Artemis I, Part 3 - Flight Conversion Assessment

 For this post I have broken out the parts that will make up the model's main airframes.

The Core Booster:

While dry-fitting the major parts, I quickly noticed how precisely they fit together. They are very well molded with no warping, affording what will be very clean seams when it comes time to use cement. I also noted how clean the parts are - no blemishes or molding flash to be found anywhere. Kudos to AMT's level of QC !

Breaking out my box of various sized Estes body tube scraps, I immediately found that a BT-50 will fit in the airframe as long as the top edges of the molded internal alignment pin posts are trimmed back just a tad.

This means that the model can accommodate 18mm to 24mm motors.

I also found that a BT- 55 will fit in the airframe as long as those alignment features are eliminated entirely.  

A cluster of four 13mm motors will fit in such a body tube.  Interesting.

If the model is built for single core motor use, a shorter section of '55' can be used in the fore end as a spacious parachute compartment.

The SRBs:

These units can each hold a BT-5 tube as long as the internal pin posts are completely removed. Operational SRBs can be powered by 13mm motors.

Power Configuration Options:

The Artemis I model presents several different ways in which it can be powered, each with successive degrees of complexity, and thus, difficulty in construction and launch operations.

Option 1 - Single core motor with inoperable SRBs

This is by far the simplest configuration  which features the least amount of model modification, and no motor clustering.

Option 2 - Single core motor with attached, powered SRBs

This configuration would consist of clustering three motors: a single 18/24mm in the core and a 13mm in each of the SRBs, neither of which would detach during flight. The mini motors would be of the plugged variety.

Option 3 - Core four-motor cluster with inoperable SRBS

Option 4 - Core four-motor cluster with 13mm-powered attached SRBs.

Things are now in the realm of a six-motor cluster!

Option 5 - Core single motor with powered, detaching SRBs.

This configuration will require the addition of recovery systems in the SRBs, as well as a method for allowing them to easily slide off of the core after motor burnout.

Option 6 - Core four-motor cluster with powered, detaching SRBs.

This is by far the most complex arrangement, combining six-motor clustering with release and recovery of the SRBs.

Any route that I choose to go will require a great deal of stability analysis and careful selection of motor types to make things work properly. There's a chance that some of the above scenarios may not even be doable at all.

There is a possibility that I may have to assemble the main parts of the model as a 'boilerplate' flight test version before committing to tackling all the details and painting.

This should be fun!

Them Ain't Decals, Folks !!

 It's not very often that I devote an entire post about another rocketeer's model, but when Mike Perreault sent me these photos of his newly completed Der Big Red Max, my socks were duly knocked off!

What makes this one so special and unique?

The markings.

Mike didn't want to mess with those nasty peel-n-curse decals, so instead he created HAND CUT stencils of the skull/crossbones and the cross.

The images are airbrush-painted onto the model! 

No decals here!

In addition, he created some very whimsical, convincing-looking airbrushed bullet holes to round out the details.

What caliber are those babies, anyway, Mike?

Outstanding work, indeed!

Besides those really cool markings, this rocket is airbrush-painted in candy acrylic paints.

The attached photos don't really show it to full effect here, but when you get this rocket into bright light, the finish really pops with a deep shimmering sheen.

Mike has been mastering this painting technique and most of his recent rocket builds are done in this way.

As I've mentioned here before, Mr. Perrault is less than a year into the model rocketry hobby, but I could swear up and down that he's been at it for a much longer time, as attested by the quality of his builds, and his excellent on-field flying techniques.

He still denies it.

Anyway, I greatly look forward to the day in the near future when I'll be there to witness Mike popping a big motor into this gorgeous bird and poking a hole in the bright Colorado blue.

Cheers!

Artemis I, Part 2 - Parts Prep

 Nearly every online plastic model 'how to' website I encountered stressed the importance of cleaning all of the parts at the outset. This is to remove any oils deposited on the parts during the manufacturing process.  The recommend procedure is to clean the parts in a sink or container using a warm, mild soap solution and a dash of vinegar.

Of course, all parts should be left on the molding sprues to prevent any from getting lost.  

After rinsing the parts under warm water, accumulated droplets can be easily shaken off.

I placed the parts on a clean towel to allow any water left in the nooks and crannies to evaporate on its own.

It is also recommended to leave parts on the sprues until ready to use. Most master modelers paint the small parts while still attached, then remove them once the paint has dried. 

For removing the parts, modelers use a 'sprue cutter' that can cut the attachment tabs very close to the part's surface. A small pair of electronics diagonal flush cutters will work equally well.

Never just break the parts off of the sprue. This could damage the part or leave a chunk of sprue plastic still attached, both of which would require extra surface preparation work.

Next post, I will examine the main airframe parts and look into what it will take to engineer the flight conversion aspect.

Stay tuned...

Artemis I, Part I -The Kit

To start off, this post will highlight what can be found when you open the box. Nice artwork, by the way.

The kit retailed at $34.95 plus a little on the side for the governor and mayor.  Sheesh, plastic models have become pricey these days

First, and most important are the molded styrene plastic parts. The model consists of thirty-eight pieces including the display base.

