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Old 02-07-2016, 08:20 AM
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MarkB. MarkB. is offline
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Default Ultimate Big Bertha Thread

Comrades:

There is a lot of information in old threads regarding the venerable Big Bertha. I thought to compile it in this thread and post as much data and as many pictures as possible.

Big Bertha originally appeared as an Estes Plan of the Month in 1964 (Pic. 1)

Big Bertha is a single-engine version of the older, three-engine Ranger model.

Big Bertha first appeared in the 1965 Estes catalog and has been in production ever since, making it the longest-produced model rocket kit. (.pdf attachment) Note that in 2011, Estes went back to the 1992 scheme.

Bertha has evolved over the years: The nose as gotten shorter and the fins have gotten longer. The original nose was a bezier BNC-60L. Over time, the shape evolved into a more hemispherical shape. The present nose cone is a plastic version of the more hemispherical balsa cone. At some point, Estes realized the nose was shorter and made up the over-all length by adding 1/2" to the bottom of the fins. The original short engine mount with rings on either side of a coupler was changed to a longer stuffer tube in 1970. The balsa fin stock started with 1/8", changed to 3/32" and has changed back to 1/8".

For an "old-school" build (as would be expected of a YORF member), the original size balsa cone is available from Semroc/eRockets as BNC-60LV. Carl based the shape on Vern Estes' Big Bertha nose cone.

Probably the high-time rocket of all time has to be Vern Estes' Big Bertha. (Pic. 2) It dates to 1964 time frame and has been flown "hundreds" of times. It's on its way or is already at the Museum of Flight, having suffered various indignaties over the years. (Pic. 3, in the hands of our site administrator)


The various catalog paint schemes have been reproduced by YORF members over the years:

1965 scheme by Sandman, complete with Vern and Gleda autographs (Pic. 9) and Indiana in two sizes. (Pic. 8)

1966-68 scheme on my rescue Bertha of that vintage. (Pic. 7) The alternate scheme (from cover pictures in the '66-'68 catalogues) by JohnNGA. (Pic. 6)

1969-1970 scheme by Vanel and Foamy1, respectively. (Pics 4 and 5)
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File Type: pdf catalog-art2.pdf (160.8 KB, 46 views)
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Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
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On the Bench: 2650;
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Last edited by MarkB. : 07-10-2016 at 07:25 PM.
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  #2  
Old 02-07-2016, 08:40 AM
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Here's the rest:

1969-1970 alternate scheme (again from cover pictures and post cards) by dlazarus (Small Image)

1971-1984 scheme by SCIGS and robobud, respectively. (Pics 4 and 5) I believe the consensus is that the white fin is just that, a white fin, without white on the adjacent panel or a white stripe up the side.

1986-1992 and 2011-present scheme by DaveR. (Pic. 3)

I couldn't find pictures of the other years' schemes here on YORF. On the other hand, Bertha lends itself to personalization, after all, even Vern's wasn't a catalogue scheme. So I've attached all the others I could find on YORF:

NARAM 56, builders unknown. (Pics. 1 and 2, Vern's on far right)

Two from JeffyJeep (Pics 6 and 7)

Two from bprescue (Pics 8 and 9)
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__________________
NAR 79743
NARTrek Silver
I miss being SAM 062

Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
Repair/Rescue: Cherokee-D (2); Centuri Nike-Smoke; MX-774
On the Bench: 2650;
Dream Stage: 1/39.37 R-7

Last edited by MarkB. : 12-23-2017 at 09:54 AM.
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  #3  
Old 02-07-2016, 08:45 AM
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O.K.

