Faster Than A Mosquito On An A10 !!!

 That's how fleeting 2021 seemed to have flown by.

Happy New Year to all of you and yours.

Here's wishing you a blessed and prosperous 2022.

Keep em' Fliying !

BAR Fleet #140 - Big Daddy

 

Source:  Estes Industries Kit #2162

Type: Sport Model

Stages: Single

Engine Type: 24mm

Recovery:  Parachute

Length:  50.5cm (19.9 in.)

Diameter:  76mm (3 in.)

Weight Empty:  177.5g (6.26 oz.)

Nose Cone: Tangent Ogive

Fin Type: Swept

Number of Fins: 3

Color Scheme:  Black, Yellow, Red

Date Completed:  December 30, 2021

 A Large Diameter Sport Flier

 The Estes Big Daddy is a large, impressive model rocket designed to fly on 24mm D and E motors. 

This kit was given to me by a Colorado Springs friend in 2020.  The kit harks back to the late 1990s, hence the older style decal scheme.

As part of the 2021 Model Binge-Build, the model was a very fun, straight-forward project, featuring through-the-wall balsa fins, and a large plastic molded nose cone.

 This one promises to be a very good higher powered model suitable for smaller flying fields, due to the peak altitude being limited by the larger diameter.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

 To all of you and your families!

BAR Fleet #138 - Crossfire ISX

 Source:  Estes Industries Kit #7220

Type: Sport Model

Stages: Single

Engine Type: 18mm

Recovery:  Parachute

Length:  39.6cm (15.6 in.)

Diameter:  25mm (.98 in.)

Weight Empty:  35.2g (1.24 oz.)

Nose Cone:  Conical

Number of Fins: 3

Color Scheme:  White, Silver, Black

Date Completed:  December 24, 2021

An Attractive Sport Model

The Estes Crossfire ISX is one of those model rockets that just has that 'cool' look about it.

Perhaps it has something to do with the sleek 'sounding rocket' nose cone and the added tabs on the fins. Whatever it is, I made the determination to have one in the fleet, despite it being a relatively simple 3FNC bird.

The only variation with this model from the face card illustration is that I went with a metallic silver paint treatment on the nose cone and nozzle shroud.

I am anticipating good times at the launch field with this great-looking model.

BAR Fleet #137 - Cherokee-Icarus

 

Sources: Quest Aerospace #1010, #2006,

Estes Industries #2408

Type: Payload model

Stages: Two

Engine Types: 24mm, 18mm

Recovery:  Parachute

Length:  95.8cm (37.7 in.)

Diameter:  35mm (1.38 in.)

Weight Empty:  122.6g (4.32 oz.)

Upper Stage:

Length: 56.3cm (22.2 in.)

Weight Empty: 63.8g (2.25 oz.)

Booster Stage:

Length: 17.8cm (7.0 in.)

Weight: 40g (1.4 oz.)

Payload Section:

Length:  21.7cm (8.5 in.)

Weight: 18.8g  (.66 oz.)

Nose Cone:  Tangent Ogive, 3 caliber

Fin Type: Raked

Number of Fins: 3 per stage

Color Scheme:  White, black, markings: blue, black

Date Completed:  December 22, 2021

A 'Franken-Rocket' For The Fleet

This model is made up of parts and pieces from three kits: a Quest Icarus, a Quest Big Rage, and an Estes Cherokee-E.

The Icarus (kit #1010) was introduced in 1994. This one is built mostly to stock and flies on an 18mm motor.

The booster stage is made from the body tube that was originally intended as the Icarus' Payload section.  A spare Estes Cherokee-E kit provided the 24mm motor mount, fins, and decal set. The fins were mounted upside down to more closely match the planform of the Icarus upper stage. These booster fins were papered for added strength, and balsa wood gussets were glued along the root joints.  The motor mount was built to accommodate Estes E12-0 motors.

The model's payload section comes from a Quest Big Rage, which met its demise on a December 2nd, 2021 flight.

The Cherokee-Icarus is intended to be the new workhorse booster for 808 camera flights. In two-stage configuration, it will be capable of lofting the camera on higher altitude flights at larger flying fields or in windless conditions.

