Not sure if this is the correct area to ask this so mods please feel free move OR terminate...

Anyway, I am trying to offer a new parts pack for the Sprite. It's one of the few models I never built when I was a wee lad so I have some questions.

1.) What was the preferred motor and what was the diameter of that motor?

((The reason for the first question is that I am trying to decide whether or not to produce a model that will duplicate the exact version of it or should I leave out the gas vent, weight the nose, provide a streamer and motor mount and provide a flyable option? Which brings us to question number 2...))

2.) I have resurected the Sprite on RocSim8 as best I can and looks like I can convert it ot 13mm and with about .25oz in the nose, it should be a stable flyer that could recover via streamer. Anyone else done something similar?

I want to provide the best possible product I can. Unlike other OOP models, the Sprite is not the most straight forward kit to provide an avenue for a modeler who wants to re-produce her...mostly from the powerplant perspective.


Any addtional feedback would be most welcome!

Thanks,
John

__________________
"Mr. Rat, I have a writ here says you're to stop eating Chin Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now it's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of same. See, doesn't pay any attention to me."
--John Wayne.


Thrustline Aerospace Website

I still have my 1967 original Sprite.

It was made to fly on 18mm 'S' motors. They were 1.75" long and came in 1/4A, 1/2A, and A impulse only.

In order to fly mine now, I use an adapter cut from a used 18mm motor and put a 13mm motor inside. I think it's kind of cool the way it tumbles down but I don't know if the average person is going to want to make adapters to fly it.

I have an original Astron Sprite that I have flown with a 13mm adapter using 1/4a3's for flying.

I have also made my own "S-series" short engines by cutting an inch off the engine casing of 1/2A6-2's, but this is not exactly NAR safety-code legal
Whether or NOT this SHOULD be cosidered a safety code violation is a whole other topic.
I think it is silly that removing the plug from A10-PT's to "create" A10-0T's is a violation of the safety code.

If it was me, and I was to make this a kit, I would go with a 13mm mount and leave out the gas vent; make it streamer or 8" chute recovery instead of tumble.
I think tumble recovery, in a word, STINKS !
It is good for getting a VERY beat up looking rocket, very fast !

Tumble recovery should be used for one thing and one thing ONLY; recovery of light boosters on BP powered 2+ stage models. Even that can be iffy....such as with the booster for the Astron Omega, which is quite heavy for a booster.

__________________
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 !

I agree. Just because it WAS done that way is no reason to keep it that way. I've got a Sprite ready for paint that's streamer recovered AND still has the vent hole. I just done trust the Estes ejection charges of late, as I may have mentioned previously. Unless you're talking Mosquitos, tumble recovery blows.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane 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

Good point. Perhaps the way to offer it is giving the 13mm mmt an optional install.

__________________
"Mr. Rat, I have a writ here says you're to stop eating Chin Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now it's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of same. See, doesn't pay any attention to me."
--John Wayne.


Thrustline Aerospace Website

Bill...did you have to add any nose weight? (BTW, I shipped your stuff yesterday)

__________________
"Mr. Rat, I have a writ here says you're to stop eating Chin Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now it's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of same. See, doesn't pay any attention to me."
--John Wayne.


Thrustline Aerospace Website

LOL My Sprite was the first rocket I ever built and with the finishing skills I had back then, it looked VERY beat up before I ever launched it.

Attached Thumbnails

 

SHEESH !!!
Yechhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !

I'm not sure I'd own up to one that ugly....

I think I'd at least refinish it to a PRESENTABLE state !

__________________
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 !

Oh, I don't think I will. If I refinished it, it would probably get lost on the next launch. Ugly rockets always seem to come back.

It serves a purpose just like it is. No matter how badly I screw up the finish on a new model, I can always say " At least it isn't as bad that Sprite"

Nice Mars Outllander there Is the stager in the background the Delta (Camroc lifter)?
Doug