Aero Dart:

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

While I've always enjoyed the pic of the Centuri Sat V with the X-24 on it, the scale factor of that combo is SOO far off...if they were each "to scale" with each other, the "real" X-24 would be roughly the size of the CSM on the Saturn.

Might be fun to scale the X-24 shroud down to the scale of the Sat V and see just how tiny it would be!

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Dean Fox
NAR #53946SR

---- "Wherever you go, there you are"

I like the Aero-Dart. Estes could release it as either a 2.6" or 3" tube rocket with a 29mm mount. It is a great 3FNC rocket and the payload section would make it easy to have an aftermarket dual deploy for bigger 29mm motors.

Rather than thru the wall fins it could have thru the tube to reduce balsa usage. External slots on the centering rings. Also it wouldn't hurt for them to maximize balsa yield and have the fins separate from the balsa sheet for kit packing. It's what U.S. Rockets does.

http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/tomahawk2.2.htm

Having a big rocket for the Estes 29mm motors would fit the Estes small field preference quite well. Biggest chute they have.

Fins similar to the Enerjet variant and an ogive nose cone similar to the Mini-Max variant. A rocket with strakes! EZ laser 2nd separate part on fins.

Jerry

Bob-

On your boxed Aero Dart, does it feature the large Enerjet shock cord fasterner, or is it the more 'standard' size Centuri shock cord fastener?

In looking at the Aero Dart scanned plans, the fastner, based on the 'scale' appearance in the instruction images, looks to be the smaller size. But, that may just be an unintended representation of the fastener in comparison to the 2" body tube in the drawings.

Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

I can tell it's the big one.
I had an open Enerjet Nike Smoke that I sold a few years back. It had the big mount too.
All the Enerjet kits I have ever seen have the big one.

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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, and HAVOC !

Same here. I have four Enerjet kits (two Nikes, an Egg Crate, and a Nike Ram) and all those have the larger fastner. But the overall scale looks off in the instruction drawings.

Additionally, some years ago I received in an ebay parts 'batch', a partial set of pieces from an Enerjet Aero Dart kit. In that particular set of parts was the smaller fastner. Now, that may have been 'mixed in' well after the fact, but it kinda planted the thought that maybe (for some goofy, off-standard reason), the Aero Dart may have used the smaller fastner. Doesn't make sense, but was just curious.

Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Earl,

I took a look at both my Nike Ram and Aero Dart kits.

Wow! That's a BIG shock cord anchor. Especially when it has to fit in the ST-13 tubing of the Nike Ram.

It's something I never noticed before.

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

Ok, thanks Bob for the verification on the Aero Dart. I figured that was the case, but saw your boxed kit in your photos, so I thought it would be an opportunity to find out for sure.

Yeah, it's a pretty big fastener, no doubt. The Enerjet Egg Crate is #13 size tubing also, so it would be a relatively tight fit in it also. About like fittng the regular size Centuri shock cord fastner inside a #7 tube. You can do it, but it's tight.

Thanks again, Bob. Oh, nice looking birds in your photos!

Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Someday I'll geet around to photo-documenting an original, in-box 1968 version Aero-Dart.

Got it for $10 at a LUNAR auction. Missing the parachute and instructions, but those are easy to replace. (Also missing was the "Sil-Ray" fin reinforcement stuff.)

It came with its motor mount built in. Fairly short shock cord (black elastic), with a braided metal back-up cord in parallel.

I'm really surprised that no one came up with the idea of through-the-wall fins back in the 60s. The "Mini-Max" era Centuri kits would have been much sturdier!

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NAR #27085 - Oregon Rocketry - SAM

Here's my Enerjet version and subsequent damage. I actually found a live worm in that sod.
The orange model was it's replacement. I have some new enerjet decals so I'm going to put the '72 back together.

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