Winter Build 2012
04/07/2012 20:35 Filed in: Rockets | Estes | Quest | Cub Scouts | Airplane | Centuri | Pinewood Derby | Cloned
Now that winter is here. Well, Atlanta doesn’t really have a winter just a few brutal days or weeks. The time has come to start a few winter builds. But before doing so a few repairs are needed and ongoing projects must be closed out. Not to mention a few non-rocket related repairs are needed as well.
So what’s in store for this winter?
Repairs:
Estes Astro Sat LSX (Tiger Scout) - Shock cord and chute repairs- Completed 2/13/12Quest Magnum- Completed - 3/30/12- Two sailboats (Cub Scout Rain Gutter Regatta)
Estes Condor Rubber Band Power Airplane -Completed 2/8/12Estes Sky Writer - Complete rebuild (scratch)- Completed - 3/30/12
Current Projects:
- Centuri U.S.S. America Clone- Add decals
Estes D Region Tomahawk- Completed - 3/30/12- Estes Satellite Interceptor - Complete build, sand, paint, and decal
- Complete rocket photography
New Projects: (Updated 4/7/2012)
Pinewood Derby Cars- Completed - 2/26/12- Centuri Mach 10 Clone from More Rockets
- Estes U.S.S. Enterprise
- Semroc Goblin
- Estes Big Daddy
- Estes Executioner
- Estes Sky Lofter
- Estes Mini Comanche-3
- Quest Planet Probe
- Semroc Moon Glo
- Semroc Space Shuttle
- Estes Wizard
- Centuri Groove Tube Clone
Mini-G.R.I.T.S. 2012
Wow! What an amazing time we had at Mini G.R.I.T.S. (our second launch of 2012) and Lake Blackshear this past weekend. Coupled with the smell of burnt motors in the afternoon and the relaxing sounds of the lake in the evening it was a shame it had to end so soon. And best of all my boys worked on their NARTREK Mercury certification. Anyway on to the launch report. Due to the amount of flights this weekend I decided to break down the launch report by motors and the rockets which flew on them.
A10-3T
A8-3
B6-4
C6-3
C6-5
D12-3
E9-6
That’s all folks!!!!
A10-3T
A8-3
B6-4
- FlisKits Avalear
- Estes Colonial Viper (clone)
- Estes Cosmic Cobra
- Estes Crossfire *First flight
- Quest Flash *First flight
- Quest Magnum
- Quest Novia *First flight
- Pencil (Estes Skywriter clone) *First Flight
- Estes Rascal *First flight
- Quest Sprint
C6-3
C6-5
D12-3
E9-6
- Estes D-Region Tomahawk *First Flight
That’s all folks!!!!
First Launch of 2012
Well we attended our first launch of 2012 and although we took several kits to fly we only managed to get five in the air. Our Estes SkyWriter, Estes Snitch, Estes Firehawk, Estes Super Neon, and a clone of the Estes Colonial Viper. Percentage wise we only manage a 40% success rate. Not too good in my opinion. Let’s start with the good. First up was our Estes Snitch flying on a C6-0. This little saucer has become a crown pleaser and didn’t disappoint this afternoon. The little saucer flew high and fairly straight. Although it’s designed to land upside down it performed a little hop and landed right side up.
Next up was our clone of the Estes Colonial Viper, one we’ve called the BlackBird. This little bird hasn’t flown in almost four years and didn’t show any signs of rust flying on a B6-4. Real nice!!
Now for the bad. We performed our first drag race ever with an Estes Super Neon flying on a B6-4. This rocket hadn’t flown in three years and was slow to leave the launch pad. Then a malfunction during the ejection charge resulted in the parachute failing to deploy. Though it was slow to leave the pad, it was first on the grown. Best of all no damage was sustained.
Next we have the ugly our Estes SkyWriter. Another rocket which hadn’t flown in almost three years. The Estes Skywriter was also flown on a B6-4 and during the ejection charge the shock cord separated from the body and nose cone. The body was never recovered, but we did manage to retrieve the nose cone and parachute. With the recovery of the nose cone rebuilding the kit will be rather easy.
Lastly, to close out the afternoon was our Estes Firehawk. This bird had flown before, long before we kept a flight log, and was flown this afternoon on a 1/2A3-2T. During the ejection charge the engine retention cap popped off resulting in the parachute failing to deploy. Like the Estes Super Neon, no damage was sustaining.
Next up was our clone of the Estes Colonial Viper, one we’ve called the BlackBird. This little bird hasn’t flown in almost four years and didn’t show any signs of rust flying on a B6-4. Real nice!!
Now for the bad. We performed our first drag race ever with an Estes Super Neon flying on a B6-4. This rocket hadn’t flown in three years and was slow to leave the launch pad. Then a malfunction during the ejection charge resulted in the parachute failing to deploy. Though it was slow to leave the pad, it was first on the grown. Best of all no damage was sustained.
