My fellow EnerJet fans on this forum: You're going to love this!

Let's see, where do I start?

On February 10th I received a package from Taras with ARG that included parts to build four concept/flight test rockets with the understanding that my comments would be incorporated into the actual production kits. Parts included tubing, nose cones, engine mounts, thrust rings, centering rings and fins for two of the designs. Fin templates were provided for the others as well as specs for fin material and thickness. I'm providing various sized Top Flight nylon parachutes, kevlar shock cord anchors and a few yards of 1/4" elastic for the shock cords.

I finished and flight tested one of these prototypes at our Louisiana launch this past Saturday and Taras has given me permission to make some posts with some basic information about these rockets. I created and forwarded a RockSim file for each of the prototypes but out of respect for his designs and because these will be actual kits and sold by ARG, I'm not going to post RockSim files - only some details about the builds, pictures, flights and some basic measurements

The four prototypes are:

SR1720 Sounding Rocket (Completed, First Flight 3-4-06)
Yokes Away (Egg Lofter)
T222-24 102 Sounding Rocket
Booster Stage For T222-24 (T222-24 is part of the current ARG kit line)

When I built the RockSim files I played a little with the colors to export an image to see what these cool designs might look like when finished. I mapped the EnerJet logo onto a couple of the images but Taras told he is working on a Black/Red "ARG ROCKETS" logo of his own to "sort of" recreate that style.

More to come ..... I'll address the SR1720 first since that one has been finished and flown. Of course your comments are important and very much appreciated!

Attached Thumbnails

           

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

I should have posted some basic dimensions and info for the prototypes above:

SR1720 Sounding Rocket
35.375" Long, 1.72" Diameter, 8.5" Payload Tube with 7" Useable Payload Space, 29mm Motors

Yokes Away (Egg Lofter)
39.14" Long, 2.26" Diameter Above Transition, 1.72" Diameter Below Transition, 10" Payload Tube with 6.25" Useable Payload Space, 29mm Motors

T222-24 102 Sounding Rocket
45.0" Long, Sustainer Length 17.5", .908 Sustainer Diameter, 2.22" Booster Diameter, 3 x 24mm Motor Clusters

Booster Stage For T222-24
Adds 3.875" to T222-24 Kit and Brings Total Length With Booster to 44.375".
3 x 24mm Motor Clusters in Booster staged to 3 x 24mm Motor Clusters in T222-24 Sustainer. Pre-Build simulations with 3 x D12-0 in booster and 3 x E9-8's in sustainer to 3,035 feet in altitude.

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

ARG SR1720

The parts in the first image minus the fins were included with a fin template for four fins. I cut the fins from 1/8" aircraft plywood using the supplied template. Although the template did not include it, I decided to slot the airframe tube and mount the fins through the wall to the motor mount. I used AeroPoxy ES6220 fast setting liquid epoxy adhesive for the build. I used Pratt TKM braided kevlar for the shock cord anchor and a full 8 yards of 1/4" elastic for the shock cord from Wal-Mart. The nose cone and fins are painted with Krylon 1806 Sun Yellow Gloss. Silver, black and black stripes are entirely self-adhesive monokote.

Since the SR1720 is a sounding rocket I decided it should carry an altimeter payload and provide me with some flight data. I chose the PerfectFlite miniAlt/WD and decided to use it in a record only mode without deployment. I retained the nose cone with two blind nuts and screws to assure the miniAlt/WD stayed secure. I chose an old F23-7FJ for a first flight to keep it low and slow so I could observe the flight. The SR1720 flew well to 1,049 feet and was recovered nearby with a 15" Top Flight parachute. Not bad for boosting a 3 ounce payload with a 56 N-sec motor. Future flights with that same 3 ounce payload sim to 2,978 feet with a G40-10 and 3,611 with a G80-10 single use motor.

I thoroughly enjoyed building and flying this rocket. Extremely stable design with the CP sitting right at 29.9" just slightly in front of the fins. I want to see this available as a kit and I will definitely purchase another when it's available to have a spare since I have motors even more evil than the G80 planned for this one .....

Attached Thumbnails

                   

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

Taras has some great kits. I'm glad to see he's working on bringing back the Enerjets!

