have to admit, that V2 looks sexy. :D

Kevin


Yahoo! Keep the faith Kevin, and fly those babies! Welcome back . Glad you kept you head down, and eyes open.