Here are more detail pics:

BAR Fleet #134 - Interceptor

 Source:  Estes Industries Kit #1250

Type: Futuristic Sport Model

 Stages: Single

Engine Type: 18mm

Recovery:  Parachute

 Length:  65.7cm (25.9 in.)

Diameter:  33.7mm (1.325 in.)

Weight Empty:  91.6g (3.23 oz.)

Nose Cone:  Molded Spacecraft Style

Fin Type: Multiple

Number of Fins: 6

 Color Scheme:  White, orange, metallic silver with multicolor markings

 Date Completed:  December 21, 2021

A Dazzling Model Rocket

The Estes Interceptor is one of the most iconic classics to be produced by the company.

Designed by Wayne Kellner, the original K-50 Interceptor was introduced in 1971 and was produced through 1980.  A newer updated version, (Kit 1250) was introduced in 2007 and went out of production in 2011.

My model is the 2019 re-release of the kit, still numbered 1250. It is still such a pleasing futuristic design, and the extensive set of decals makes it really stand out on the display shelf.  It just has major 'cool' factor!

This model was built without any modifications from stock other than it was given a matte flat finish. 

If I were to build another of these birds, the canopy window might also be done differently.  The kit decal requires the feature to be placed on a tight multi-curved surface, making it quite difficult to position without the risk of damaging it.  The cockpit windows might be better hand-painted following the mold lines of the nose section.

I never got around to building an Interceptor back in the old fleet days, so this one is a joy to finally have in the current rocket stable.

Binge Build: A Plethora of Painted Projects, Day 4

 More warm temperatures and light wind conditions here in Colorado made for yet another ideal outdoor painting session.

Today's targets:  the ESAM-58 and Crossfire ISX received their base color coats of gray and white, respectively.

The Big Daddy rocket section also received its primary gloss black treatment. 

The Icarus and its booster stage each were given a wide black band.

In addition, the Interceptor model was brought outside to be shot with a coat of matte clear.

I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as getting all of these babies completed through the painting process.

Moving on.....

A New Model In The Fleet

 Yesterday, my grandson and I set to work on a new addition to the BlastFromThePast model rocket collection.

This is the "Flat Earth Orbiter". 

Full sized plans can be found on the JimZ website in the section marked by a file cabinet icon. The plans are in the Estes list.

It's not clear whether this is a real Estes concoction or not, but it's pretty comical, nonetheless.

All that is needed to build this gem are a piece of white-surfaced corrugated cardboard, some typing paper on which to print the 'decals', and some scotch tape to apply them.

Done!

A nice, attractive model rocket that can be launched on an unlimited number of imaginary flights.

Only conundrum I am facing is whether this model should be added to the official fleet list.

The jury's still out on that one ...

When Model Rocketry Meets McDonald's Happy Meals...

 And now for something completely silly...

My two oldest grand-kiddoes came over last night to spend the weekend at the BlastFromThePast home.

Before stopping in, their dad took them to McDonald's for dinner.

They each arrived with an interesting Happy Meal toy - a 'Luisa' figurine from the new Disney animated film 'Encanto'.  Apparently, Luisa is the heavy-lifter strong person in the film's story.

I immediately hit on an interesting idea. Grabbing one of the figurines, I hastened downstairs to the basement La-BOR-atory to set up a photo scene featuring Luisa:

"Here is your rocket ship, Senor!"

OK.  Enough silliness.  Back to the binge-build... 

Back In The Day, Part 48 - The 'Old Fleet' Nike-X

 Having just completed a build of a new-release Estes Nike-X, I thought I would pay a visit to the dim and distant past and dig up whatever info I could about my old fleet version of the original #1270 kit built in 1978.

This model, fleet #70, was modified significantly from the stock kit, in that the body tube was cut below the middle fin set so that a first stage booster could be built.  This was equipped with a 24mm motor mount. 

Mighty D Engines, folks.

Also, as shown in the photo, I went with an olive drab paint scheme with plenty of paint-dot bolt heads.

My old flight records indicate that the model was flown 3 times.

The maiden launch took place on July 15, 1979.  This was a single stage flight using a C6-5 motor to check for stability of the upper stage.  Successful flight.  Here are pics of that particular launch.  The second photo was one of the rare shots of a liftoff I managed to get with my cheesy old camera.

The next two flights were in the two-stage configuration, both utilizing a D12-0 / B4-6 motor combination.  These took place on October 7, 1979 and May 10th, 1981, respectively. Both were highly successful, with perfect staging and nearly out-of-sight flights of the upper stage.