BTW, he'll be at NARCON!

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

I agree and the components are all good quality. The 1.72" dia. tubing is also used in some of his larger Black Brant kits. The plywood centering rings and plywood fins are all laser cut, kevlar shock cords and all of the balsa nose cones and transitions Taras included are custom turnings and fit perfectly in the tubing.

The T222-24 I purchased from him the week of NARAM last year has some great flights on it with Estes D's. I'm going to build and use the prototype Booster Stage he sent for the T222-24 to stage (3) D12-0 to (3) E9-8's.

Should be interesting.

Next one in the build queue is the T222-24 102 Sounding Rocket. I'm going to start cutting the sustainer fins this weekend while you guys are up at NARCON having a good time

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

I just found out this morning that Taras isn't going to be able to make it to NARCON now.

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

Finally ..... back to building

Taras based the T222-24 102 Sounding Rocket off a two-stage rocket designed by Larry Brown of EnerJet. The original rocket utilized the 3 x 29mm cluster design of the EnerJet 2250 for the booster and used the Centuri Screaming Eagle with clipped fins for a sustainer.

An original can be seen in the 2650 literature standing on top of the table in the foreground. According to the October 1982 California Rocketry Magazine issue, the original EnerJet model was flown at Anaheim Stadium in 1974. The original used a PNC-231 for a reducer on top the ST-20 with a staging tube passed through the inside of it to the Screaming Eagle sustainer.

The ARG T222-24 102 features a 3 x 24mm motor mount with a solid balsa reducer. What I have is a single stage prototype and I'm not sure if a future release would be offered as single stage rocket or a two stage rocket kit. From what I have observed during this build, I can see it would not be very difficult to modify what I have into a fully functional two stage rocket.

Last night I bonded the fins, launch lugs and some very light weight spackling to finish out the gaps between the motor tubes where I had added cellulose insulation soaked in epoxy to fill the air gaps. Taras provided laser cut fins for the booster and I cut my own for the sustainer. A few fillets tonight on the fins and motor tubes and I should be ready for primer by tomorrow. I've already painted some of the components and I'm not going to finish it according to the pictures. I'm thinking of painting most of the booster flat black or possibly black with orange fins or one orange fin. Not sure. I'm thinking of flying it at one of our fall launches here in Louisiana at the HPR field because the field my NAR chapter uses in Baton Rouge would be way too small for a 3 motor cluster of E9's or even D12's. This rocket is very light for it's size.

45.0" Long, Sustainer Length 17.5", .908 Sustainer Diameter, 2.22" Booster Diameter, 3 x 24mm Motor Clusters

Attached Thumbnails

           

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

All I can say is I hope you have good eyes for tracking.... This thing's gonna scream....

__________________
J. Stuart Powley
NAR 29573
"Gravity is a harsh mistress."

I ran it in RockSim and for the motors it's designed for, it has almost pefect DV's for the C11, D12 & E9 motors in long delays.

It has the ability to scream on 24mm composite motors like a cluster of F21's but I'm going to use what was recommended in the hopes that these prototypes may one day become actual ARG kits

The black and white picture above shows an original laying on the ground and in comparison to an EnerJet F engine. The original on a cluster of three progressive EnerJet motors staged to the Screaming Eagle ..... well, it was designed to scream

It was really cool to build this ARG prototype based on the actual EnerJet sounding rocket that was designed and flew over 30 years ago. Other EnerJet concepts were featured in catalog line drawings and fact sheets but have no actual documented flights. I really enjoyed building this one .....

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

🚀 In Construction: Der Blue Maxx/Minie-Magg 5.5” & Vander-Burn MDRM Clone w/Stickershock23 Custom Decals
🚀 In Paint & Detail: USR Banshee
🚀 In Build Queue: Estes Doorknob w/Vander-Burn Rocketry Upgrade Kit [Sport Decor], Semroc Centurion-F, Semroc Egg Crate
🚀 In Repair: SLS Lil’ Hustler, SLS Aero-Dart 1969 Trim
🚀 Stay Tuned For Fall 2021 Launch Dates

Very cool. Keep us posted!

__________________
J. Stuart Powley
NAR 29573
"Gravity is a harsh mistress."