Apparently the Real Thing is going to use kerosine/peroxide bipropellant, which has a decent Isp. Whether the present peroxide monopropellant engines have any relation to the future bipropellant ones isn’t clear.

I miss that thing, if only I knew the value it would have now! *sniff*

I built the 1B – differentiated in that it was somewhat smaller (I don’t even think there was a V when I built mine – but maybe I just couldn’t afford it) and had several (8?) individual tubes down the first stage module just like the real one.

The V models have all had smooth sides in the first stage – again, like the real V. It was larger and surely would have had a multi-engine configuration.

I ran D motors regularly in the late 60s and early 70s – though they weren’t easy to find, I seem to recall. I believe the bird may have called for C engines, but I didn’t think they would fly – and in truth, wheterver it was that I used, failed totally to lift the mass more than 20 feet.

At least it didn’t fly itself into the ground though. It rose – nearly like the real thing, slow and graceful – then faltered and rather gracefully came back down on it’s tail a few feet before dropping a bit sideways and just dashing itself to bits more or less on it’s side. Followed by a rather impotent pop as the chute tried to do something and failed utterly.

JC

It sounds like you’ve been out of the hobby a while. You might want to check out George Gassaway’s page:

http://members.aol.com/GCGassaway/gcghome.htm

George isn’t the only one doing things of this sophistication, but he’s been the pioneer in so many areas of servo control. Check out his “sun seeker” and fully functional Shuttle stack.

- Jack

I think you guys are talking about different models. The S 1B (which debuted in 1967) used four 18mm mounts, and the largest motor Estes made at the time was a “C”. The later Saturn V model used either five 18mm or two 24mm. I’ve never built one, so I might be confusing the Estes and Centuri models. They were about the same size, but were different inside.

- Jack

Maybe you can clear up what you consider a “real rocket.” If it moves by means of a reaction motor using a high speed gas for the reaction mass, that’s close enough in my book. The ISP sucks (that’s “specific impulse”, not the Internet service provider), but it works. As long as we’re dredging up childhood memories, anyone else remember the Vashon rocket line?

I’m sure this was just a control system test to make sure everything was stable and able to move the craft around. Much safer to do without worrying about fire if the system isn’t stable any you have a crash.

- Jack

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/20060829_Blue_Origin_EA_Signed.pdf

Quoting from “Section 2.1.2 New Shepard Prototype Test Vehicles”

“…The first of these vehicles would be a low-altitude demonstrator of the propulsion
module using approximately 2,042 kilograms (4,500 pounds) of HTP as a monopropellant,
capable of reaching an altitude of no more than 610 meters (2,000 feet) with a mission time of
less than one minute.”

The principle may be similar, but only as much as the DC-X. The concept is single stage VTOL, with atmospheric reentry. So duh, they look similar.

Okay, you may now return to reliving fond childhood memories.

http://rocketry.wordpress.com/2006/08/30/10x-mars-lander/

Good Day

Jake

Sure! Check out CMASS.

Dennis

PS: I hope the link worked *this* time…

Sure! Check out

Dennis

Of course, now, I would like to find the kit again and do it all over. heck – I have even considered the V. That would be extreme.

Does anyone launch these things in the frozen NE any more? Last time I tried – I was chased out of the park by some uniformed functionary or other. Seems everyone is afraid we are trying to blow something up. I need to find a nice, big, impersonal park where no one cares – or can see me. I know my youngest would enjoy this stuff.

JC

Go is the operative word. It was a much better model flyer than model impactor and didn’t survive the first flight.

I think my longest lived kit was an Estes Cobra 1500. 1.5m tall. Got dozens of flights out of it before it finally gave up the ghost.

So much bloody paint on it, probably needed much more than the engines it had – I think it was two Ds? this was a very, very long time ago. I think it may have achieved 20′ – exactly once.

Jack

I had that one too. I was a skill level five. It was one of the rockets that helped me get to the top level in the Estes Aerospace Club.

Braggart!

I had an odd boyfriend then, but he didn’t help me with the rockets. So, I guess I was cool back then, too. So there!

I’ve had some very successful models, and some spectacular, send-the-crowd-running failures (if it’s a weird design, I fire with A and 1/2 A first, just in case), which is probably a good reason why I didn’t go into professional rocket design Just looking around my computer room, I have two model rockets that are launchable. It’s always a crowd pleaser when I fire them at a big soccer park in town, even if they sometimes might have to duck a bit.

I have been thinking up a plan for a model rocket with a tiny computer, GPS receiver and servos aboard that can be launched, deploy wings at apex and glide back to wherever it needs to be. It’s mechanically possible, but I’m not convinced I can do it within a hobbyist budget (or get the thing to even fly with the limitations on model rocket engines here in the great white north).