Hi All; Does anyone know of a three motor parallel cluster Estes kit? I'm trying to do this in Rocksim, and haven't yet figured out how, so I'm hoping to find a Rocksim file for an existing kit to use as an example.
Many thanks!

There were two from the very early days of Estes. The easiest to re-create is the K-6 Astron Ranger, which is simply a Big Bertha with a payload section and a cluster mount. The second is a bit more stylish, the K-10 Astron Cobra. Look at pages 16 and 17 in the 1964 Estes catalog.

Click here to see the catalog page.

Click here to get the Ranger plans from JimZ.

Click here to get the Cobra plans from JimZ.

A RockSim file would be easy to whip up from either plan set, as each shows a list of the parts. Be sure to download this parts catalog to understand the part codes.

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Craig,

Flatlander called out parallel. I interpret that to mean three motors abreast (linear) rather than triangularly arranged.

I can't think of a kit like that off the top of my head, tho. However, I built one like that (only to blow out one of the outboards )

But the old Gemini DC lends itself to conversion for this, however the outboard-to-inboard venting needs to be modified to prevent blowouts. Here's one on Amazon.

Doug

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You know, one of these days I'm going to actually read these posts before I answer them...

(Scribbling this down...READ post before TYPING...)

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Although it's not an Estes rocket, a clone can be made of the RDC Nova III which is a three parallel cluster rocket. Here are the plans:
http://www.oldrocketplans.com/rdc/rdcNOVA/rdcNOVA.htm

In Rocksim create one motor mount tube (check the box "This is a Motor Mount") with hook and thrust block . Click "OK", and back on the "Rocket design components" tab click "cluster" and choose the configuration you prefer.

The 'Lil' Beth X-3' comes to mind. It was a Estes DOM back in '68:
< http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/eirp_57.htm >. A photo of mine is below.

S.

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How well does that Lil'Beth fly ?
Seems VERY interesting.
A couple A8-3's with a B6-0 in the booster and a B14-7 in the top would be VERY interesting.

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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 never saw that DOM before, but in 1983 I built a very similar 2 stage version using 24 mm engines. Both pods had parachutes and were glued to the booster core bt, and both sets of fins were smaller. It flew very well. The booster was a 3" piece of BT50 with the pods 10" BT50, the sustainer was an 18" BT50 with an ogive balsa nose cone. It even flew straight one time when one of the D12-3's in the pods did not ignite.

If it might help, here's a list of Rocksim design files for cluster-powered rockets:

http://www.rocketreviews.com/rocksim-1992.html

-- Roger