More questions....another one of my favorite rockets was the Estes Arcas....i found out that Aerotech has a kit...does anyone have any opinions about this kit as a first mid or high power rocket to build and fly? Im not sure if it is considered a mid power or high power rocket...im hoping its considered a mid power ship....i did notice that the body tube diameter on the Aerotech kit appears to be the same from top to bottom, where the Estes kit that i built had a tapered tail cone....different models of the full size sounding rocket perhaps? Just wondering.......GOD this stuff is FUN!

Go with the SEMROC SLS Arcas kit.

http://www.semroc.com/Store/scripts...ts.asp?SKU=KS-5

Much more accurate and more fun to build.

BTW, it does have a tail cone!

It can fly on a" D12-3" up to an "H128-10"

I believe...not positive, the SEMROC kit is half scale. The real Arcas was 4.5" in diameter and the SEMROC kit is 2.25".

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"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run"

http://sandmandecals.com/

We are working on a 1/3 scale version (BT-58) that will fly with 18mm B and C engines. I saw a well built Estes version at NARAM-52 and started from that scale, but the boat tail would only hold 13mm engines and be the correct scale, so the 1/3 scale worked perfectly.

The SLS Arcas is 1/2 scale, but requires much bigger engines!

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Carl McLawhorn
NAR#4717 L2
semroc.com

Carl

I had sent you an e-mail through the semroc website did you not get it ?

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Jim Filler
NARHAMS # 139
NAR CB - RCPC

The AeroTech kit is a model of the HV version of the Arcas and is accurate. The HV Arcas was used as the upper stage of a two-stage sounding rocket (Sparrow-Arcas, for example).

The Aerotech HV Arcas can fly on F & G motors. With modifications, it will handle a K1500!

I recently 'retired' my HV Arcas after over 50 flights.

Bob

This is a mid power kit, though it can be modified to fly high power motors, as I did recently with an AT Astrobee-D. Aerotech kits are great first mid-powered kits, and fly primarily on F and G motors. They go together easily, don't require much sanding, with the plastic fins & NC, and are quite tough. That said, the Semroc Arcas is a darn nice kit too, and being smaller and much lighter, will fly decent on much smaller motors.

I remember thinking how big the Estes Arcas looked in the '73 catalog - heck, it was bigger than a Saturn V!

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Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org

Bill,

I love building the Estes version but I extend the body tube to 20.25 inches for better scale accuracy and use Semroc laser cut fins. I bet I have two or three in the partially built pile.

I agree with Gordy (Sandman), for mid to high power, go with the Semroc.

I am excited to hear about a possible Semroc 18mm version. Sign me up! Carl, maybe you could make the Super Arcas version that NASA flew up until just a few years ago. There is documentation in the Small Sounding Rockets book by Richard Morrow. Its a boattail Arcas with two motor sections welded end to end and the usual Arcas payload section. A little Day-glo orange paint and Badda-Bing, Super Arcas! I volunteer to do the beta testing.

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NAR 79743
NARTrek Silver
I miss being SAM 062

Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
Repair/Rescue: Cherokee-D (2); Centuri Nike-Smoke; MX-774
On the Bench: 2650;
Dream Stage: 1/39.37 R-7

There certainly is no lack of input and info on this forum...........I LOVE IT! Mark, the Estes Arcas that i built 100YEARS AGO (it seems like!) was another one of my favorite ships!! After i get my parts and stuff from semroc for my Sprint, im positive that i will get an ARCAS from them also! Tell ya somethin else.....ive been racin R/C nitro hydros for 30 years and even at todays prices, depending on what level of rocketry one wants to be envolved in...........model rocketry is WWWAAAYYY easier on the pockets!!

Yes, the Arcas was normally launched by itself from a breech launcher (a tube, with plastic inserts surrounding the rocket to keep it centered in the tube). The one that Aerotech models is the HV Arcas. The same motor, but with a different fin can, mating it to a large Sparrow booster. It was flown off a rail. Apparently, two different nose cones were used on it. Aerotech models the 5:1 ogive instead of the secant ogive, but I've never seen a picture of a real Arcas with the regular ogive. NARHAMS member Alan Williams is reported to have an inert Sparrow stage stashed somewhere.

(Peter Alway lists the Arcas NAR designation as P1500; the Sparrow as P35000)

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Roy
nar12605

Here's a picture of the AeroTech HV Arcas being flown during the Manufacturer's demo at NARAM-32.

The motor was either a F25 or a G40.

Bob

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