Source: Scratch-built, Modified Omega
Estes Industries # K-52 / 1252
Designed by Mike Dorffler
Type: Sport / Payload
Stages: Two
Engine Type: 24mm both stages
Recovery: Parachute / Tumble
Booster Length: 12.8cm (5.0 in.)
Sustainer Length: 35.5cm (14.0 in.)
Payload/Nose Length: 30cm (11.8 in.)
Total Length: 78.3cm (30.8 in.)
Diameter: 42mm (1.64 in.)
Booster Weight: 41.6g (1.47 oz.)
Sustainer Weight 78.5g (2.77 oz.)
Total Weight Empty: 120.1g (4.24 oz.)
Nose Cone: Tangent Ogive
Fin Type: Trapezoidal
Number of Fins: 4 each stage
Color Scheme: Yellow, Red, Black
Date Completed: April 25, 2023

A Classic Estes Model Rocket

The Mountaineer IV is a clone build of the famous Estes Astron Omega. Introduced in 1970, the Omega was designed by Mike Dorffler as the recommended launch vehicle for the Cineroc 8mm movie camera, which was also his brainchild. The rocket was a mainstay of the Estes stable through 1981. Flying on the ‘Mighty D Engines’, the two-stage work-horse was capable of lofting the Cineroc to quite a respectable altitude.
Why do I call my model the ’Mountaineer’ instead of ‘Omega’? The story goes back to the mid- 1970s. There was a certain science teacher from Silver Spring Maryland named Herb Desind. Mr. Desind was an avid flier of the Cineroc. So much so that he was known far and wide as “Mr. Cineroc”! Over his model rocketry career he must have flown thousands of Cineroc flights all over the country and even around the world. Herb also would send his specially modified cameras and carrier rockets to other rocketeers around the country so that they could fly them in other scenic locales.
I became acquainted with Herb through the Starlords International Association of Rocketry, a Hawaii-based organization of which we were both members. One thing led to another and Herb ended up sending me two Cinerocs and two Omegas to fly for him here in Colorado. I would send him the completed film packs for processing.
Herb re-named both of those Omegas ‘Mountaineer’ I and II. Later on I built another Omega for my own fleet with which I continued the tradition by naming it Mountaineer III.
The Mountaineer IV has been on my build list of old-fleet re-makes for quite some time, so here in 2023 I finally got around to it.
The model is scratch-built according to the original plans. There are a few differences from the original. First, the rocket’s nose came from a current Mean Machine kit, meaning it won’t be an exact match to the original. It’s close enough for me.
The Mountaineer IV first stage booster has some modifications that were not on the original kit. On my version the fins are papered and feature some 1/16” thick balsa ‘gussets’ along the root edges. Both are measures for strengthening the booster fins to better withstand the rigors of tumble recovery while carrying a relatively heavy D motor casing.
I also added some vent holes to the fore end of the booster airframe to aid with pressure release for gap staging.
The payload section utilizes a thin plywood plug and a piece of heavy duty paper clip epoxied into a stage coupler. The original Omega kits used a balsa nose block. Does anyone even still make an NB-60? I would probably have to turn one.
The overall color scheme is a near-exact duplication of the ones adorning Herb’s Mountaineers I and II from the old days. The Mountaineer IV was completely brush painted with hobby acrylics. Most of the decals are home prints.
The Mountaineer IV is slated to be my go-to fleet vehicle for higher altitude video camera and altimeter flights.
I anticipate many great launches of this bird!

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
Just remember...G. Harry Stine's first ever model rocket was an RTF !

Check out my wonderful model rocketry blog here:
https://castlerocketeer.blogspot.com/

Neat model and story. Thanks for sharing.


Actually, both eRockets and BMS carry BT-60 balsa nose blocks. The eRockets/Semroc part is https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-bal...-1-8-sem-nb-60/

BMS sells one that’s four inches long, so you could get two of the original-sized parts out of it with some left over. It’s listed on the “cones and transitions” page of the BMS web site as “NB60-4.”

That said, I like using the coupler/ply disk approach to the bases of payload sections myself.

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

Very cool variation on the Astron Omega.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

Bill, knock-out good looking paint scheme.........


Joe

That's slick. You'd never guess it was brush painted.

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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

A great commemorative build!

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John
YORF #003
SAM #004

Thanks, All,

The brush painting technique is still not quite perfected.
When viewed very close up, some brush marks are still visible, but overall, I am very pleased with the results.

__________________
Just remember...G. Harry Stine's first ever model rocket was an RTF !

Check out my wonderful model rocketry blog here:
https://castlerocketeer.blogspot.com/

Grandma used to talk about the driveway paint job they did during WWII on their old Dodge. She said it was beautiful and turned out without any brush marks. Then about 40 years ago I worked with a guy who told me on Friday that he was painting his Mustang that weekend. I hadn't seen in several weeks and it had an advanced cast of tinworm. I assumed he got the body work finished. When I got to work on Monday, I found that he'd simply sprayed over the rust with a red rattle can paint that hurt my eyes. He caught me looking at it in the parking lot and was obviously quite proud. I think of him whenever I finish one of my rattle can birds. I think the paint was Tumor Red.

__________________
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

Blatant Mustang abuse !!!!!

__________________
Just remember...G. Harry Stine's first ever model rocket was an RTF !

Check out my wonderful model rocketry blog here:
https://castlerocketeer.blogspot.com/