FSI Echo 1 NC ?'s

[Commanche3]

Does anybody know what NC the Echo 1 use's? I've looked around and can't seem to come up with it. Trying to put this is on my build list.

[stefanj]

It was balsa, ogive, for a roughly BT-55 / ST-13 tube.

I don't know for sure, but Firefox might make it / still have it. They seem to have inherited a stock of FSI gear (familiar looking fins, Select-a-chute). No guarantees, I'm basing this on the catalog page.

[barone]

Check the plans here? I think it includes a picture of the nose cone.

http://www.oldrocketplans.com/fsi/fsiMRK-15/fsiMRK-15.htm

[Green Dragon]

Surprised Carl has not chimed in here yet, as Semroc has thios cone, FSI spec 1.34" cone, iirc.

I built my Echo 1 clone from Semroc parts, - as yet unpainted, awaiting Phreds awesoem decals .

maybe soon... sigh ...

~ AL

[Mark II]

The Echo-1 used FSI's NC-121, a 5.3 inch long elliptical balsa nose cone. Semroc has a reproduction of this cone - BC-1353F (http://www.semroc.com/Store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=528).

Here are some pictures of my Echo-1 clone, flown for the first time at NARAM-51. On a D12-0/C11-7 combination, the sustainer disappeared into the cloud cover before it reached apogee. We spotted it on chute as it dropped back out of the clouds and I did recover it in the wildflower field w-a-a-a-y-y-y over on the other side of the competition range. My first staged flight on 24mm BP motors. A very kind person at the sport range tracked and picked up my booster, handing it to me as I headed off to chase my sustainer. Whoever you are, a million thanks!

I included the optional 5" payload section on mine. The Echo-1 was 20.75" long, and was 25.75" long with the payload section.

MarkII

[Commanche3]

Thanks for the reply's.


MarkII I've seen the above set of plan's barone posted but I've never seen the payload section is was thias your addition or one you saw in a set of plan's?


Okay I went to ninfinger and looked up the old FSI catalog's and found the payload mentioned in the it's description. Thanks Again. This one will definitley go on my list.

[Mark II]

Kevin,

Before I answer your question, I have to correct a couple of dimensions that I listed for the Echo-1. The rocket w/o payload section is 20.5" long, and with the section it is 24.5" long. The payload section adds 4" to the length of the rocket.

The option of adding a payload section to the Echo-1 was mentioned in FSI's catalogs. (See here (http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalogs/fsi79/79fsi14.html) for an example.) The model depicted in the catalogs and on the cover page of the instructions for the Echo-1 is obviously shorter than mine, so they apparently show the model w/o payload. Along with the kit, they list Payload Section part #PL-15. If you look at the exploded view of the rocket on the second page of the plans (http://www.oldrocketplans.com/fsi/fsiMRK-15/fsiMRK-15.htm) that are posted in YORP, you will see that it shows the payload section. Below it in the Parts Section is listed "1 1.3" x 4" Body Tube." In Step #7 of the instructions, the builder is instructed to "Glue balsa bulkhead into one end of 4" X 1.3" payload tube. Slide nose cone into other end." The 4" long piece of RT-12 (the 1.3" body tube) is the payload section.

MarkII

[Commanche3]

Thanks Mark

[Mark II]

The Echo-1 was, like many of FSI's rockets, a really great design that was optimized to fly to impressive heights. If you like the Echo-1, check out the Megatron, which was FSI's largest staged rocket (1.64" dia. x 34.5" long). I have a clone of that one in my build queue.

I had never heard of Flight Systems, Incorporated until about three years ago, long after the company went out of business. I learned about them through the collection of their catalogs that are posted on Ninfinger, through discussions of the company on the oldrockets group on Yahoo!, and though posts on this forum and elsewhere by barone and others. FSI is mostly remembered for their series of big mid-power black powder motors, especially their F7 and F100. These were some of the very first F impulse motors to be made available to model rocketry hobbyists. (These motors are now highly prized and much sought after by vintage rocketry collectors.) But I really liked the designs of their rockets, too. Then I found out that Semroc Astronautics was producing reproductions of FSI's non-industry standard parts. So a couple of years ago, I set out to build clones of every rocket design that FSI ever produced. All of the kit instructions and part scans are posted on Ye Olde Rocketry Plans, and FSI is the only company whose entire model rocket kit line's plans are posted on YORP (or anywhere else). I am just completing my 16th and 17th FSI clones (out of a total of 30); one of my previously completed models was badly damaged in a launch mishap and I am planning on building another version of it in addition to eventually repairing the first one. I have posted a scratch-build article (http://www.rocketreviews.com/reviews/all/oop_fsi_nova.shtml) of one of my FSI clones on EMRR, and more articles are on the way. I have flown nearly all of my built clones at least once. They are all very stable in flight and they go almost out of sight on motors that are nowhere near the maximum that they can handle.

You could say that I have a bit of an FSI obsession, but that would be an understatement.

MarkII

[Commanche3]

I've already cloned the Megatron, it just needed to be painted for awhile. It was the first part's I ever bought from Semroc and fisrt OOP rocket I've ever built. I have this thing with multi stage rocket's that I feel the need to upscale them if it's possible. I would Love to see Quest have an E or F booster stage for those of us that like this type of Rocketry.

[luke strawwalker]

I always wanted and FSI Maverick when I was in high school in the late 80's... but never got around to buying one.

I dunno, I just always thought that was the coolest looking rocket I had ever seen-- it just LOOKED like a "real" rocket.

Maybe I'll clone one myself... :) OL JR :)