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-   -   Estes Boeing ALCM hinges (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=17729)

K'Tesh 02-07-2019 07:53 PM

Estes Boeing ALCM hinges
 
I have a friend restoring an old Estes Boeing ALCM rocket. The old kit is missing the two hinges that actuate the wings... and he needs help. I figured I'd reach out here to see if anyone has an old unbuilt version that they could scan the hinges for him...

Here is a link to the thread showing his progress thus far: https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...tes-kit.148854/

Pointy Side Up!
Jim

teflonrocketry1 02-07-2019 09:50 PM

You would need a 3D scan as the hinges are more than just flat parts!

I searched around for the 3D printer files for these 2 hinges, the rear launch lug and pitot tube and was unable to find anything. Here is a link to the instructions that shows these parts http://plans.rocketshoppe.com/estes/est1336/est1336.pdf The 2 hinges hold the wings and also make up the forward launch lug.

blackshire 04-03-2019 06:54 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by teflonrocketry1
You would need a 3D scan as the hinges are more than just flat parts!

I searched around for the 3D printer files for these 2 hinges, the rear launch lug and pitot tube and was unable to find anything. Here is a link to the instructions that shows these parts http://plans.rocketshoppe.com/estes/est1336/est1336.pdf The 2 hinges hold the wings and also make up the forward launch lug.
Was the Centuri ALCM kit identical--or at least very similar--to the Estes one (or at least close enough that its hinges could be adapted for use in an Estes ALCM kit [much as how the Centuri and Estes 1:100 scale Saturn V kits' parts could, in some cases, be substituted for each other]?).

Earl 04-03-2019 07:39 PM

Yes, same kit, same parts. Centuri's came first around '78. Not exactly sure when the Estes labeled one was issued, but probably within a year or two.

I have built the Centuri version and glancing at the Estes version instructions, assembly looks essentially the same.


Earl

mwtoelle 04-03-2019 07:43 PM

The only changes between the Centuri and the Estes ALCM kits are slightly different decals, the parachutes. The ALCM kits actually used Centuri parts for both versions (ST-7 motor tube and ST-10 parachute tube). The Centuri kit also had a little more scale documentation and included a display stand that was not included in the Estes version of the kit.

blackshire 04-03-2019 08:06 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by mwtoelle
The only changes between the Centuri and the Estes ALCM kits are slightly different decals, the parachutes. The ALCM kits actually used Centuri parts for both versions (ST-7 motor tube and ST-10 parachute tube). The Centuri kit also had a little more scale documentation and included a display stand that was not included in the Estes version of the kit.
That is what I'd suspected, as for a while (not long before Centuri went out of business), Centuri was using more and more Estes parts and accessories. Here (see: http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/cen5330.htm ) are scans of the Centuri ALCM kit instructions, which include scanned "photocopy-type" pictures of the kit parts. Perhaps these might help enable hand-made, cast resin, or 3D printed duplicate hinges to be made.

Earl 04-03-2019 09:15 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by blackshire
That is what I'd suspected, as for a while (not long before Centuri went out of business), Centuri was using more and more Estes parts and accessories. Here (see: http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/cen5330.htm ) are scans of the Centuri ALCM kit instructions, which include scanned "photocopy-type" pictures of the kit parts. Perhaps these might help enable hand-made, cast resin, or 3D printed duplicate hinges to be made.


And vice-versa.

Two Centuri parts -- both within 2-3 years of their *50th* birthdays -- are the plastic Mercury capsule, still in use by Estes (originally first released by Centuri in early '71 in the Centuri Mercury-Redstone kit); and the Enerjet 1340 plastic fin can, originally released around 1972 in the 1340 and within a year of that in the Centuri Argus kit and later Phoenix Bird, used in several Estes kits over the years since and most recently in the Estes Eliminator.

Pretty good success story for both those parts.


Earl

blackshire 04-03-2019 09:35 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Earl
And vice-versa.

Two Centuri parts -- both within 2-3 years of their *50th* birthdays -- are the plastic Mercury capsule, still in use by Estes (originally first released by Centuri in early '71 in the Centuri Mercury-Redstone kit); and the Enerjet 1340 plastic fin can, originally released around 1972 in the 1340 and within a year of that in the Centuri Argus kit and later Phoenix Bird, used in several Estes kits over the years since and most recently in the Estes Eliminator.

Pretty good success story for both those parts.


Earl
I'd love to see Estes use the 1340 fin unit in a re-issued Argus (patterned after the X-17) kit (which came with both the PNC-70 short ogive and the PNC-71 rounded-tip cone [from the X-24 "Bug"], which the BT-20 Estes Yankee cone is very similar to). A re-issue of the Estes Mercury-Atlas (using the plastic Mercury capsule and Atlas parts) would also facilitate the production of scale kits of other Atlas-based vehicles (and at the same scale, too)--the Atlas D ICBM, Atlas-SCORE, Atlas-Able, Atlas-Agena, Atlas-Centaur, Atlas-Burner II, etc.

teflonrocketry1 04-03-2019 09:46 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by blackshire
That is what I'd suspected, as for a while (not long before Centuri went out of business), Centuri was using more and more Estes parts and accessories. Here (see: http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/cen5330.htm ) are scans of the Centuri ALCM kit instructions, which include scanned "photocopy-type" pictures of the kit parts. Perhaps these might help enable hand-made, cast resin, or 3D printed duplicate hinges to be made.



Only the top view of the hinges is provided, without a side on view and/or some additional measurements it would be difficult to create a 3D printed duplicate of the hinges.

blackshire 04-03-2019 09:55 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by teflonrocketry1
Only the top view of the hinges is provided, without a side on view and/or some additional measurements it would be difficult to create a 3D printed duplicate of the hinges.
Were they similar to the hinges in the RTF Estes ALCM? While the RTF one was smaller (it used 13 mm mini motors), the hinge mechanisms might be otherwise essentially the same. The RTF one is fairly easy to find on eBay (I even saw an unopened Centuri ALCM kit on there today, for ~$129). That's definitely pricey, and I'd hate to open such a classic old kit just for that, but they can be found nevertheless.


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