Next we have the ugly our Estes SkyWriter. Another rocket which hadn’t flown in almost three years. The Estes Skywriter was also flown on a B6-4 and during the ejection charge the shock cord separated from the body and nose cone. The body was never recovered, but we did manage to retrieve the nose cone and parachute. With the recovery of the nose cone rebuilding the kit will be rather easy.
Lastly, to close out the afternoon was our Estes Firehawk. This bird had flown before, long before we kept a flight log, and was flown this afternoon on a 1/2A3-2T. During the ejection charge the engine retention cap popped off resulting in the parachute failing to deploy. Like the Estes Super Neon, no damage was sustaining.
July Rocket Launch with Pack 503
Well we missed the SoAR launch for the month of July, but made it up with a launch with our Cub Scout Pack on July 11, 2009. We took the bulk of our fleet with us and had every intention of launching as many rockets as possible. However, due to field conditions, grass was rather high, we were cautious and only launched four rockets.
First up was Cole’s modified Estes Ricochet. The rocket was modified with a Cub Scout theme in mind and placed second place in the best in show category. The rocket was launched on B6-4 engine and suffered minor damage. Two fins were separated from the body (losing one).
Next up was Jill’s Estes Skywriter on a B4-4 engine. This rocket flew a very “pointed” path straight into the morning sky. With a fully deployed parachute, the rocket suffered no damage and was easily recovered.
Next up was a rocket Connor built from an Estes Customizer kit, affectionately named the Army Rocket. Flying on a B6-4 engine this was the maiden voyage for the Army Rocket. Like everything that Connor has built so far, it was golden. A perfect flight. Fully deployed parachute and also easily recovered.
Last up was Cole’s Estes Converter rocket on a C6-5. This rocket was by far the largest of the day and provided the boys (and parents) with lots of ooooo’s and ah’s. Though recovered, this rocket did land in the high grass area and was slightly difficult to retrieve.
Although our launches were limited it was a fun day watching the other rockets soar. And viewing the wonderful designs the boys came up with for the best in show competition.
First up was Cole’s modified Estes Ricochet. The rocket was modified with a Cub Scout theme in mind and placed second place in the best in show category. The rocket was launched on B6-4 engine and suffered minor damage. Two fins were separated from the body (losing one).
Next up was Jill’s Estes Skywriter on a B4-4 engine. This rocket flew a very “pointed” path straight into the morning sky. With a fully deployed parachute, the rocket suffered no damage and was easily recovered.
Next up was a rocket Connor built from an Estes Customizer kit, affectionately named the Army Rocket. Flying on a B6-4 engine this was the maiden voyage for the Army Rocket. Like everything that Connor has built so far, it was golden. A perfect flight. Fully deployed parachute and also easily recovered.
Last up was Cole’s Estes Converter rocket on a C6-5. This rocket was by far the largest of the day and provided the boys (and parents) with lots of ooooo’s and ah’s. Though recovered, this rocket did land in the high grass area and was slightly difficult to retrieve.
Although our launches were limited it was a fun day watching the other rockets soar. And viewing the wonderful designs the boys came up with for the best in show competition.
May Rocket 2009 Launch
Up first was the Mean Machine. A rocket Cole gave me for my birthday. We attempted to launch this rocket earlier in the year, but forgot one of the needed pieces. So it goes without saying there was a lot of anticipation to watch this rocket fly. The Mean Machine was launched on a D12-3 for its first flight and flew flawlessly. We look forward to flying it again and again in the future.
Next up was Connor’s Triton X. Launched on a C6-3 this large rocket suffered a little parachute damage which will be easily repaired. Another of Connor’s rockets, The Sprint, was launched on a B6-4. This little rocket performed admirably almost landing next to the original launch pad.
Cole’s Eagle Boost Glider was flown on a C6-3. This was the third flight for the Eagle Boost Glider and it suffered extensive damage. The rear fin folded upward almost forming a “L”. While the forward fin was scorched from the engine blast. Though attempts will be made to repair it, I’m not holding out much hope. In the end, I will most likely replace this for him.
Another birthday present, from Connor, was the Liquidator. This rocket has a payload section to carry, you guessed it, liquid. Though Connor wanted to load it up with Gatorade, I was a little afraid and decided against a payload on the first flight. Like the Mean Machine, we launched this one on a D12-3 too. It flew so well, that it landed upright on its fins.
Cole launched one more rocket, his Alpha III, which was given to him by SoAR in January 2009. He flew it on an A8-3 and outside of a tangled parachute this was a successful flight.
We concluded the afternoon with the launch of one of five Colonial Viper clones on a C6-5. This was not a successful flight as the shock split in two due to the engine heat. Fortunately the body and nose cone were recovered without any damage.
