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  #11  
Old 08-01-2011, 06:29 PM
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No more Estes in WalMart - one of the things that changed when Hobbico bought Estes-Cox.

We should probably return to Semroc stuff seeing as this IS the Semroc forum and Blackshire's original intent was to alert folks to a very usable and yet very inexpensive launcher for Semroc rockets .
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  #12  
Old 08-02-2011, 03:24 AM
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I like the quick little launches in that Moon Mutt video. They are actually rather cute, and I mean that in a positive way. Darn, I'm going to have to dig mine out and start launching it now. See what you've done!
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  #13  
Old 08-02-2011, 03:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEC
No more Estes in WalMart - one of the things that changed when Hobbico bought Estes-Cox.

We should probably return to Semroc stuff seeing as this IS the Semroc forum and Blackshire's original intent was to alert folks to a very usable and yet very inexpensive launcher for Semroc rockets .
Hmmm...if Semroc ever decides to re-enter the model rocket GSE (Ground Support Equipment) section of the hobbyist rocketry market, a wooden version of the Mini Launch Pad would make a good initial product. The "hubs" (launch pad bases) could be cut from triangular (or circular) cross-section lengths of lumber, with equidistantly-spaced, downward-angled holes drilled into the sides of the "hubs" to accept three dowel tripod legs. A 1/8" diameter hole could be drilled into the top center of each "hub" (not all the way through) to accept the launch rod, which could be a 19" or 20" long single piece of stainless steel music wire. Also:

A Semroc launch controller could be offered as a kit (as the Estes FS-5, Astron, and Solar Launch Controllers all were). The cabinet could be a standard aluminum or plastic electronic project housing box (Centuri's "Professional Firing Panel" and "Ignition Control Panel [see: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...65/65cen18.html ] were similar to this--in fact, their aluminum cabinets may have been electronic project housing boxes). Like the FS-5 and Astron launch controllers, this new Semroc "LEK-TROL" launch controller could operate off either a 6 volt heavy-duty lantern battery or a 12 volt car (or motorcycle) battery. An RCA (Phono) plug (or a 1/4" TRS mono audio plug) with its two conductors shorted together could serve as the safety key, which would be plugged into an RCA (or TRS mono) jack in the launch controller cabinet to arm the circuit.
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Last edited by blackshire : 08-02-2011 at 03:45 AM. Reason: This ol' hoss done forgot somethin'.
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  #14  
Old 08-02-2011, 03:28 AM
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Also, that's gotta be about the highest 1/2A flight that I have ever seen!
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  #15  
Old 08-02-2011, 03:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark II
Also, that's gotta be about the highest 1/2A flight that I have ever seen!
The amazing thing is that the Estes Bandito isn't supposed to use the 1/2A3-4T (at 0.6 ounces, it's considered too heavy for the long delay and half-strength total impulse), yet it flew great, apparently deploying its 'chute around apogee with a decent "hang time!" That video impressed me to the point that I ordered a few Bandito kits off eBay.
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Last edited by blackshire : 08-02-2011 at 03:56 AM. Reason: This ol' hoss done forgot somethin'.
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  #16  
Old 08-02-2011, 04:00 AM
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I propose that we retire the phrase "Estes dent" and substitute something more generic, like "balsa smile" since the phenomenon is hardly unique to Estes rockets, or even, for that matter, to LPR.

Bernard, I have seen this happen on rockets with long elastic shock cords. It occurs when the cord gets tangled up, even temporarily, and thus made effectively too short. The nose cone can snap back and strike the top of the tube if a short section of the cord just below the cone is loose while the remainder is coiled up in the tube; the nose cone and the free section of cord are ejected first and the cord stretches and snaps back before the coiled length is even pushed out of the tube.

The solution is to substitute regular poly cord or even Kevlar for most of the shock cord length except for a short section where it emerges from the tube. The short section of flat elastic spreads the load out against the lip of the tube to help prevent zippers, and it provides enough shock absorption to soften the sharp ejection event without storing so much energy that it pulls the nose cone right back to the lip of the tube. By the time that the elastic shortens again, so much non-stretching cord above it has been paid out that it cannot bring tube and nose cone back together again when it recoils. The short section of elastic can only stretch so far and therefore it can only store so much energy; that energy is much less than that of a full length of elastic. You get the advantages of a shock-absorbing tether while avoiding the disadvantages of a cord that can forcefully recoil along its entire length.
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  #17  
Old 08-02-2011, 10:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackshire
The amazing thing is that the Estes Bandito isn't supposed to use the 1/2A3-4T (at 0.6 ounces, it's considered too heavy for the long delay and half-strength total impulse), yet it flew great, apparently deploying its 'chute around apogee with a decent "hang time!" That video impressed me to the point that I ordered a few Bandito kits off eBay.


Interesting about this.... the three new RTFs, for which the 1/2A3-4T IS recommended, are all heavier than that - ranging from 0.69 to 0.74 ounces. And based on the one 1/2A3-4T flight I have on the heaviest of the three - it actually is OK - at least under light wind conditions.
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  #18  
Old 08-02-2011, 09:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEC
Interesting about this.... the three new RTFs, for which the 1/2A3-4T IS recommended, are all heavier than that - ranging from 0.69 to 0.74 ounces. And based on the one 1/2A3-4T flight I have on the heaviest of the three - it actually is OK - at least under light wind conditions.
According to the 1/2A3-4T specifications in the Estes catalog, its maximum liftoff weight (including the motor, which has an initial weight of 0.21 ounces) is 1 ounce, so the three new RTF rockets are within the 1/2A3-4T's lifting capacity (although the 0.74 ounce RTF comes close to the 1 ounce limit). Therefore:

I'm puzzled as to why the Bandito (0.60 ounces without motor) and Firehawk (0.65 ounces without motor) don't have the 1/2A3-4T in their recommended motors lists. (The even heavier EX-200 [0.78 ounces without motor] has the 1/2A3-4T in its recommended motors list.)
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http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
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Last edited by blackshire : 08-02-2011 at 09:12 PM. Reason: This ol' hoss done forgot somethin'.
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  #19  
Old 08-02-2011, 10:00 PM
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Would it be possable to launch Flis 1:282 Saturn 1b useing this mini launcher?
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  #20  
Old 08-02-2011, 11:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the mole
Would it be possable to launch Flis 1:282 Saturn 1b useing this mini launcher?
YES! This model (see: http://www.fliskits.com/products/ro...l/saturn_1b.htm [for others who may not yet have seen it]) is well within the Estes Mini Launch Pad's limits for rocket length (18"), diameter (1"), and weight (1.5 ounces *without* a motor installed). Its stated wind velocity range is 0 - 5 miles per hour, but most folks don't risk flying such intricately-detailed scale model rockets on windier days, anyway.
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http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
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Last edited by blackshire : 08-02-2011 at 11:48 PM. Reason: This ol' hoss done forgot somethin'.
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