Royatl
04-24-2011, 12:56 PM
Although the flight I'll describe is actually the Estes kit augmented by a few extra details and some Semroc parts, the recommendation is for the Semroc Saturn 1B.
You really should build this kit with the four motor cluster and you should fly with four Quest C6-3 (possibly C6-5) motors!
I fixed my 1977 vintage Saturn 1B last year with parts from a Semroc Saturn 1B kit. Of course, being the original Estes kit, it was built with the four motor cluster.
I did not use the tank shroud, but used Durhams Water Putty, white glue, and tissue paper to make a hard filler that I then milled down to the shrouds actual dimensions. And although I used the paper wraps from the kit, I cut and glued pieces of piano wire to serve as closer-to-scale stringers. These modifications increased the weight of the rocket a bit.
Still it flies well on Estes C6-5 motors, ejecting just before apogee.
Yesterday, however, I flew the rocket on Chinese-made Quest C6-3 motors, to see how it responded to the longer lower thrust.
The flight was fantastic!! Straight up, settled into a steady climb, and the rocket was turning over right at ejection. A lighter, stock-built Semroc model, *might* benefit from a 5-second delay, but use the -3 at first.
You really should build this kit with the four motor cluster and you should fly with four Quest C6-3 (possibly C6-5) motors!
I fixed my 1977 vintage Saturn 1B last year with parts from a Semroc Saturn 1B kit. Of course, being the original Estes kit, it was built with the four motor cluster.
I did not use the tank shroud, but used Durhams Water Putty, white glue, and tissue paper to make a hard filler that I then milled down to the shrouds actual dimensions. And although I used the paper wraps from the kit, I cut and glued pieces of piano wire to serve as closer-to-scale stringers. These modifications increased the weight of the rocket a bit.
Still it flies well on Estes C6-5 motors, ejecting just before apogee.
Yesterday, however, I flew the rocket on Chinese-made Quest C6-3 motors, to see how it responded to the longer lower thrust.
The flight was fantastic!! Straight up, settled into a steady climb, and the rocket was turning over right at ejection. A lighter, stock-built Semroc model, *might* benefit from a 5-second delay, but use the -3 at first.