There are hints that the model may have been flown a couple more times, but there are no existing records to corroborate this.

The Nike-X was sold along with the rest of my model rockets when I stepped away from the hobby in 1985.

Here is a photo of another model in the old fleet that was custom-bashed from an additional Nike-X kit.  

I called this one the 'Uprated Nike-X', whatever 'uprated' was supposed to mean. Might be because the fins were of a more high-performance design and were airfoiled for increased altitude. 

The model was fleet #74, built in 1980.  Records show a total of 4 successful flights.

The bird was sold alongside the Nike-X in '85. 

Kinda' wish I still had these ol' models....

BAR Fleet #136 Nike-X

 

Source:  Estes Industries Kit # 7259

Type:     Scale-like sport model

 Stages: Single

Engine Type: 18mm

Recovery:  Parachute

 Length:  59.4cm (23.4 in.)

Diameter:  33.65mm (1.325 in.)

Weight Empty:  56g (1.970oz.)

Nose Cone:  Tangent ogive

Fin Types: Clipped delta, delta

Number of Fins: 3 sets of 4

 Color Scheme:  White, black, red

 Date Completed:  December 16, 2021

 An ‘Old Fleet’ Re-build

A large part of my BAR era model rocket fleet consists of re-builds of some of the favorites I had flown in the days of yore.

 The Estes Nike-X is another of these.

This version is the new re-release of the kit (#7259).  It was constructed as part of a seven-model simultaneous build project begun in October, 2021.

 This model is built to kit specifications except for the upper decal.  A simple checkerboard roll pattern was applied in place of the kit decal.  Another minor deviation was the addition of red paint to the model’s lower fin tips.

 The Nike-X is overall a very attractive, well designed model rocket which proudly takes its spot in the ever-growing fleet.

Binge Build: A Shop-Full of Shock Cords !

This is the final step of the build that can be effectively done assembly line style.

My method for shock cord mounts is very similar to the ones used in MPC and Centuri kits back in the day:  A flat piece of material with three holes or slots into which the shock cord is threaded and glued. 

I am not a fan of the trifold 'teabag' mounts because of their high profile and sharp corners on which parachutes and shroud lines can get caught.

The mounts I use are cut out of Manila stock with three slits for the cord and all of the square corners removed.

 The shock cord is then threaded through the slits and glued to the mount at all of the contact points.

These are very sturdy mounts that are very reliable and take up little space inside the body tube. I've never had one fail or cause parachute obstruction.

For all of the bigger BT-55 and BT-60 sized models in this build, I go with a 45 inch length of quarter-inch elastic.

For the Crossfire ISX, I went with thirty inches of one-eighth round elastic with a thinner card stock mount.

For the models on which will likely be lofting a payload section airframe, I equipped the loose end of the shock cord with a snap swivel.  This will allow interchangeability between noses and payload sections, or facilitate the use of seperate parachutes.

Here are all of the shock cord mount assemblies built and ready to be installed into their respective models:

Binge Build: A Deluge of Decals, Part 2

 Today, the Quest Icarus received its sticker and decal embellishments.

The kit name and fin panel 'peel and curse' stickers were applied first, with good success.  

The sticker sheet also included a wide black band that was supposed to go around the top of the body tube, but I found that it lacked a full quarter inch of length to go all the way around.

The sticker went into the trash. A few less moments of peeling and cursing,

I may still mask off the section and apply the band with black paint.

The 'Quest Aerospace' logo is a home print waterslide decal.

For the booster stage, I went with a spare sheet of Cherokee-E decals. After all, the fins are from the same Cherokee-E  kit, only mounted upside down.

I suppose that makes this model a Cherokee-Icarus.

The remainder of the models in the binge build are awaiting painting operations.

Not today, though. The Colorado Front Range weather forecast is calling for high winds with gusts up to 80 mph!

Binge Build: A Deluge of Decals, Part 1

 Now comes the fun part of doing any model rocket build - seeing the whole finish coming together with the application of decals and markings.

The first order of business is to design and produce a home-print decal sheet with a number of custom patterns, numbers and other details.

Here is a photo of this sheet included with all of the other kit decals.

