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When did plastic fin cans make the scene in rocketry?
I have a question about plastic fin cans.
When was the first prefabricated plastic fin can used? What model, and who developed it? Did plastic nose cones show up about the same time> Earlier, later? Thanks, David
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I used to have super powers, but then one day, my Therapist took them away from me. NAR #96285 SoAR #503 My Low Power Rocket Fleet Level 1 (2-22-2014) GRITS Winternationals Level 2 TBD Level 3 TBD |
#2
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These early fin cans originated with fireworks and fit the old BT-1 tubes. By 1963, Estes was offering plastic nose cones for the old BT-40 tubes. So these components date back to very early in the hobby. And RTF and E2X kits do as well. Even in the 60's, there were folks with 10 thumbs who wanted to fly rockets but couldn't glue three fins on straight. Doug .
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Thanks Doug. I remember reading that Vern Estes Father or Grandfather or Vern himself, had a pyrotechnic business or at least, Vern had a Pyrotechnic background.
Guess that explains the fireworks fin cans. I'm sure that experience also went a long to helping him envision, develop, and produce the end burning BP rocket motor. David
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I used to have super powers, but then one day, my Therapist took them away from me. NAR #96285 SoAR #503 My Low Power Rocket Fleet Level 1 (2-22-2014) GRITS Winternationals Level 2 TBD Level 3 TBD |
#4
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In my collection I have one each of the Dirty Bird type plastic fin unit and one of the spin fins. Would have to research when Estes started using plastic fins, but Centuri did in the 1973 catalog with the Screaming Eagle model and the Argus. The later fin can was used on the Centuri Phoenix Bird, Enerjet 1340 (?) model, and now on the Estes Eliminator.
Centuri was an early adopter of plastic nose cones, mostly two piece injection molded, but also blow molded such as the 1/10th Nike Smoke and later Enerjet Athena. I actually have a partially assembled first run Nike Smoke with a two-piece vacuumed formed nose cone. First attempt at assembling vacuum-formed pieces, which is probably why I never finished it... Chas
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Charles Russell, MSgt,USAF (ret.) NAR 9790, Lvl 1 SAM "Balls Three" |
#5
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Yeah, I have a couple of the old Estes plastic fin sets, I just need some BT-1 and nose cones to go with them
Actually now that I think of it, I believe I do have some BT-1 size nose cones. I know I have a few of the engine blocks for it. |
#6
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Estes started using fin cans "again" in 1971, with the Saros and the Sandhawk (?).
When I was a little kid just getting into rocketry, and didn't have a nickel to spare, I actually built a rocket with a hand-rolled tube and a discarded silver plastic spin-fin unit I found on the beach after July 4th. It was melted open on one side. Firefox sells "Dirty Bird" style plastic fin units, plus a tube to match. They sell cones as well, but I'm not sure if they are soft or hard plastic, slip-on or with a shoulder. It would be interesting to order a package and make a limited-run "retro" kit. I figure you could use a dowel as an engine block, and use a couple of rubber bands stretched between the dowl and fins to hold the fin can on.
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NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM |
#7
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Oh:
MPC had fin cans early on, for their 20mm and 25mm tubes. These were slip-on units. The 30mm tube had a plastic fin mounting system consisting of two slip-on rings with grooves on them. The fins -- swept delta and Redstone shaped -- had lugs that fit into the grooves. These kits were around in 1970, and had probably been made for a year or two at that point.
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NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM |
#8
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Did you get those from that shop that you and Bob Craddock plundered?
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Scott D. Hansen Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe! Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies! Ye Olde Rocket Forum WOOSH NAR Section #558 |
#9
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No, I got the fin cans from Steve. He handed them out at a club meeting one time. The nose cones and engine blocks were from the place in northern Illinois that Steve and I plundered.
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#10
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Hmm, that must've been before I joined the club. Otherwise I'd remember that.
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Scott D. Hansen Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe! Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies! Ye Olde Rocket Forum WOOSH NAR Section #558 |
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