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June 3, 2018 at the NTMLF
I was fortunate enough, finally, to win a vintage orange launch pad on ebay recently. I'd been wanting one ever since I became a BAR, as it was the last one I flew off of in the 80's, and I couldn't find my original.
It arrived this week, as part of a range box filled with other goodies that I considered a bonus. Anyway, new pad in hand, off we went to try it out. The first thing we noticed was the grass wasn't as closely mowed as usual, potential trouble for the vintage Savannah Mosquito. Sure enough, the first flight launched and we looked for it for about five minutes without success, then went back to the pad to re-tee. Sent up the vintage Savannah Yankee next, and I could see the streamer still rolled and sticking out of the top of the body tube. Of course, when it struck the soft ground and bounced a little, the streaker unfurled like Old Glory in a hurricane. We needed success, so I went to the ever reliable, first-ever build by LCO / RC Sandy, the Eclipse. Beautiful, perfect fifteenth flight on an A3-4T.
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Just completed: Estes Cherokee-E, Estes Multi-Roc. Current project: Painting the roll pattern on my new Ventris build, gifted me by the estimable Dr. Houchin. |
#2
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Next was the fourth flight of the Semroc Centuri Centaur, B6-0 to B6-4. The first flight was perfect, the second wildly unstable, the third perfect again.
This time it flew and staged perfectly, although losing a shroud line brought it back down a little quicker than usual. I claim it conquered. Then the 16th flight of the Mercury Redstone on a C6-3. It takes off so slowly I was sure I could get a launch pic. Now, I'm equally sure I didn't.
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Just completed: Estes Cherokee-E, Estes Multi-Roc. Current project: Painting the roll pattern on my new Ventris build, gifted me by the estimable Dr. Houchin. |
#3
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Next, my Comanche-3 as a two stage, B6-0 to C6-7 (Comanche-2?).
Staged perfectly but at the staging event the too loose nose cone popped out. Now, I'm not a scientist like a lot of you, but did you know that when the nose cone pops out a rocket becomes unstable? Still recovered properly.
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Just completed: Estes Cherokee-E, Estes Multi-Roc. Current project: Painting the roll pattern on my new Ventris build, gifted me by the estimable Dr. Houchin. |
#4
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Next, the Estes Cosmic Explorer finished as a Centuri Centurian thanks to Sandman's beautiful decals. B6-4 flight was low, but perfect.
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Just completed: Estes Cherokee-E, Estes Multi-Roc. Current project: Painting the roll pattern on my new Ventris build, gifted me by the estimable Dr. Houchin. |
#5
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Lastly, another perfect launch of the '69 Big Bertha. This seems to have developed into one of those rockets that is going to make it to every launch. Surely I can get a launch pic of this. Almost.
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Just completed: Estes Cherokee-E, Estes Multi-Roc. Current project: Painting the roll pattern on my new Ventris build, gifted me by the estimable Dr. Houchin. |
#6
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For launch pics, try video mode instead of burst mode for your camera. Then do a screen capture of your video on your computer. You can go frame by frame for that perfect shot.
I also noticed that the Cosmic Explorer is virtually identical to the Centurian. Do you have the entire Centurian family ( Mini Centurian, Centurian, Centurian F)? |
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