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-   -   Centuri Multi-Pad Launchers (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=16891)

Faithwalker 10-16-2017 11:07 PM

Centuri Multi-Pad Launchers
 
2 Attachment(s)
Hi everyone,
Does anyone know what happened to the original Centuri sawhorse multi-launch pads with the red steel formed channel legs featured in the 1972-1973 Centuri Model Rocket catalogs? If possible, I would like to locate the launcher legs to measure in order to duplicate them.

If the location of the original Centuri Multi-Pads is unknown, does anyone have information on where to find sawhorse legs exactly like the ones in the photo or know who the manufacturer was?

From what Lee Piester told me in a conversation with him a few months ago, the Centuri R&D Department picked those up at a local hardware store in Phoenix, AZ, once upon a time. Lee wasn't sure where they are now. There is evidence as early as 1966 that Centuri already had the red metal channel legs for their multi-pad launchers back then. See page 6 from the Centuri Newsletter vol. 1, no. 1, dated Nov-Dec 1966: http://plans.rocketshoppe.com/pubs/...n_news_v1n1.htm

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

georgegassaway 10-17-2017 01:26 PM

Sorry, no help for the racks. But that photo showing the launch panel, well, if you wanted to reproduce THAT, you are in luck!

https://www.alliedelec.com/bud-indu...-1587/70148460/



I built a club panel in 1973 using the same "Bud" sloped panel. 8 x 8 x 8".

And over 30 years later, made another club launch panel. Was sort of surprised to find that the "Bud" sloped enclosure still existed! And it was interesting to make another panel so many years later, when I knew a lot more about electronics.



Somewhere there is a pic of my 1973 panel and that newer one side by side, can't find it right now.

tbzep 10-17-2017 01:35 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by georgegassaway
Somewhere there is a pic of my 1973 panel and that newer one side by side, can't find it right now.

Now you've got to find it! :cool:

Faithwalker 10-17-2017 10:36 PM

Centuri Club Launch Controller
 
7 Attachment(s)
Hi George,
Cool launch controller! Thanks for the photos and information!

Fortunately, I have already found and obtained an original Centuri Club Launch Controller, plus two spare Bud Industries C-1584 Sloping Panel Console Cabinets. The dimensions on all three console cabinets that I have are 6 1/2" high x 7 1/16" wide x 7 5/16" deep.

Attached are photos of the original Centuri Club Launch Control Panel (which also has an added DC volt meter and switch to monitor battery charge) and the new Bud Industries C-1584 Sloping Panel Cabinets that I have. I also have a SolidWorks 3D CAD model of the Bud Industries C-1584 Cabinet.

A good reference source for reproducing the Centuri Club Launch Controller is the Centuri American Rocketeer Newsletter, vol. 3, no. 1, pages 4-6: http://plans.rocketshoppe.com/pubs/...am_roc_v3n1.htm

The reference for the firing panel in the Centuri American Rocketeer Newsletter even includes a drilling template and parts list! The newsletter includes several good details on constructing the launch rack also. This edition of the newsletter was published in 1968.

In addition, another good reference is the 1972 Enerjet Model Rocket Catalog pages 14-15, featuring the do-it-yourself Club Launch System (image attached).

Now, if I can locate or reconstruct the launch rack legs, I'll be good to go!

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

Faithwalker 10-17-2017 11:36 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Here's another cool color photo from the 1972-1973 Centuri Model Rocket catalogs of the Galaxy Fleet featuring the multi-pad launch rack with the red steel formed channel leg assemblies.

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

Faithwalker 10-18-2017 01:10 PM

1 Attachment(s)
The Centuri American Rocketeer Newsletter, vol. 3, no. 1, page 4, provides a nice description for the Launch Rail Layout and Drilling details, plus the Sawhorse Legs. In 1968, the legs could be purchased from local hardware/lumber stores for about $6.50 a pair!

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

rocketguy101 10-18-2017 01:35 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Faithwalker
The Centuri American Rocketeer Newsletter, vol. 3, no. 1, page 4, provides a nice description for the Launch Rail Layout and Drilling details, plus the Sawhorse Legs. In 1968, the legs could be purchased from local hardware/lumber stores for about $6.50 a pair!

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR


Jeff you are going to be hard pressed to find those legs nowadays...I googled and most of the hits were for those clamps that allow you to insert 2x4 legs then clamp to the cross piece 2x4. Looking for all steel legs turned up some tubular legs, but none of the stamped-steel legs. I just happened to go to a lumber yard at lunch with a friend, and wandered around in the saw horse area, and same thing.

Perhaps some out-of-the-way small town hardware store might have some stashed away, but I imagine these have been OOP for many years.

yousah 10-18-2017 02:10 PM

This is a long shot, but there was a company in the Chicago suburbs named All-Steel that made all sorts of steel products at one time. Perhaps they made the steel legs that are referred to in the Centuri literature as "all steel".

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-S...uipment_Company

Faithwalker 10-19-2017 12:12 AM

Thanks, guys. I believe that I can come up with enough information from the photos to attempt to scale the sawhorse legs and create a reasonably close 3D CAD model in SolidWorks, to use as a template for fabrication, but if anyone comes up with anything more authoritative, I'll be glad to use that, too.

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR

Faithwalker 03-11-2021 04:45 PM

Centuri Multi-Pad Launchers
 
Added dimensioned drawing of Bud Industries HB/C-1584 Sloped Cabinet used for Centuri Club Launch Multi-Pad Firing Panel Control Cabinet, in post #4 of this thread. Included jpeg and pdf formats of this drawing.

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879 SR


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