The model is 1:200 scale, placing it at the same size as Estes' RTF version.

Which brings up the question: why even bother with a plastic model conversion when a perfectly fine flying model can be readily had?

The thrill of the engineering and build process would be my best guess.

Moving on...

The decal sheet - many, many tiny decals.

Boomers, break out those lighted magnifier headsets. This ain't gonna be easy!

The instruction sheet - very minimally marked and illustrated, with not very much in the way of textual information.

Hang on to that box!   

 It turns out that the side panels contain a lot of information that normally would be on the instruction sheet.  Things like  overall parts ID, decal placement, and painting information.

Worth it's weight in gold...!

This refers to the small information booklet that is included with the kit. It is chock full of information about the Artemis/Orion vehicles and missions, illustrated with lots of great photos and diagrams.

Again, for those with less-than-sterling eyesight, a magnifying device may be necessary. That print is small!

More to come...

New Project - Artemis, Block I Plastic Model Conversion

 A visit to Colpar's HobbyTown store in Aurora, Colorado this past Friday netted a new kit that may prove to be an interesting build adventure for the BlastFromThePast shop.

This is the AMT Artemis I in 1/200 scale.

The model will be built simultaneously alongside some of the previously started 'binge-build' and repair-box models strewn about the workbench.

The difference with the Artemis is that I intend to post a full build series here.

I've only built one other plastic conversion kit in my model rocketry 'career', that being a Hawk Juipter-C (Juno-1) back in the late 1970s. It was quite successful, having turned in several great flights.

 Since there will be a bit of engineering going into the Artemis kit conversion, it will be a fun and challenging build.

I have already been perusing through a number of plastic model 'how-to' articles and videos online to familiarize myself with the finer points of PM building techniques.

If anyone out there reading this upcoming build series has any helpful hints and tips, I welcome you to weigh-in in the comments section.

A note of interest: 

My rocketeer buddy and across-the-street neighbor, Mike Perreault, picked up one of these kits as well.  This will enable us to do something that NASA will never accomplish-a simultaneous launch of two Artemis rockets, drag race style!

Cheers!

2024 Estes Catalog Arrived Today

 Every February brings the anticipation of finding that small package in the mailbox from the "Model Rocket Capitol of the World", the annual hard copy catalog.

As always, the first thing I usually do is take a quick scan of the entire offering to see what's new.

The 2024 offering  doesn't disappoint.

Among the highlights are:

A new Pro Series rail launcher. This one looks like it would adequately fill the bill for those heavier, higher powered models.

How about that new high power model parts assortment? 

I see some BT-70 body tubes in there, which immediately brought back visions of some of those vintage Estes kits that used them.

Estes' theme this year concerns attracting new younger rocketeers to the hobby, thus the advent of several new starter sets containing 13mm motor-powered rockets, including BT-20 sized versions of the Alpha and Bertha. Both of these models are offered as stand-alone kits.

One minor disappointment in the catalog was the lack of a new model in the "Signature" series. I hope we will see another new addition next year.

It was interesting to note that the models comprising the 'Destination: Mars' and 'Cadet Corps.' lines were scattered about the catalog rather than having their own stand-alone pages.

It was good seeing the two scale Saturn versions side by side.

Of particular interest to me was the new Mini-ARCAS kit. Since I am embarking on a quest to build a number of BT-20 scale sounding rockets over the next few years, this one fits the bill nicely. The kit description say 'scale-like', so there must be deviations from true scale. Nevertheless, the kit may be a good starting point for building a more accurate version.

Another concern I have with this year's catalog is the omission of any product pricing. This is sort of a detriment to those of us who like to closely plan our hobby budget. Lack of published pricing makes it a bit more difficult to do that unless we go to the website. 

Speaking of budget, the yearly hard-copy Estes catalog is really no longer 'free'. Unlike past years, I had to shell out $3.94 for taxes and shipping. 

Sign of the times, I suppose..

Cheers!

Back To The Workbench

 Now that the Holidays (a.k.a. 'eating season) are past, it's time to get back to building rockets. 

Even though my rocketry time will be shared with the on-going basement finishing project as well as daily music practice, I anticipate making good progress.

So, what am I working on?

I still have the nine or so models left over from the 2022-23 "binge build", which never really fully got going.

This year, I'm breaking the build pile down into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Currently, I'm concentrating on five birds.

Two of them , the 13mm and 18mm booster stages are completed through the build and grain finishing stages. Both are now awaiting primer.

Viking 4 scale - completed sanding the fin airfoil facets and filling the balsa grain. These components along with the nose are also ready for primer.

Black Hole Space Probe - completed cutting apart the PNC-50BB nose cone assembly and smoothing out the seam lines on both the nose and display nozzle sections.

A.R.V. Condor - Starting the process of sanding an airfoil into the glider wings. 

Even though the the kit directions don't require this, I do so anyway with all of my glider builds.

Just makes 'em fly better.

I won't be doing daily blow-by-blow build 'threads' on any of these models, but will write  frequent progress posts with lots of pics.

Stay tuned...