Rokitflite "USS Odyssey"

[Tau Zero]

Pardon me while I hijack this article from the "Shrox Icarus" thread:

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showpost.php?p=7441&postcount=18

(John Thro and I were talking about aesthetic sensibilities, and how to *my* eye, the body tubes looked *way* too long. Bill Eichelberger has also mentioned that storing this model is a bit of a challenge, since it's so long and relatively skinny.)

As long as the Odyssey is, I'm sure you could remove a few inches of body tube and still have a great-looking and great-flying rocket. I'll agree that it is pretty darned long and thin. Even so, the forward section of BT-50 is barely big enough for the 18" plastic parachute to fit. Is the BT-20 the part of the body that looks too long to you? I've flown mine 3 times (I think. I *know* it's flown at least twice.), and that big parachute brings it down nice and soft, so even with the long section of BT-20, there's no damage at all on landing.

I'm pretty sure Scott/Rokitflite still has some kits available, btw.
I stole the image below from the USS Odyssey thread over on TRF:

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19334

The parachute compartment (BT-50?) looks a bit long to me, and I'd cut it by at least a third. The long "middle" tube (BT-20?) looks like it's *way* too long, and I'd cut it in half. (So you could probably get away with a 14" 1.1 oz ripstop nylon chute -- *maybe.*)


*However,* my point again is that my aesthetic sensibilities are *not* the same as Scott's, and it's interesting to see which designs "look right" to me, and why. Heck, I even thought the fins for the Semroc Astrobee 350 looked too small:

http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/RocketKits.asp?SKU=KV-13

http://www.rocketreviews.com/reviews/kits/sem_astrobee_350.html

...and Chan Stevens' EMRR review confirmed my suspicions with his C6-7 flight of that model.


(Sorry, I've had a lot of coffee this morning and seem to be typing just to see myself talk.)So you're vibrating pretty good, eh? ;) :D


Cheers,

--Jay

[Tau Zero]

The parachute compartment (BT-50?) looks a bit long to me, and I'd cut it by at least a third. The long "middle" tube (BT-20?) looks like it's *way* too long, and I'd cut it in half. (So you could probably get away with a 14" 1.1 oz ripstop nylon chute -- *maybe.*)

*However,* my point again is that my aesthetic sensibilities are *not* the same as Scott's, and it's interesting to see which designs "look right" to me, and why. Here's a "quick and dirty" revision with PhotoShop. But then you can see how the (Bill and Ted voices) "Most Excellent" tail section starts looking a little clunky. :eek: :o :( (Plus you'd have to add some nose weight, most likely.)

Darn foreshortening, anyway. (scuffs toe of shoe in dirt) :mad: :p

--Jay

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Here's a "quick and dirty" revision with PhotoShop. But then you can see how the (Bill and Ted voices) "Most Excellent" tail section starts looking a little clunky. :eek: :o :( (Plus you'd have to add some nose weight, most likely.)

Darn foreshortening, anyway. (scuffs toe of shoe in dirt) :mad: :p

--Jay

Now it looks like the USS Billy Barty. :rolleyes:

[Tau Zero]

Now it looks like the USS Billy Barty. :rolleyes:(chuckling) Even if you don't know the name, you probably remember his face. Billy was in tons of TV shows, and played "Sparky the Firefly" in the Bugaloos, as well as the title role in Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. (He had connections with Sid and Marty Kroft, apparently. :rolleyes: )


Good one, Bill. :D


Cheers,

--Jay :eek:

[EchoVictor]

What's really bad is that I can name the movie where Jay's first pic is taken from.

Anyone else? (Think television....)

Later,
EV

[Vanel]

If you are referring to the 1st picture of Billy Barty, I believe it is from the movie Foul Play, starring a younger Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase.

Right?

[DeanHFox]

Nope. It's from "UHF", the Wierd Al movie. :)

In "Foul Play", Billy was selling Bibles, I believe, and Goldie Hawn practically killed him before that fact became apparent (she thought he was an assassin sent to kill her, IIRC. All his comments about "are you ready to meet your maker?" didn't help her state of mind). :)