New Design -- Centuri Power Systems X-16
 

It's been a while since I've made a contribution to BARCLONE so two files for your enjoyment .....

Centuri Power Systems X-16 built entirely with SEMROC parts. Decals by Sandman. Laser cut balsa fin set made assembly a breeze. SEMROC has almost all the parts listed here:

http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts...rts.asp?ID=1121

Die cut sheet SEMROC ICE-PSP doesn't show a button on the list to add to cart but Carl sent the die cut center rings required to build the mounts. He also included a couple of solid die cut disc without a knock out for a motor mount to use to cap off the HTC-16. No part number for that so I just named it "Disc for HTC-16" in the RockSim file. I made these two files way back when I first bought the parts so can't guarantee they are error free but good enough to run some simulation estimates with and without payloads.


Length: 24.45"
Diameter: 1.64" (ST-16)
Span Diameter: 6.39"
Weight (Single Engine Mount: 2.08 oz
Weight (Dual Engine Mount: 2.10 oz


1x18mm Engine
B4-4_____297'_____Dv 0.10FPS_____36" x 1/8" standard rod
C6-5_____702'_____Dv 0.29FPS_____36" x 1/8" standard rod

2x18mm Engines
B4-4_____610'_____Dv 0.79FPS_____36" x 1/8" standard rod
C6-7_____1,206'____Dv 1.30FPS_____36" x 1/8" standard rod


I posted files for both the single and dual engine mount configurations.

If anyone is interested in this model I can tell you that it's a very satisfying build. I'm very happy with the finished model!

:)

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Steve,

Wow, great looking model!

I wasn't familiar with this one. Very simple design but a really interesting decal set and final look.

Great job, as usual.

Steve

I worked really hard on those decals and ya know what....

I had no idea what the rocket looked like. I can't honestly say I ever saw that model before.

Great job, I like it!

I may have to build one.

I can't believe you guys missed the Power System Outfit. It was on the cover of the 1977 (no. 772) catalog and was featured prominantly in catalogs through 1981.

Looks great Steve!

Thanks for the kind words Steve. The decal set Sandman made for this model are what really finishes the model. Without the decals could probably be mistaken at a distance for the Centurion but I like the scientific look of X-16 decals and mission symbols.




I remember you labored over getting those decals right and they look great!

I remember seeing the Centuri Power System in the Centuri catalog when I was flying with the rocket club at my high school. Never owned it or saw it in the wild. I'm not sure a color picture of the finished model is available in literature so I had to refer to the Power Systems Handbook for finishing. In the "before you assemble" reference it is noted to use white spray enamel and red spray enamel.

I cheated ..... I used Valspar white and red lacquer from Home Depot.

For reference:

http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/no...a/79cen008.html

http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...pshandbook.html

:)

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I had remembered you had made reference to liking the Valspar Cherry Red .... and OOPS I just checked the cans, they are enamel not lacquer.

Good stuff though. I like the finish.

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Craig you may want to check the design files I posted when you have a moment. Dv's sure look consistent and low for ALL flights.

Not sure if the two parachutes in the design are throwing it off but just doesn't look correct to me. I can't see how that could make a difference and I checked the settings and both chutes show to deploy at apogee. It was late last night so I didn't run multiples flight profiles.

Let me know if something looks off to you.

.

I was hunting for an economical replacement for Testors/Model Masters Italian Red, which is the best shade of rattle can red on the planet. Valspar Cherry Red enamel is about as close as I could find, and a gnat's whisker behind is Rustoleum lacquer. :cool:

I got very different results, Steve. Not sure if our starting conditions are similar, but here's what I got on the single-engine version:


B4-4......Alt 275' - 291'......Dv 11 FPS - 23 FPS
B6-4......Alt 290' - 300'......Dv 8 FPS - 18 FPS
C6-5......Alt 642' - 688'......Dv 19 FPS - 39 FPS


Best engine for low Dv is the B6-4.

-----

For the two-engine version, I get the following results:


A8-3......Alt 270' - 275'........Dv 3 FPS - 10 FPS
B4-4......Alt 594' - 607'........Dv 7 FPS - 19 FPS
B6-4......Alt 603' - 614'........Dv 7 FPS - 17 FPS
C6-5......Alt 1168' - 1199'......Dv 12 FPS - 29 FPS


Best engines for low Dv are the A8-3 and B6-4.

-----

I ran 10 simulations for each engine. All engines reached safe flight V from a standard 36" x 1/8" rod.

That is so neat, Steve. I received and built Centuri Power System when it first came out and wrote a review for the NAR magazine at the time, late '70s. I assume the die cut motor rings were for the two motor cluster. Still have bits and pieces of the two models.

Chas

I must have been running errands. ;)

I accidentally left my settings as set to deploy at apogee, instead of deploy at ejection. I'm now right in the ballpark with what you show here .....

Not sure why I changed those settings in the first place but I'm dusting off some old files to hopefully get up to BARCLONE so I'll know what to look for if all my sims appear to be flown in a perfect world! I figured it had to be an "apogee" setting of some sort since engine delay changes didn't alter the altitude results.

Thanks!

.

Chas,

If you can remember the date of the NAR magazine issue please let me know. I'd like to see if it's posted online somewhere so I can read the article.

Thanks

.

That's usually the setting you'd use if the model requires electronics for the deployment charge...

Bump

Does anyone have the X-7?
 

I have the original manual for the Centuri Power System and pieces of the X-16 that my father built back in the late '70s. I am rebuilding the X-16 now .

I would love to build the companion X-7 two stage rocket, but the manual does not have any dimensions - does anyone have the X-7 or know if the dimensions and fin pattern are posted anywhere - I already looked on YORP.

Thanks,
Eric

SEMROC is still your friend with the original parts list.
http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts...rts.asp?ID=1121

SEMROC still has fins and tubes along with most of the small bits. You will need to find a PNC-76 or balsa equivalent nose cone. You will need to make the external vented fish paper coupler.
http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts...?idproduct=2240
http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts...sp?idproduct=70 (series 7, 9")
http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts/cart.asp (series 7, 3")

Many thanks. I also found the decals at Excelsior, this will be fun.

The article that I was thinking of was in the April 1978 Model Rocketeer. It is not my article, so I was probably thinking of one I wrote for a newsletter. I was in charge of the NARTREK program and probably had gotten the Power System Outfit to review the potential of using it to acheive the various NARTREK levels. I still have the nose cones from the models and the interchangable motor mounts for the ST-16 model.
I apologize for the misrecollection. My memory is going...Dave.

Chas

I did mention the Centuri Power System Outfit briefly in the NARTREK Logs in the May and July 1978 issues of the Model Rocketeer. Not as extensive coverage as the product review in the April issue.

Chas

Sirius Rocketry www.siriusrocketry.com doesn't list them in their "Moldin' Oldies" section, but they do make hollow-cast resin duplicates of the Centuri PNC-76 and PNC-74 plastic nose cones, as I've bought both from them (their primary focus is duplicating Centuri and Estes scale and science fiction kits' plastic nose cones, but they'll fill orders for more "common" nose cones like these on request. Beautiful work on your Power System birds! Also, are the X-7's fins the same as those of the Centuri Stellar series Lance Corporal (the two-stage-with-payload-section "big brother" of the Stellar series Lancer)? It's possible--although I'd have to check the dimensions--that the X-7 is a Lance Corporal under different "livery" (decor scheme), although that's no slight against the Lance Corporal kit if that's the case, as one version of the customizable Sky Devil kit (with Aerobee-Hi-type fins) is a Lancer without body conduits; the Aerobee configuration is a pleasing one, with or without a booster!