#1
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A little classic flying last weekend
We had a "Classics" theme at the BEMRC launch on September 12th and to add to it a bit I brought out some classic GSE as well in the form of two eBay Electro-Launches plus the Tilt-A-Pad and Solar Launch Controller from my first rocketry period (which ended in 1974 or so).
All three launchers were made Q2G2-safe with the use of an LED-based lamp (http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=3105 in warm white) for continuity indication in place of the original and the Electro-Launches both had their leads extended so that there was more than 15 feet between the base and the controller to meet the current safety code (vs. the original 10 feet). One of them was the external-tabs version that's only offered in the 1966 catalog. This one came to me from another YORF member and appeared to have never been completed, so it launched its first rocket about 49 years after it was made. The other had been used some.... Here are some pictures of models on the pads. Since I was LCO I didn't get any liftoff shots. Sorry. Some here may have seen another picture from that day - of a fairly ratty Scout that had never been flown but came with one of the E-Ls - that my wife posted on Facebook. I'm an over-the-shoulder Facebook person at the moment. By the way, four alkaline D cells in an Electro-Launch fires a current-style Estes igniter RIGHT NOW. We had no misfires with any of these old launch controllers. Much better than the "photoflash D cells" and the nichrome with blue pyrogen(?) igniters from "back in the day". I remember getting kinda frustrated back then with the E-L.
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#2
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VERY cool!
I always wondered how modern batteries compared to "photoflash" cells. I recently donated an unused Electro-Launch (red plastic) to rocketry display in a science shop / museum. Never had the heart to use it.
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NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM |
#3
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Really neat..that brings back memories.
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#4
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Liftoff shot and classic and modern mix
Here's a cropped frame grab of liftoff video of the one flight that I did take. In the Nova Payloader's payload section is an AltimeterThree. So bluetooth and smartphone technology flying off of a 45+-year-old-pad.
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#5
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Quote:
I primed a Nova Payloader tonight. One of the original "vintage" birds I got off of Ebay back in 2001. It really wasn't that old, as I came to find out.
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Bill Eichelberger NAR 79563 http://wallyum.blogspot.com/ I miss being SAM 0058 Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark |
#6
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That one is my second of the normal size. I retired the first one after 75 flights on everything from A8-3s to D10-7s (these latter do serious internal damage with their ejection charges).
I also have a 2.56 upscale that is a kit bash of an Estes Partizan. It's not as old as the other designs in my pictures, that is true. It first appeared in 1986 and then was gone out of the catalog in 1998. It has come and gone twice more since then, most recently dropping out of the catalog in 2014.
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#7
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Quote:
That's pretty interesting comparing the Alkaline versus Photoflash batteries. I was also dismayed with the blue coat igniters. If I went out to launch fous or five rockets I'd always have at least one misfire. Great pictures - thanks for stirring up some memories.
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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! |
#8
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It's nice seeing some classic rockets on classic pads!
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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 |
#9
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What a great theme!
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Paul If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org |
#10
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Now yer talkin' my kinda launch!
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"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run" http://sandmandecals.com/ |
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