Ye Olde Rocket Forum
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Ye Olde Rocket Forum (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/index.php)
-   Mission Control (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18)
-   -   Vern's original Big Bertha (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=5751)

Dannycolossus 08-20-2009 02:26 PM
i can't belive that this is still around. the big bertha is a holy grail of rocketry, ant this is the first!!!!!!!! awesome!

JRThro 08-20-2009 09:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl@Semroc
One of the highlights of NARAM-51 for me was the launch of Vern's original Big Bertha. I had seen it many times over the years, but did not realize that it was the original. The nose cone is a REAL BNC-60L, probably one of the first off the Ranger grinding wheel. It has a more complex shape than the later more elliptical cones with the same designation. It will probably be released as BNC-60LV.

Prepping the Big Bertha was more than I had bargained for. I had an A8-3, but Vern insisted on a B6-4. The field was smaller than I liked for that piece of history to get lost. As usual, Vern knew better. It landed less than 50 feet away.

Finally got the video to download after many starts and stops. Luckily after it would time out, when I re-started the download it usually continued from where it stopped.

Nice video! Vern flew that Big Bertha at NARAM-50, too, and IIRC, Gleda even caught it!

snuggles 08-31-2009 02:32 PM
Vern's original Big Bertha
 
Vern did fly the Bertha at NARAM 50 in the old rocketeer launch segment and Gleda did catch it. Nice catch Gleda!!!
Mark T

scigs30 09-01-2009 07:38 PM
Does this rocket still have the orig. rubber shock cord and paper mount?

Carl@Semroc 09-01-2009 10:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by scigs30
Does this rocket still have the orig. rubber shock cord and paper mount?
No. There was at least one old paper mount missing the shock cord. The top of the body tube was very worn, probably from a few core samples.

scigs30 09-01-2009 11:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl@Semroc
No. There was at least one old paper mount missing the shock cord. The top of the body tube was very worn, probably from a few core samples.

I couldn't tell from the video, but was that a vintage Estes parachute?

Carl@Semroc 09-02-2009 12:06 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by scigs30
I couldn't tell from the video, but was that a vintage Estes parachute?
No. It was solid black, about 2 mil plastic. Shroud lines and tape strips looked old. There was no engine hook, so the engine had a wrap of tape around the outside, taping the engine and bottom of the engine tube. Vern used that method instead of a wedged fit in the engine tube.


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