It was beautiful around here when I woke up today, so I slipped off to the field for a few quick launches. I managed 11 flights in the hour I was there, most of them mini engine flights. My first flight Star Trooper was gutted by a 1/4A ejection charge. The rocket was 200' up, but it sounded like someone threw a firecracker just over my head. I scanned the horizon over in right field, but saw nothing. I took a walk that way anyway. I found the body tube about 1/2' into the moist outfield ground, but the nose cone, Kevlar, elastic and Mylar streamer were nowhere to be found. How can a company that has been doing this as long as Estes has continue to have such wildly fluctuating ejection charges? A couple of flights later the Nu Way Check It did a flat spin in when the ejection charge failed to clear the parachute from the tube. It eventually pulled out, but not high enough to help. The chute is small enough to fit loosely in the body tube, but in this case, the 1/2A3 ejection charge sounded like a fly farting. Under a pillow. Same height, but nowhere near the same sound. I also had to pull four of the new "starters" after they lit, but failed to ignite the engine. In the past I've been lucky to have one per session. Between today and last week I'm approaching ten failures. Is this what the future holds for us from Estes?

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Bill,

Regarding the starters, I agree they are not what the old ones were. I find I have to treat them like I did bare nichrome loops when I was a kid. I pay particular attention to being sure each one is firmly seated as far in as I can get it.

I am really curious to see the new round of Quest Q2-G2s to see if they are the old formulation.

Steve

Did Estes CAVE-IN to some sort of garbage BATFE pressure regarding starters/ignitors ?
If so, funny Quest and Aerotech did not.
The latest Q2G2 ones (if you CAN find them) did not.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

I would bet there was some BATFeces pressure. Pushy bureaucrats never quit.

That is an agency I would completely shut down via refusing to fund their entire budget if I was in charge.
Alcohol and Tobacco need NO regulation, Firearms are protected by the 2nd amendment and if the SCOTUS had any stones, it would find ANY regulation of firearms ILLEGAL.
That leaves explosives, which a modicum of regulation of HIGH explosives (only those that DETONATE with a supersonic shock wave) ONLY would be prudent.

This would ONLY apply to US Citizens, NOT foreigners with less than Diplomat status. Foreigners from suspected terrorist mongering countries would be specifically BANNED from possessing any firearms/explosives with only ONE penalty. Firing Squad, period no matter how non-PC it is.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

This is all about the rescinding of 55.141(a)(7). That was done the same time as 55.141(a)(8) resulting in the NAR/TRA lawsuit we won. WHERE'S THE LOVE FOR KILLING THIS OVER-REACH TOO?

Jerry

I've had several failures with the new alleged igniters. As a result, I've begun stalking the older ones on the auction site.

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Just completed: Estes Cherokee-E, Estes Multi-Roc.

Current project: Painting the roll pattern on my new Ventris build, gifted me by the estimable Dr. Houchin.

At a cub scout launch last Saturday, we had a lot (>10) of starters light but fail to ignite the engine. Also a couple of "shotgun blast" ejection charges on a couple of 13mm birds. I don't recall any "less than" ejection charges, but we were putting rockets into the air fairly quickly.

The starters are definitely inferior to the old Solar igniters.

__________________
Up next:
Under construction:
Under repair:
In finishing: Centuri Sabre clone
In primer:
In paint:
Ready for decals:

Bill Cooke
NAR #31312
TRA #19705
SAM #0001
Huntsville, AL

My rocket blog
My rocket fleet

All of the recent engine packages I've purchased now have the clear tip starters.
I've been using those at the club launches where they have a 12 volt system.

I've still got a pretty good supply of the old Estes igniters and Q2G2s.
Most of my solo schoolyard launches use my older 6 volt Estes controller and the old black pyrogen tip igniters.

The new "Starters" remind me of bare nichrome. They take a moment longer to ignite.
Interesting to note, four of the Starters are included in each three engine package, like Estes used to do. Maybe anticipating ignition problems?
In the end I still might buy some dip and make my own.

__________________
Hans "Chris" Michielssen
Old/New NAR # 19086 SR

www.oddlrockets.com
www.modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com
http://www.nar.org/educational-reso...ing-techniques/
Your results may vary
"Nose cones roll, be careful with that."
Every spaceman needs a ray gun.
Look out - I'm the Meister Shyster!

I've used maybe about 8 or so of the clear tip "starters" so far, all on club launch systems (with someone other than me at the controller). 100% ignition rate for them. Admittedly a small sample. Well, there was one rocket at NYPower that didn't ignite the first time they pushed the button, but without changing the "starter" they tried again and it launched, so I'm guessing it was just pilot error at the launch controller.

__________________
Rich Holmes
Camillus, NY
Secretary / newsletter editor
Syracuse Rocket Club

http://richsrockets.wordpress.com