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  #1  
Old 01-19-2016, 03:40 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Default New Falcon 9 kit?

Hello All,

After reading the latest on SpaceX's successful Falcon 9 launch on Sunday (and their maddeningly-close-to-complete-success failure to successfully land the first stage on their drone ship "Just Read the Instructions"), I looked at my SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon model rocket kit again. Now:

Does anyone here know if SpaceX plans to update the kit? One that depicts the newest Falcon 9 version, with spring-deployed (or perhaps elastic-deployed) landing legs, could utilize a sliding motor mount that moves backward slightly at ejection, releasing the legs to deploy. Such a kit could also be customizable, being able to be built with either a Dragon spacecraft or an over-size payload fairing, depending on the builder's desires. These components could also be used to create a Falcon Heavy flying scale model. Also:

While it would be expensive for SpaceX to make such kits as follows "up front," they could have provision for the builder--if s/he so chose--to build the kits with rocket-braked landing capability, using an electronic ignition timer and multiple motors. (Many years ago, a model rocket motor-powered scale Surveyor Moon lander was built and flown successfully several times, making rocket-braked touchdowns after being dropped from a height; it finally crashed when one of its three 18 mm motors failed to ignite, not unlike with Surveyor 2 in September 1966.) The Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy models could lift off powered by one motor (or set of motors), and could land under the power of another motor or motors.
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  #2  
Old 01-19-2016, 04:03 PM
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luke strawwalker luke strawwalker is offline
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I wouldn't count on it... SpaceX is a space launch business, not a model rocket developer...

All the projects you mentioned are clearly within the capabilities of a talented and experienced model rocketeer...

Later! OL J R
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Old 01-20-2016, 03:50 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luke strawwalker
I wouldn't count on it... SpaceX is a space launch business, not a model rocket developer...

All the projects you mentioned are clearly within the capabilities of a talented and experienced model rocketeer...

Later! OL J R
That's what I'm hoping, that SpaceX might contract with a company like (to give just one example--there are many others) MPC, to have such kits produced. SpaceX could make a percentage on each kit sold (which would be a nice bit of "walking around money" for them) and get the promotional benefits, and the rocket kit manufacturer would make tidy sums off the kits.
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Old 01-20-2016, 07:55 AM
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Now, you know the kit has been updated since the one you have right?

The newer version is BTH-60 based with the newer markings and non-operable landing pads. It's missing the four grid fins and is a good representation of Falcon v1.1. It flys great, too.

So an update to the Falcon v1.2 would be the longer tanks and the grid fins.

I think all the mods Blackshire is talking about should be left to the Master Modelers for scale contests. Parachute recovery works for me. If it lands vertical on its fins, well, that's a bonus.
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Old 01-21-2016, 02:48 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkB.
Now, you know the kit has been updated since the one you have right?

The newer version is BTH-60 based with the newer markings and non-operable landing pads. It's missing the four grid fins and is a good representation of Falcon v1.1. It flys great, too.
I've never seen that updated version (mine is of the original Falcon 9), but I'm glad to hear that it was (is being?) produced.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkB.
So an update to the Falcon v1.2 would be the longer tanks and the grid fins.
Hmmm...Boyce or Shapeways could offer 3D printed grid fins as after-market, "scale accurizing" parts...
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkB.
I think all the mods Blackshire is talking about should be left to the Master Modelers for scale contests. Parachute recovery works for me. If it lands vertical on its fins, well, that's a bonus.
I didn't mean that the kit should be made that way (it would be prohibitively expensive if it were), but that it could have provision for modelers to add those other features (much like how the Guillow "Build-by-Number" model airplanes are rubber-powered but have provision for installing a glow plug engine if the builder so desires).
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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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Old 02-16-2016, 07:46 PM
Scud-B Scud-B is offline
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I'm in the finishing stages of the updated Falcon 9 kit. It's nice, well engineered, but I ended up putting some twists into it. For one, I wanted to be able to use the large payload section, since my Estes Titan IIIE is in need of some serious repair work. I'll end up plugging the back of the transition with a wood insert so I can mount the parachute and shock cord using a screw eye.

The other major item will be using shaped wooden legs in lieu of the cheap foam "shapes" which are supposed to adhere to the outside of the body tube. I haven't tried attaching them, I simply don't like the way they look. A general "sport scale" quality leg can be made from some balsa wood and, after all, there's only four of them... no biggy. I may add static grid fins as well, if I end up with some extra time on my hands.

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Old 02-17-2016, 10:08 AM
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Joe Shockcord Joe Shockcord is offline
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I'm planning to build a small BT-55 version with semi-scale static legs but it will have hinged grid fins that I hope will pop out as the rocket descends.
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Old 02-17-2016, 10:42 PM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Thank you, Scud-B, for posting the photo and the information! Making scale-form grid fins and landing legs could be done using 3D printing (Shapeways and Boyce Aerospace Hobbies could do this "to order"). Did the nozzles on your Falcon 9 come in the kit? I also have a question regarding the shipping of your kit:

When you received your kit, did you have to sign for it? (I ordered two "Falcon 9 and Fairing" kits from SpaceX's store over the weekend, and they're being shipped via FedEx. Because of my frequent, regularly-scheduled medical appointments, I'm often not at home, and I don't have a car, so getting out to the airport's FedEx facility would cost me a ~$25 cab ride if I missed all of the delivery attempts [the elderly & disabled paratransit van service has to be scheduled well in advance]. I e-mailed SpaceX about whether a signature is required, but they haven't responded.) Many thanks in advance!
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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
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Old 02-17-2016, 11:13 PM
Scud-B Scud-B is offline
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I thought about 3D printing but the design work isn't something I have time for. I'm a BAR 2.0 with 3 kids, a wife, a full time job with the government, and I'm back in school for a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree... spare time is at a premium and I prefer working with my hands... wood and styrene will have to do for now. You won't be disappointed with the Falcon 9 kit though, it's the first one I've built in years and it was beyond easy.

I'm not sure if a signature was required, they were here when I got home from class one night, my wife got them. I doubt it though, FedEx and UPS leave a ton of stuff on my porch so I suspect my Falcon 9s were no different.
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Old 02-18-2016, 12:19 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scud-B
I thought about 3D printing but the design work isn't something I have time for. I'm a BAR 2.0 with 3 kids, a wife, a full time job with the government, and I'm back in school for a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree... spare time is at a premium and I prefer working with my hands... wood and styrene will have to do for now. You won't be disappointed with the Falcon 9 kit though, it's the first one I've built in years and it was beyond easy.
For other reasons, I understand about your scarcity of time. :-) I've reached a point in life where I'm happy to pay--within reason--to have things done (by rocket part 3D printing companies like Shapeways or Boyce Aerospace Hobbies), particularly since I now have only about 1 square foot of workbench space (on my Tokyo-size apartment's kitchenette counter). Also, while I too could make functional landing legs for my Falcon 9 models by hand, the first stage's grid fins would be very difficult to make by hand; 3D printing might be the only way to make grid fins of that small scale. I'm glad to read that this new Falcon 9 kit is also very easy to build!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scud-B
I'm not sure if a signature was required, they were here when I got home from class one night, my wife got them. I doubt it though, FedEx and UPS leave a ton of stuff on my porch so I suspect my Falcon 9s were no different.
Thank you for letting me know. I don't get a lot of FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries, but a good percentage of those that I have received have come without requiring a signature (some were just left in the hallway, up against my apartment door).
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
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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