I snuck up to B6-4 Field yesterday for the second straight day to attempt a launch. I had a pretty ambitious load with me, but unlike Sunday, when I tried two launchers that didn't work, this one was a mild success. I'd excavated one of the launchers from one of the Star Wars sets I'd collected over the years and armed it with new batteries. Everything went as I'd hoped, except that the winds kicked up a bit right after I arrived at the field. I started with an Estes Mighty Moe on an A8-3, which proved to be more than was safe with the breeze. I recovered it, but went with the mini motor birds after the initial flight. I wound up with five flights on the day, but recovered everything. I might try to go back up today with a bunch of my low and slow birds to boost my numbers a little.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Isn't that the just way of things?

I'm glad you got them all back.

__________________
Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE

This was my kickoff flight, the Estes Mighty Moe on an A8-3. It flew great, dead straight off the rod, then it was drifting straight down after ejection. Two things happened. The chute, which had been happily parawadding, suddenly filled. The breeze, which had been non existent, began blowing from the north. It crossed Woodfill Avenue with plenty of extra height, then appeared to drop in the back yard of the house next to the school. Looked like it landed deep, so I decided to wait until I had packed up to ask if I could retrieve it.

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__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

I picked this rocket up years ago on clearance. Too cheap to pass up, right? Wrong. I think this is the Estes Space Bus, although I never really gave them enough thought to cement the names in my head. They turned up on my "Haven't flown in over ten years" list, so I dug them out and dusted them off. Kind of miss the dust, to be honest. Flew fine on a 1/2A3-4T, but never stopped feeling like a cheap afterthought.

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__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

The Not So Big Der Red Max was another addition to my Max family. I had planned to buy another downscale decal set from Gordon, but the Alps died before I got to it, so I decided to fake it. I still have faking to do, but I haven't felt like dicking with the printer of late. 1/2A3-4T flight just disappeared. I had the sense that it went to the left, but I never saw anything land, so I walked the field. Just as I was about to give up, a friendly neighbor asked if I was looking for a …..thing. Landed on the grass strip between the sidewalk and the road. While I was picking it up the lady came out of the house where I thought the Moe had landed, so I asked to retrieve it. It wasn't there. Turns out it never made the yard, but instead landed in the grass right next to the fence by the school driveway.

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__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

More plastic (not) fantastic. 1/2A3-4T was too much for it. Found it in pieces in the muck and mire of deep center. Feh.

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__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2