Thanks for the warm welcome everybody. I'm already learning quite a bit.

I went to the Semroc site and couldn't find the Stiletto. I'm actually talking about the Centuri Stiletto. I think Estes made a completely different rocket with the same name.

I have some of my vintage rockets packed up, but they are buried in a stack of boxes in my garage I have to go though since we moved into this house. Hopefully I'm only a couple of weeks away from finding them.

Does anyone have the specs on a B-14? What is the actual depth of the propellant in the casing? What is the diameter of the drilled out core in the propellant? How deep is this drilled hole?

Has anyone safely been able to modify an existing engine? It would be nice if you could start with a B6-0 or C6-0 and drill a core into the propellant to increase it's instantaneous thrust.
I wonder if anyone has tried something this with any degree of success. I've thought of a jig I could build so I could repeat the exact drilling over and over, but I don't think I have the guts to try something like this.

B14-x motors had a really big nozzle. Drilling a core into a B6 or C6 could well result in something that just goes boom.

Check this site. Semroc sells the parts to build but hasn't kitted it yet.

http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts...arts.asp?ID=502


Well, modifying an existing motor is somewhat of a no-no. This is from the Model Rocket SAfety Code.....

"2. Motors. I will use only certified, commercially-made model rocket motors, and will not tamper with these motors or use them for any purposes except those recommended by the manufacturer. "

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Don
NAR 53455
"Carpe Diem"

You won't see the B14's, and I discussed this directly with Barry.
I had also suggested that an automatic operation be used to produce the B14's, it just not going to happen.
They can't even put the B6-0's in three packs, let alone bringing back the B14's.

As I have stated before, this topic was discussed in detail on the old Estes Forum and a "wish list" submitted, the response was, "We'll take a look at it". It's been 8 months now, and no answers!!!!!

Thanks for the tip on the Stilletto. I think I may order the parts tonight.

Well, the B14 question comes from the comment that "Things have changed over the years". I didn't intend on rehashing an old subject, just stating the first "changed" observation that jumped out at me. It seems the only way to get a big rocket going these days is to cluster the first stage.

I hope they don't completely get rid of booster motors. That would put a real damper on one of my favorite aspects of this activity - multi-staged rockets.

Better go use some of those 40% coupons and stock up......How many Estes kits do you see that are two stage?

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Don
NAR 53455
"Carpe Diem"

No, I don't think that they are going to get rid of booster motors. But, inorder for Estes to continue producing motors that their customers want, they need feedback.
That was the whole purpose of the Estes Forum, but, I guess they were overwhelmed when requests and constructive criticism was coming in???

And, you really don't need to cluster rockets, just change the motor mounts over to other brands of motors,

And one last thing, don't expect to see anymore clustered rocket from Estes either, they have the X-Prize Thunderstar and my 36 D Squared. I was going to design another regular motor cluster and got shot down......Oh well, they say the first hundred years is a bummer, and afdter that, it's all down hill.....

The B6- and C6- engines have much smaller nozzles than the old B14, but the B4- series engines have a nozzle that in my comparison appears to be the SAME as the B14 nozzle, based on looking at the two motors right now in front of me.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Carl from Semroc would have the answer to you question.

What brand of B14 and what year? They varied (Estes vs. Centuri pre-Penrose).

I recall the B14 was quite a bit larger in the exit as well as the throat. Obviously the core was much deeper on the B14.

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-Fred Shecter NAR 20117 (L2)
Southern California Rocket Association, NAR Section 430