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  #11  
Old 12-31-2008, 03:13 PM
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billspad billspad is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peartree
So if I had never been to ANY of the NAR national events (and I haven't) and I had to choose only one (and I probably do), should I go to CT for NARCON in March (which might be possible) or to Pittsburgh for NARAM (which would be much closer) for several days?

.


They're two different types of events. Here's an oversimplification.

NARAM is contest flying, sport flying, vendors, and information in that order.

NARCON is information, vendors and usually sport flying.

Both provide you with the opportunity to meet and talk with a lot of people you only know from the various forums.
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  #12  
Old 12-31-2008, 03:21 PM
NJNike NJNike is offline
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Well would you rather travel to a launch or a convention? Flying or learning? (though you can, of course, do both at the same time)
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  #13  
Old 01-22-2009, 02:21 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Default Blue paper Centuri B14-7 motors?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob H
I'm pretty sure that I saw a thread about green colored motors on YORF some time back.

Anyways, on Christmas day, my sister in-law gave me 4 packs of Estes motors that had belonged to her late husband. They were in the blue diamond tubes and there was one tube of A8-3's, two tubes of B6-4's and one tube of C6-3's.

When I took them out of the tubes, I was surprised to find that they were the green colored motors. The nozzles on these are smaller than current motors of the same type.

When I asked how they were stored, I was told they had been in an unheated attic up here in the northeast for probably the last 30+ years. I assume that they are CATO's waiting to happen.

I was thinking that I could build a few Midnight Express paper rockets to see what happens since they have had severe temperature cycling but them decided to see if anyone wanted them.

I am not a motor collector so they don't have any more value to me than a current motor, but I understand that there are a few collectors out there. I am planning to attend NARCON in Connecticut this year so I can bring them with me if there is any interest.

Pictures:
1. Blue diamond tubes.
2. One each of green A8-3, B6-4, C63.
3. Nozzle comparison with current motors. L - R: A8-3, B6-4, C6-3
4. Nozzles with a scale in the picture just because Terry Dean is going to ask for one. L - R: A8-3, B6-4, C6-3


*I think I'm going to colic in my stall* In 1972 or 1973, my father and I burned through dozens of these green motors. We thought they were 'just' the latest innovation from Estes. Had we known "the rest of the story," we would have salted some away as collectors' items!

I do, however, have one Centuri B14-7 motor that is made of blue paper with black lettering on it. The nozzle is dark gray like pumice soap (it looks like the nozzle material in the German-made MRC 18 mm motors of the early 1990s). I'm fairly familiar with Centuri's motors, and I've never seen one of these before.
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  #14  
Old 01-22-2009, 07:47 AM
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Shreadvector Shreadvector is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackshire
*I think I'm going to colic in my stall* In 1972 or 1973, my father and I burned through dozens of these green motors. We thought they were 'just' the latest innovation from Estes. Had we known "the rest of the story," we would have salted some away as collectors' items!

I do, however, have one Centuri B14-7 motor that is made of blue paper with black lettering on it. The nozzle is dark gray like pumice soap (it looks like the nozzle material in the German-made MRC 18 mm motors of the early 1990s). I'm fairly familiar with Centuri's motors, and I've never seen one of these before.


Centuri used the scrap graphite that was produced when machining the nozzles and delay housings of the Enerjet composite motors by mixing it in with the clay for the black powder motors, so that is why some of them are grey.

Cato is not "CATO". It is not an acronym, it is an abbreviation of Catastrophic Failure, semi-similar to "combo" as an abbreviation for combination.

The nozzle sizes are definitely different today than in the past as they had different black powder suppliers and the different powders had different performance. The current nozzle plugs will not fit the older motors from the early 1970's.

I have flown a LOT of older B6-0 motors with the tiny nozzles and they worked fine. They were stored in a warehouse/attic in SoCal for decades. I saved the Astron Igniters for use with D12 motors since they are a perfect fit and are virtually misfire-proof when held in with a wadding ball.
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  #15  
Old 01-22-2009, 12:28 PM
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Der Red Max Der Red Max is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shreadvector
Cato is not "CATO".

Oh yeah....?:
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  #16  
Old 01-22-2009, 12:57 PM
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Shreadvector Shreadvector is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Der Red Max
Oh yeah....?:


Estes can name a rocket kit anything they want. That does not change the correct definition and origin of the term. They also add "tm" to everything....
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  #17  
Old 01-22-2009, 01:10 PM
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"CATO" is an acronym for "Catastrophe At Take-Off" - a play on JATO - "Jet-Assisted Take Off.":

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...+at+take+off%22

-- Roger
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  #18  
Old 01-22-2009, 03:34 PM
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Shreadvector Shreadvector is offline
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False.

As has been explained dozens of times on r.m.r. and TRF and YORF in the past:

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/show...26&postcount=23

Never has been and never will be an acronym, except for those folks who learned the incorrect meaning and origin from those who made up the acronym urban legend.

It is not an acronym, it is an abbreviation for Catastrophic Failure. Like "combo" is an abbreviation of "combination".

Many people assumed or were told it was an acronym, and some invented words to conform to the letters to create a false acronym. They then told others who believed them. The worst example (and most illogical) is "Catastrophe At Take Off". This is illogical for several reasons that any thinking person should be able to quickly realize:

1) Rockets do not "take-off". They "launch" or "lift-off" (if they are from the 1950's) they "blast-off".

2) motor failures which are Catos include failures that occur anytime during motor burn, including at ignition, 1/4 second after ignition as the rocket is already leaving the launch rod and all the way through dealy failure (which is also catastrophic).


Quote:
Originally Posted by jadebox
"CATO" is an acronym for "Catastrophe At Take-Off" - a play on JATO - "Jet-Assisted Take Off.":

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...+at+take+off%22

-- Roger
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  #19  
Old 01-22-2009, 03:38 PM
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Der Red Max Der Red Max is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shreadvector
False.
Never has been and never will be an acronym, except for those folks who learned the incorrect meaning and origin from those who made up the acronym urban legend.

I was just having fun with the S'vector earlier but he is absolutely correct here!
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  #20  
Old 01-22-2009, 03:47 PM
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jadebox jadebox is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Der Red Max
I was just having fun with the S'vector earlier but he is absolutely correct here!


He always is ... even when there is evidence to the contrary.

-- Roger
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