Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > The Golden Age of Model Rocketry > Model Rocket History
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


View Poll Results: Vote for Your Favorite Bill Simon Design
Apogee K-5 1963 1 1.25%
Apogee II K-5 1963 1 1.25%
Phantom K-7 1963 0 0%
Skyhook K-8 1963 2 2.50%
Cobra K-10 1963 7 8.75%
Farside K-12 1964 4 5.00%
Farside X K-12X 1964 13 16.25%
Drifter K-14 1964 5 6.25%
Delta K-16 1965 0 0%
Alpha K-25 1965 13 16.25%
Little Joe II K-30 1968 4 5.00%
Scrambler K-37 1968 6 7.50%
Avenger K-38 1968 11 13.75%
Semi Scale Saturn V K-39 1969 3 3.75%
Midget K-40 1969 2 2.50%
Birdie K-44 1969 0 0%
Beta K-45 1969 1 1.25%
SPEV K-59 1972 7 8.75%
Voters: 80. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #21  
Old 09-18-2017, 08:53 PM
LeeR's Avatar
LeeR LeeR is offline
Retired with Way Too Many Kits
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,222
Default

Jerry,
I live in Fort Collins (190 miles one way to Pueblo) but thoroughly enjoy flying with John Boren and the other great people of SCORE, so the drive isn't that bad. Our site in Northern Colorado has been shut down most of this year due to fire bans. The Denver group has a beautiful site in Bear Creek Lake State Park, but it's small, and flights are limited to 1500 grams weight and 125 grams propellant.

My wife joins me (she never has gone to launches, other than when we launched with our kids many years ago). I got to know John at NSL and he told me I'd enjoy flying with them. He was right.

I'm looking forward to going to NARAM in Pueblo next year. I hope a lot of the people here on YORF can attend. I've met a few over the years and at NSL.

By the way, the site is easy to find. Google Maps knows the location as "Hudson Ranch Rocket Launch Site".
__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 09-18-2017, 09:36 PM
LeeR's Avatar
LeeR LeeR is offline
Retired with Way Too Many Kits
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,222
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BEC
Semroc recently released a reproduction Farside-X, though of course if you have the fin patterns, it's pretty easy to clone.

I had one as a kid - it mostly flew on low impulse motors. I built a Farside for a classic model competition a few years ago. I've never had the nerve to go C-C-C on it. Typically B-B-A is what I've done.


I think I'd likely just order the kit. I'm getting lazy when it comes to cutting out fins. Of course, Semroc kit fins are usually available separately. But with all the tubes and rings, might as well just buy the kit. Oh, yeah, need the decals too! Yep, kit it is.
__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 09-19-2017, 08:13 AM
Jerry Irvine's Avatar
Jerry Irvine Jerry Irvine is offline
Freeform rocketry advocate.
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Claremont, CA "The intellectual capitol of the world."-WSJ
Posts: 3,780
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by LeeR
Jerry,
I live in Fort Collins (190 miles one way to Pueblo) but thoroughly enjoy flying with John Boren and the other great people of SCORE, so the drive isn't that bad. Our site in Northern Colorado has been shut down most of this year due to fire bans. The Denver group has a beautiful site in Bear Creek Lake State Park, but it's small, and flights are limited to 1500 grams weight and 125 grams propellant.

My wife joins me (she never has gone to launches, other than when we launched with our kids many years ago). I got to know John at NSL and he told me I'd enjoy flying with them. He was right.

I'm looking forward to going to NARAM in Pueblo next year. I hope a lot of the people here on YORF can attend. I've met a few over the years and at NSL.

By the way, the site is easy to find. Google Maps knows the location as "Hudson Ranch Rocket Launch Site".
After my SO retires don't be surprised if we show up sometime. I like the area.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 10-14-2017, 05:39 PM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

I just don't understand ANY votes for the Alpha.
That thing while classic has to be the most boring 3FNC rocket to ever exist.
__________________
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 !
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 10-14-2017, 06:38 PM
BEC's Avatar
BEC BEC is offline
Master Modeler
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Auburn, Washington
Posts: 3,643
Default

Well, that pushed me over. I hadn't voted yet.

The Alpha may be boring to you, but it's been continuously available for almost 52 years now (having first appeared in MRN in late 1965). It was also the first kit to use the EH-2 motor hook for a quick change engine mount (the hook itself having first appeared in the Sprite) and the first to use the reliable tri-fold paper shock cord mount. Both of those features have also stood the test of time.
__________________
Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 10-14-2017, 07:01 PM
ghrocketman's Avatar
ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
President, MAYHEM AGITATORS, Inc.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Nunya Bizznuss, Michigan
Posts: 13,443
Default

It's still uber-boring.
__________________
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 !
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 10-16-2017, 07:02 PM
LeeR's Avatar
LeeR LeeR is offline
Retired with Way Too Many Kits
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,222
Default

I had mentioned earlier that I had flown my Astron Cobra for its maiden voyage back in August, and that I had parts for an upscale. I’ve been working on it off and on for a couple weeks. Here is a picture of the completed motor mount, and the fins I cut out last week. I took this picture of parts prior to slotting the body tube. The last picture is a dry fit of the components. My Astron Cobra is shown for comparison. I now have the assembly work done, and I’m in the process of sealing the fins. They are basswood. Immensely fun cutting them by hand, especially with fin tabs.

I’m on a real Bill Simon rocket kick. I’ve got a Skyhook nearly done, just needs fins painted red, and the black striping added. I’ve also been contemplating an upscaled Drifter — it was one of my first rockets.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:  C39A8F1B-A9AE-419F-BA55-6BED61A28BC1.jpeg
Views: 32
Size:  1.32 MB  Click image for larger version

Name:  CAFF2233-737B-487C-BDC5-FAD5B5910DA8.jpeg
Views: 27
Size:  1.11 MB  
__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 10-16-2017, 08:07 PM
neil_w's Avatar
neil_w neil_w is offline
Mr. Cut-by-hand
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 439
Default

Nice, I really like the Cobra.

Is it me, or is that a reeeeeally short shoulder on the back of the transition?
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 10-16-2017, 09:59 PM
LeeR's Avatar
LeeR LeeR is offline
Retired with Way Too Many Kits
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,222
Default

It’s a reeeeeally short shoulder. Just like the old Estes balsa adapters! 😀

It fits extremely well, and since the payload section is short, I may leave it. On the old Estes balsa adapters, I’ve fixed in a couple of ways — a coupler section glued onto the shoulder, or my favorite, several dowels glued into holes drilled into the shoulder, with the edge of hole at the shoulder’s edge. Less friction. Requires drilling holes for dowels on a drill press unless you are really good holding a hand drill. On a shoulder that is BT-70 sized, I used four 3/8” dowels.
__________________
Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 10-16-2017, 10:45 PM
pterodactyl's Avatar
pterodactyl pterodactyl is offline
Opinions mine; not of NAR or MOF!
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 265
Default

Great work Lee! I bet all of us including Bill himself will enjoy seeing them.
__________________
National Collection Images: G. Harry Stine Collection/The Museum of Flight.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:49 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024