Second to last batch of YORF Bertha's:

A steampunk Bertha by SKP (Pic. 1)

A retro picture with lettering cut from the instruction sheet by JoeShockcord (Pic. 2)

One from jeffk813 (Pic. 3)

A spectacular job from Fishtech. (Pic 4)

El Cheapo with a WAC scheme and pointy cone. (Pic. 5)

CoachJT (Pic. 6)

Two from Bill Gibson (Pics 7 and 8)

Two from CaptainRon (Pics. 9 and 10)
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__________________
NAR 79743
NARTrek Silver
I miss being SAM 062

Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
Repair/Rescue: Cherokee-D (2); Centuri Nike-Smoke; MX-774
On the Bench: 2650;
Dream Stage: 1/39.37 R-7

Last edited by MarkB. : 02-07-2016 at 09:14 AM.
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  #4  
Old 02-07-2016, 09:04 AM
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Last one:

Blushingmule, ready for launch (pic. 1)

Some cgi by Tau Zero (Pic. 2)

The present decal on different colors by ulteriormodem (Pic. 3)

And last, my own, personal Bertha (Pic. 4)



If I missed your Bertha in culling through the archives, I apologize. Post your pictures.
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__________________
NAR 79743
NARTrek Silver
I miss being SAM 062

Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
Repair/Rescue: Cherokee-D (2); Centuri Nike-Smoke; MX-774
On the Bench: 2650;
Dream Stage: 1/39.37 R-7

Last edited by MarkB. : 02-07-2016 at 11:06 AM.
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:40 AM
Ltvscout Ltvscout is offline
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That's me with Vern's original Big Bertha on my head in the third pic at the top. That's from one of our NARCON's in the mid 2000's.
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Old 02-07-2016, 12:06 PM
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Our club HUVAR would hold a Big Bertha bash.

My Little Brother built the Mercury Bertha and I built the Gemini Bertha.

Here's a link to TRF for the posting on our Bertha bash. This is from the archive from a long time ago...2004!

Check out Gus's Bertha Vostok.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?77177-Bertha-Bash-o-Rama-Thon!&highlight=Vostok+Bertha

You'll have to copy/paste it.
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Old 02-07-2016, 02:06 PM
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Two things:

First - the pics from NARAM 56 were phone shots I took of Big Bertha decorating contest entrants (well, except for Vern's original). I don't know the builders' names either, except for that the one in in the middle of the grouping of three is mine. Vern and Gleda ultimately autographed all of them - declaring them all winners - so mine is on a high shelf now.

Vern noted that he's always felt that the Big Bertha should reflect the builder's desires/personality and he sees the catalog/face card schemes as just suggestions. I don't think his original is at the MoF - yet.

Second - I've built two more from recent kits (retro color scheme on the face card, but laser cut fins) and my wife has built one - and they have 1/8 inch thick fins. Also, they don't have the stuffer tube but a regular short motor mount with the thin cardstock centering rings (but without the stage coupler between them as back in the early days). They have the current metal motor hook.

Now the Baby Berthas I've built from recent kits have 3/32 inch thick fins.

Ah, the permutations!!
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Old 02-07-2016, 03:23 PM
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I have a pair of 1969's on the pad, and launching. One is original scale, the other is a 2.6" dia upscale.

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/show...859&postcount=1

Indoor pics along with my son's Ranger. Do Rangers count?

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/show...ighlight=bertha



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Old 02-07-2016, 09:53 PM
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Seems like this is a good place to ask the question that's been on my mind.

The Big Bertha I cloned a couple of years ago in the 90's black scheme, some how inadvertently used a body tube 2" shorter than the normal 18". So, should I:

1) let it go and just fly it as is since it hasn't affected any fights?
2) use a coupler and 2" of BT-60 to bring it up to standard?
3) drink a few beers in memory of the building session?

The only time it's really noticeable is when it stands next to the Ranger I cloned. I could keep them on opposite sides of the shelf and I'm sure no one would notice, but for some OCD reason it just grates on my nerves.
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Old 02-07-2016, 10:28 PM
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I'd cut off three more inches.

Glue a Semroc baffle with a heavy duty Kevlar leader so the baffle is "trapped" under the coupler in the remaining body tube.

Add a 5" piece of BT-60.

Repaint. Keep OCD at bay.

Enjoy fabulous, relatively wadding-free flights.

And for gosh sakes, POST A PICTURE when you're done.
__________________
NAR 79743
NARTrek Silver
I miss being SAM 062

Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
Repair/Rescue: Cherokee-D (2); Centuri Nike-Smoke; MX-774
On the Bench: 2650;
Dream Stage: 1/39.37 R-7

Last edited by MarkB. : 09-04-2017 at 10:32 PM.
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