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-   -   Astra III tube length? (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=16425)

blackshire 01-14-2017 12:28 AM

Astra III tube length?
 
Hello Doctor (and "et al." :-) ),

I recently bought a newer-type OOP (Out-Of-Production) Quest Q E-Z Payloader kit (see: http://www.rocketreviews.com/quest-...tt-gillard.html [the old-type kit used the MPC-type external plastic fin-retention rings, and thus had a longer body tube]), which uses the same fin assembly and--I *think*--the same-length yellow 30 mm body tube as the Quest Astra III (see: http://www.questaerospace.com/Astra...5_16422679.aspx ). Unfortunately, the Q E-Z Payloader's body tube is a little "spiral-crimped" near one end, along the spiral groove for a few inches. Also:

I measured the Q E-Z Payloader's body tube length as 9-5/8". Is the Astra III's body tube also 9-5/8" long? If so, I could use an Astra III as the Q E-Z Payloader's booster (its bulbous 35 mm diameter payload section could easily be swapped back and forth with the Astra III's nose cone by utilizing snap swivels).

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

jdbectec 01-14-2017 04:42 AM

the quest Astros paper tube is 8 3/8 inches long. The length of the paper tube plus the plastic fin units is 10 and 3 quarters inches. I hope this helps

blackshire 01-14-2017 06:34 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdbectec
the quest Astros paper tube is 8 3/8 inches long. The length of the paper tube plus the plastic fin units is 10 and 3 quarters inches. I hope this helps
Thank you very much! This means that the Astra III's body tube is 1-2/8" (properly expressed as 1-1/4" or--in decimal notation--1.25") shorter than the newer-type E-Z Payloader's 9-5/8" long body tube; the Astra III's body tube *looked* a little shorter than the E-Z Payloader's in the photographs, but their oblique-view depictions made it virtually impossible to be sure. Also:

I'll have to measure it to be sure, but the damaged end of my E-Z Payloader's body tube that has the "spiral crease" (it's not huge and glaringly noticeable, but it is a weak area that would sooner or later buckle under the launch acceleration and/or landing impact loads [or perhaps rupture from the ejection charge over-pressure loads]) may be 1-1/4" or shorter. If so, I can just trim off that creased section and then glue the fin unit into that end of the body tube.


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