Coaster Space Probe 1
 

I got interested in cloning this bird after seeing a post on Facebook in the Centuri group. Richard Marlow posted a picture of G. Harry's Space Probe. I ordered the parts from Semroc, then tried to figure out the fin pattern based on the picture.



This is my version:



Some opined that I got the fin angle too shallow, so I tried again. This is what the current result looks like.



Again it was thought that I missed the angle. The project languished. :(

Looks to me like the first one was correct except that the root edge was too short.

Joe

I recently got reinterested in the project and went looking for other images. I found a 1962 catalog image at TRF in the Coaster Space Probe gallery. It's a side view that shows the fin at almost a straight on view.



Last night I discovered another image here on YORF. It's a PDF, so I have no idea how to link directly to it, but it's at this link on page 13.

http://www.oldrocketplans.com/pubs/...oaster-docs.pdf

I believe it's the all white rocket on the right side of the table. My angles match these two images almost perfectly. Anyone care to eyeball them and see if I'm seeing things? All that's holding me up from ordering a 29mm engine mount kit is deciding if I need to try a third time on the fins. :rolleyes:

Seeing this feels me with way bummer.

Rich Morrow and his friend Mitch Pines were members of LIARS, the Long Island Tripoli section. Mitch frequently showed up with old-school rocketry materials. Original Coaster catalogs, a 1962 Estes catalog that he got as a kid. He brought Coaster models to our launches to launch! I'm pretty sure he had a Space Probe as well. He flew them on FSI and Aerotech motors.

The bummer part: Mitch died of cancer a few years ago.

He could have told us so much.

Anyway: Thanks for the links. You should write this up for the NAR magazine.

The leading edge angle looks right, the only observations I would make is that the root looks a little short and the trailing edge looks a little narrow. The fin looks to be a 45 degree right triangle with a tab on the trailing edge. The images seem to show that the trailing edge is one half of the span before the cutaway to clear the motor, then about 1/4 of the trailing edge to build in the angle to the inner blunt edge. Simplistically, a two inch span fin would have a one inch trailing edge, 1/4" angled section, then a 3/4 inch span to the root.

Nice build. What did you have at Sonic?

Back then it was a half and half iced tea. Now it's just iced tea. ;)

I've moved along with this project to the point that I'm ready to prime at some point this week. The 29mm engine mount just arrived, which was the main hurdle I was left with. No decals, so this should be a simple paint procedure. I was even able to mate the rejected fin can with an orphan BNC-70 to come up with a Fat Boy-esque rocket that I hope to fly on C11s and D12s up at B6-4 Field. First I'll test it out on the cornfield. I'll need to check on my list of potential names. :rolleyes:

Be sure to take plenty of photos!

I've tried. The weather of late hasn't been kind to back deck rocket photography. Today was the first day I could get the screen door open since sometime last week. February. BLECH!