Here are the first two models of the build to get the decal / marking treatment, completed December 12th:

The Interceptor. That's a lot of decals!!

...and the Nike-X.   Note the different roll pattern below the front fins.  I totally screwed up the original kit decal when applying it to the model.  It initially went down with a lot of wrinkles.  In the process of trying to carefully straighten it out, it sustained a severe tear right down the 'show side'.  After several attempts to fix things, I only managed to mess it up further. Conceding a total loss, I removed the whole mess.  My decal folder happened to have some nice checkerboard pattern decals, so I cut and applied one of those instead.  

I kind of like it better than the original.

I also did the fin and body decals a bit differently.  They were made to be applied as one piece with a narrow clear area nestled into the fin root. After placing the first one, I didn't like how it looked, so the remaining similar decals were carefully cut apart at that seam line and applied individually.

To make things look even better, I used a black Sharpie to color in the fin/body separation lines and extend the patterns out to the edge of the fins.  This looks way better, in my opinion.

On a whim, I applied some red permanent marker to the aft fin edges, just to break up the black and white monotony.

These two models are now ready for clear coating.

Stay tuned.....

Binge Build: A Plethora of Painted Projects - Day 3

 Scooping snow one day - painting model rockets the next! Gotta love Colorado weather. 

Yesterday's rattle can excursion saw the completion of the Quest Icarus model and the application of the yellow treatment to the Big Bertha.

In addition to these activities, I finished all of the primer sanding on the Icarus, ESAM, and Big Daddy models while keeping an eye on the Bronco/Detroit game.

Binge Build: Project On Temporary Hold !

 I had stated earlier that I had hoped to get all of the models in this multi-model building frenzy done by the end of the year.

There was one small detail in the planning process that was completely overlooked.

Christmas !!!

I had entirely forgotten that, at this time of year, model rockets and anything else get swept off of the BlastFromThePast shop workbenches in favor of sorting, testing, repairing, and modifying the zillions of Christmas decoration light strings that the missus and I use to adorn the interior and exterior if our home.  This year, the amount of lighting stuff was so extensive that the process burgeoned beyond the shop area and took over the entire basement!

We go way beyond mere store-bought decorations and end up designing and building a number of our own lighted wreaths, boughs, and other features.  These require me to build a great deal of custom length and color light strings.

My wife does most of the artistic design work while my role is to be the lighting and electrical engineer.

So, this past week has been a very busy one, full of decoration fabrication and installation.

We're almost done, so it will soon be back to rockets...I hope.

Launch Date: December 2, 2021

Unseasonal warm weather prevailed on Thursday, December 2nd, as five Colorado Front Range rocketeers met at Dove Valley Park in Centennial for a launch session.  In attendance were Jim Gazur, Lee Reep, Frederick Cobb, and David Bauer, and of course, Your Humble Blogger.  Fred and Dave are members of Denver's C.R.A.S.H. club.

Lee Reep started things off with a successful flight of a Hex-3 on a C motor.

My first order of business was to go off to the side and toss my Wasp boost/glider around to adjust glide trim. One errant throw caused the model to stall and nose-dive. SNAP!  There went the glider nose.  No Wasp flight today.  This mishap was a harbinger of how the remainder of day was going to go for the upcoming BlastFromThePast fleet launches....

My first model off the pad was the flagship EAC Viper. The A10-3T motor used for propulsion was a CATO.  As a result, the entire model was gutted, and the front end of the body tube crumpled.  I believe the Viper can be re-built and flown again.  This was the first CATO of my BAR era.

Around this time, Jim Gazur had his first model on the pad - a scale V2 by Spacemonkey, powered by an Aerothech D21. At ignition, the igniter popped loudly without starting the motor. Upon inspection, Jim discovered that the motor nozzle and casing were cracked.  The V2 did not fly this day.

Now, it was time for Dave Bauer to get into the action, with a German-made kit of the Russian Vostok. The model turned in a very nice flight, recovering nearby.

Lee Reep assists Dave in preparing the Vostok for flight.

The next model to come out of the box was my Mark II Rock-A-Chute clone.  Since the only A10 motors I had were from the same pack as the one which had just roached the Viper, I chose to go with an A3-4T.

The model turned in a very nice flight, except for a parachute that did not fully deploy. A post-flight inspection revealed the shock cord partially wrapped around the parachute. The model was returned undamaged.

