It's always a good habit to check for juice at the pad BEFORE connecting the leads. I remember one LDRS in particular when I was doing a video interview with a flyer out at the pads while the the entire bank was being loaded with rockets. In the middle of the interview while I had the camera to my eye, I heard the tale-tale sound of 'ignited' thermalite sizzling right beside us. At the same time, the dude at the very adjacent pad 'rolled' out of the way screaming "Lookout!". He had just connected his pad leads to a J800, and about one second later ( before I could even take single step), off it went, about three feet from where I stood. Luckily, the motor did not cato and the launch phase was nominal.

But I can attest that a J800 makes a pretty good whoosh from three feet away (and I've seen a LOT of high power flights over the years).

Earl

You would make me go dig for it, would you? It is that one, an LIA-50 that I got in one of the Centuri clearance specials. The asbestos pad, clip leads and assembly instructions are taped into the bottom of the box. The angled steel blast deflector was separate and is floating around here somewhere. I guess I ought to put the asbestos into a ziplock bag...


Bill

I don't suppose you got that on video...


Bill

Thank you for confirming the launch pad's model number! I wouldn't launch any rockets from it with the asbestos pad in place, but if it's in storage the asbestos pad shouldn't be a problem. The real dangers were/are caused by the sprayed-on asbestos that was applied to pipes and electrical conduits in buildings and onboard ships. This type had asbestos fibers readily "flake off" into the air where they could be inhaled. An asbestos pad is not a problem unless something erosive is done to it that disperses asbestos fibers into the air. The new asbestos insulation panels are treated with a high-temperature resin to lock in the asbestos fibers.

I had one of those square pads. I remember picking off bits of asbestos and rubbing it between my fingertips. Odd stuff.

Hi Blushingmule,

If you still have it, would you mind taking a look at your ID-100 igniter-deflector (blast deflector) for the Centuri LIA-100 Heavy Duty Model Rocket Launcher to confirm if it matches the ID-100 deflector that I have please? Rocketguy101 and I have been working to document it at the following thread:
https://forums.rocketshoppe.com/sho...00&postcount=70

My Centuri ID-100 deflector assembly is 3.9" tall. See attached image of my LIA-100 Heavy Duty Launcher. Also attached is a comparison photo showing difference in size between my ID-100 deflector and my ID-77 deflector.

Thanks,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker

For anyone who is interested, I am posting a copy of the instructions for the Centuri LIA-100 Heavy Duty Launcher and a hi-res copy of the instructions for the EP-612 Professional Firing Panel pictured above. The EP-612 instructions were graciously provided by Lee Piester. Thanks Lee!

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879

Plans for the ID-100 igniter deflector used with the LIA-100 Heavy Duty Launcher are in post #70 at this link:
https://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showthread.php?t=14833

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879

Thank you for posting those (I admire your YORF "handle," too)! ALSO:

If Dewalt pursues his interest in producing clones of them (as he wrote in Reply #65 *here*: http://www.rocketshoppe.com/forums/...33&page=7&pp=10 ), reprints of your scanned instructions (with an added disclaimer line like that in Semroc's "Retro-Repro" rocket kits) would be perfect to supply with them. (The Centuri "Professional Firing Panel" would be easy to make, using a standard aluminum electronic projects box [as Centuri themselves did] for the hand-held controller; the Centuri "Lectra-Line 1" [and 2] launch controllers--see Reply #62 from Hans "Chris" Michielssen that's also in the above-linked thread--could be 3D printed or duplicated in polyurethane casting resin in RTV rubber molds [their resin parts could even be dyed yellow or black, to match the original ones].) Now:

All we need to complete the Centuri GSE (Ground Support Equipment) line are reproductions of the Centuri Servo-Launcher (it used a pneumatic switch!), Powr-Pad, Powr-Control, and Power Tower (and maybe--just for giggles--even a Pola-Pulse Launch Controller [with internal mods to use rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries instead]; you can see all of these GSE items *here*: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/no...a/72cen052.html and http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/nostalgia/82cen26.html )... :-) (Actually, although I suggested bringing these back only half-jokingly, with today's home production capabilities, it's no joke at all; they really could be made today if desired.)

Some Power Tower info here: http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=16800

Both versions’ plastic parts appear to be identical to the first two versions of the Estes Porta-Pad except for color. Lots of details on the third page of this thread.