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  #1  
Old 08-10-2012, 11:41 PM
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Default Vector V NC used in Estes Viking?

I bought the Semroc Vector V repro kit, but I'd like a plastic nose cone like the original kit rather than Semroc's balsa replacement.

People have said the Estes Viking uses the same NC as the Vector V, as well as the VV's fins. is this true? Could I use the Viking's NC on my Semroc VV?
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Old 08-11-2012, 07:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AcroRay
...

People have said the Estes Viking uses the same NC as the Vector V, as well as the VV's fins. is this true? Could I use the Viking's NC on my Semroc VV?


Similar, but not exactly the same. The Vector-V nose (PNC-76) was sized for Centuri's ST-7 tubing whereas the Estes Viking uses the Estes BT-20 based PNC-20A.

Could you use the Viking NC on the Semroc Vector-V? Sure, but it would have a loose fit (the Viking's shoulder has a smaller diameter (about 0.705", as compared to the ST-7's ID of 0.715") than the ID of the Semroc ST-7 tubing), and there would be a slight step on the outside where the nose sits tangent to the airframe (again, a slight diameter difference).

As well, there's a difference in length - the PNC-76 is 3" long, whereas the PNC-20A is about 2-13/16" long; the tip of the PNC-76 being more rounded. The photo below gives the comparison.
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Old 08-11-2012, 07:36 AM
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I can add that the Viking nose cone is the Estes version of not only the Viking V NC, but also the Centuri Viking/Akela NC. The Akela was Centuri's official Cub Scout/Boy Scout rocket - actually sold at dealers who sold Scout uniforms and supplies. The Viking was the same rocket, just re-decorated and re-labeled for the mass market. Of course, the Vector V used both the nose cone and the fiber board fins from the Viking/Akela.

I built a Vector V out of Estes parts a while back and posted the plans somewhere around here (don't remember if they are in the Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe areas or just as a post here in the forum. Bill (A Fish Named Walyum) Eichenberger built one from my drawing and posted the pics here in the forum as well.

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Old 08-11-2012, 07:40 AM
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Oh, and one suggestion - if you still want to use the Estes nose cone, you could also substitute a piece of BT-20 for the ST-7. It would be easier to adapt the centering rings in the aft section than making the Estes NC fit the Centuri sized tubing.

Greg
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Old 08-11-2012, 08:20 AM
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Thanks, guys!
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Old 08-11-2012, 09:17 AM
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AcroRay,
From Apogee, here's one that's very close and 3" long.
http://www.apogeerockets.com/Buildi...e_Cones/PNC-18C
They are sold in a package of 3 for $5.04

These are the older Starlight plastic nose cones. They are very clean with no seams and a glued in shoulder so you can add clay nose weight if needed.

The great thing about these nose cones - they were designed for the BT-20 but actually fit the ST-7 tubing even better!
The shoulder lip (nose cone plastic thickness) is a little thicker and very closely matches the
outside diameter of the ST-7 tubes.
I've used them on a few Centuri clones with ST-7 tubing. Most recently my Vulcan clone.

The attached picture is from the Apogee website.
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Old 08-11-2012, 10:24 AM
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This is from JimZ's site in the Centuri section on the Vector-V.

http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/centuri/kb-2.txt
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Old 08-12-2012, 02:20 AM
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The Apogee PNC looks like it would suit my needs (Especially since I also want to clone a Vulcan at some point). I don't know when I'll be ordering anything from them, though. $9 shipping is a lot on 3 PNCs... Humnnnn.....
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Old 08-12-2012, 05:19 PM
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Just as the Estes nose cone is slightly different from the old Centuri one, the fiber fins also have a slightly different shape than the old Centuri Akela/Vector fins. Unless held next to each other most people wouldn't notice. However, like with the various small changes of the Big Bertha/Ranger fins over the years, a few folks that have lived and breathed rockets their whole life would see it right off.
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  #10  
Old 08-15-2012, 02:42 PM
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One of two things, you could contact Estes customer service to see if they have anything close 1-800-525-7561 X216 or try contacting Danny
sagstetter, he usually has a lot of great stuff.
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