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  #11  
Old 05-29-2012, 02:04 PM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
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Our first launch in 1977 was done entirely using a bag of inch-and-a-halfers as an ignition source. We got pretty good at peeling them back, removing the wick and putting it into the nozzle, then packing the rest of the powder in around it. The second launch was done with a big lantern battery and the Estes igniters. We thought we were really moving up in the technological world.
Sucked carrying that big battery to NKU on our bikes, though.
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Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Gee'Hod, Shrike, SST Shuttle

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  #12  
Old 05-29-2012, 02:17 PM
carbons4 carbons4 is offline
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Default and...........

I had such a high failure rate (high being 10-15%) of old estes igniators, I always used themolite. From mini engines to F7's for a while I was making my own out of nichrome wire, a few grains of red dot and nitrocelulose. They did not work as great as I thought they would but did have 100% ignition. WAIT I did not say that,did I? I would NEVER use a non approved ignition source.... E V E R.
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  #13  
Old 05-29-2012, 02:20 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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I have used nothing but electrical ignition for the last 15 years or so, but see NOTHING wrong with the fuse method...just some mamby-pamby BS to supposedly differentiate model rocketry from fireworks. BUNK !
An inch and a half is mighty short though.
We always used about 2.5 to 3 inches so we were a fair distance away WITHOUT running.
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  #14  
Old 05-29-2012, 02:27 PM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
I have used nothing but electrical ignition for the last 15 years or so, but see NOTHING wrong with the fuse method...just some mamby-pamby BS to supposedly differentiate model rocketry from fireworks. BUNK !
An inch and a half is mighty short though.
We always used about 2.5 to 3 inches so we were a fair distance away WITHOUT running.

I'm from Kentucky. We know no fear.
Actually, as I remember it there was no running. You'd just light it, then step back and watch. The first time we used book matches to start, but found a lighter that still had some fire left.
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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Gee'Hod, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Snake Jumper
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  #15  
Old 05-30-2012, 02:31 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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I first started launching in 1977 also.
Did not switch to mostly fuse ignition until 1979ish when my Dad got sick and tired of igniter fizzles of about a 25% rate. Went down to about 2% after Dad picked up a 25ft roll of Cannon Fuse at the local gun shop.
His attitude was if it works, it's GOOD ENOUGH.
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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 !
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  #16  
Old 05-30-2012, 05:18 PM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
I first started launching in 1977 also.
Did not switch to mostly fuse ignition until 1979ish when my Dad got sick and tired of igniter fizzles of about a 25% rate. Went down to about 2% after Dad picked up a 25ft roll of Cannon Fuse at the local gun shop.
His attitude was if it works, it's GOOD ENOUGH.

My Dad didn't care anything about rocketry. I don't think he's ever even seen one fly. All of my dumb ideas were my dumb ideas. I was quite the dumb prodigy.
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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Gee'Hod, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Snake Jumper
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  #17  
Old 05-30-2012, 08:48 PM
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tbzep tbzep is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
My Dad didn't care anything about rocketry. I don't think he's ever even seen one fly. All of my dumb ideas were my dumb ideas. I was quite the dumb prodigy.

Red Foreman would say, "Good job, dumb###!"
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  #18  
Old 05-30-2012, 09:17 PM
A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
Red Foreman would say, "Good job, dumb###!"

Dad's favorite line was "You're full of crap." I want to be Red Foreman when I grow up.
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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Design Contest F-150 Hurricane Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Gee'Hod, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Solar Sailer II Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Snake Jumper
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  #19  
Old 05-31-2012, 07:41 AM
carbons4 carbons4 is offline
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Default I'm going to stick my foot up your.....................

RED FORMAN was a great role model. My dad just looked at rockets as a liability.
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  #20  
Old 05-31-2012, 07:43 AM
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bernomatic bernomatic is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
Our first launch in 1977 was done entirely using a bag of inch-and-a-halfers as an ignition source. We got pretty good at peeling them back, removing the wick and putting it into the nozzle, then packing the rest of the powder in around it. The second launch was done with a big lantern battery and the Estes igniters. We thought we were really moving up in the technological world.
Sucked carrying that big battery to NKU on our bikes, though.


Carrying the battery "built character".

At my first launch, circa 1973-74, my friend's older brother got so p.o.'d (put out) at the old Estes ignitors that he drove off.

Came back with a roll of ...

plain Nichrome wire.

That, a proper installation technique and a 12V battery and we had no troubles the rest of the day.
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