Lee was the next to put up another bird. This time it was a Launch Lab Bullet Bobby.  The squat little model turned in a surprisingly high flight on a B4 motor and was successfully recovered.

Shortly later, Lee was soon back in the action with a very nice flight of his Dragonfly boost/glider, powered by an A10 motor.

 By this time, Dave Bauer had another bird ready on the pad.  This was a scale Ariane model. The bird turned in a very nice flight:

Jim Gazur was next to launch, with a 1:14 scale Nike Ajax from Boyce Aerospace. The model was converted to multi-stage configuration. The Nike booster was equipped with a Perfectflight Mini-timer set to ignite the upper stage .2 seconds after booster burnout.  Flying on a C11-3 / A8-3 motor combo, the bird turned in a beautiful flight.

My third flight of the day went to a Citation Patriot flying on a C6-5 motor.  The bird launched on a perfect flight trajectory. At ejection there was...no parachute!   After recovering the model from its hard impact, I found quite a bit of damage: two popped fins, a loose motor mount, some body tube 'wrinkling', and even a broken plastic shock cord attachment loop on the nose.

The model can be re-built and flown again.

Lee Reep had a much better outcome with an excellent flight of his Sceptre on D12 power:

Jim Gazur soon had a large glider project on the pad and ready for launch.  This is a Mini Dart 2 Discus Hand Launch glider modified for rocket power and R/C control.  The high-performance glider was flown on a Quest C6-3 motor. The flight started as expected, but quickly transitioned into a tight inside loop with a time period about the same as Jim's reaction time on the R/C controller, so he never could catch up.  He managed to gain some minimum control after the motor burned out--enough to keep it from crashing. 

Later on, after making some trim adjustments, Jim flew the boost/glider a second time, but with nearly the same results. Some additional fine tuning and trim modification should make this model a great flyer.

My next model to hit the skies was the perennially reliable Quest Big Rage, carrying a keychain camera and a FlightSketch Mini altimeter. Boost was perfect on a C6-5 motor.

At ejection, it was noted that there was no deployed parachute on the booster. The Big Rage came in ballistic.  The payload section was on a separate parachute which did deploy and bring the electronics down safely.

Unfortunately, my video cam workhorse rocket was completely toasted, the only salvageable part being the plastic fin can/motor mount section.  This was the model's 8th flight.

Bad day for the home team!  

I did get a very good video from the camera, and good flight data from the altimeter. I will have a blog post done in a few days covering this flight.

I had brought along a couple of other birds to fly, but with my horrendous track record for the day, coupled with increasing wind conditions, I opted out of any further launches.  I just didn't want to risk losing models or toting home more casualties. My fleet definitely took a brutal hit today...

Next, David Bauer was observed setting up a highly unusual model on the pad...

This is a flying pyramid which Dave called the "King Tut" !!!

Boosted by a G64 motor, the model roared off the pad to turn in what became the most spectacular flight of the day!  Parachute deployment and recovery were perfect.  It seems now that Dave holds the new record for highest total impulse used at Dove Valley.  Jim Gazur later wrote, "Now where did I put that box of G80s ?"

Fred Cobb finally got into the action with a very nice flight and recovery of an original vintage Estes Bomarc, powered by a C5-3 motor.

Lee was up next with a good flight of a Jet Freak boost/glider powered by an A8-3 motor:

Dave's next model was this futuristic/sport design, the Fliskits Adfecta.  The bird turned in an excellent flight:

Soon after, Lee put up his final flight of the day - a Mini Marz Lander.  Flying on an A10-3T, the model boosted well.  Unfortunately, the parachute tangled up at ejection, and the model landed hard. Surprisingly, there was no damage!

The next model to poke a hole in the clear Colorado sky was flown by Dave Bauer. This one is the Estes Menace.  The bird turned in yet another excellent flight.

The 20th and final flight of the day was put up by Fred Cobb, shown here prepping a vintage Estes Drifter model:

That's Lee in the foreground examining his recently recovered Mini Marz Lander.

The Drifter, painted in early era decor turned in a very nice, high flight on a B6-4 motor:

With this done, the intrepid group of rocketeers packed up their models and launch gear and headed out to a local ribs joint for some food and 'shootin' the bull'.

A great day for rocketry in Colorado!