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-   -   Astron Sprite plans (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=24)

gpoehlein 03-11-2005 06:12 PM

Astron Sprite plans
 
I was looking at the plans for the Astron Sprite, and discovered that they are the old plans for the short 18mm engine version. This is the case on both Jimz and Shasta. Does anyone have access to the 13mm version that was used later?

Greg

Phred 03-11-2005 08:30 PM

Was this offered as a 13mm version? I though that the advent of the 13mm vs the 18mm shrties was the cause of the death knell for this bird.

But... I have been wrong before... and will be again.... (just ask my wife!)
Phred

gpoehlein 03-11-2005 10:18 PM

Yup - the Sprite lasted until 1973 - and that catalog lists it has flying with 1/4A3-2T through A3-4T. It is listed that way in the 1972 catalog as well - but listed with the short engines in 1971 and earlier. A well... not like I have the BT and nose cone any way. I think I may do a BT-5 downscale using MicroMaxx engines, tho ;)

Greg

Bob H 03-14-2005 08:01 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by gpoehlein
Yup - the Sprite lasted until 1973 - and that catalog lists it has flying with 1/4A3-2T through A3-4T. It is listed that way in the 1972 catalog as well - but listed with the short engines in 1971 and earlier. A well... not like I have the BT and nose cone any way. I think I may do a BT-5 downscale using MicroMaxx engines, tho ;)

Greg


Greg,

I have my original Sprite from 1967. I made an adapter out of a piece of BT-20 coupler, two centering rings, a piece of BT-5 and an engine block.

The Sprite was made using BT-30, which was a little bigger than BT-20 so the coupler slides in the body tube just fine.

Bob

dtomko 03-15-2005 08:25 AM

I cloned the Sprite from a Scout II kit and used the included 13mm adapter, which is about a 1" long BT-5 to BT-20 centering ring (like a thick coupler) holding a BT-5 with engine hook. Yes, the Sprite was listed as a Mini Brute for a while, I believe. It's not in the catalogs, but I recall seeing one on eBay a while back that had the Mini Brute logo on the card. Anyway, I am pretty sure the 13mm plans are exaclty the same as the short 18mm, but say to use the 13mm adapter.
Drew Tomko

Ltvscout 03-15-2005 10:54 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by dtomko
I cloned the Sprite from a Scout II kit and used the included 13mm adapter, which is about a 1" long BT-5 to BT-20 centering ring (like a thick coupler) holding a BT-5 with engine hook. Yes, the Sprite was listed as a Mini Brute for a while, I believe. It's not in the catalogs, but I recall seeing one on eBay a while back that had the Mini Brute logo on the card. Anyway, I am pretty sure the 13mm plans are exaclty the same as the short 18mm, but say to use the 13mm adapter.
Drew Tomko

You can buy a nice 18mm shorty to 13mm adapter from Semroc at www.semroc.com. They sell this with their Fire Fly kit.

dtomko 03-15-2005 11:16 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ltvscout
You can buy a nice 18mm shorty to 13mm adapter from Semroc at www.semroc.com. They sell this with their Fire Fly kit.


Or take the cheap way and cut down a spent 18mm casing and slide the mini engine in that. I can't find it now, but Peter Alway drew up plans for cloning the Sprite and mentioned using a cut down 18mm casing to hold the mini engine.
Drew Tomko

marslndr 03-28-2005 05:53 PM

Or you could buy the Flis kits Tumble Weed.

http://www.fliskits.com/products/01prod_fs.htm
Check out the level 2 kits, about 1/2 way down.

I have it but have not built it yet.
A friend has cloned several of the original and it launches fine.

Centurion-4 03-29-2005 10:55 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by gpoehlein
Yup - the Sprite lasted until 1973 - and that catalog lists it has flying with 1/4A3-2T through A3-4T. It is listed that way in the 1972 catalog as well - but listed with the short engines in 1971 and earlier. A well... not like I have the BT and nose cone any way. I think I may do a BT-5 downscale using MicroMaxx engines, tho ;)

Greg


Greg,

If this isn't a soon-to-be Semroc kit. Doesn't Semroc have these parts for you.
Or at least a nose cone that's close. I have built two originals long ago. Still have
one. One of my first five kits. After K-27 Honest John, Aerobee 300, Thor Agena-B,
and Astron Nighthawk from Estes (from May '69 to early 1970, didn't hold a Centuri
kit until fall of 1970). In Centuri went thru Honest John, MX-774, Arcon-Hi (can you
tell I like scale models :p ) , Long Tom, and Mach-10 as my first five .

Skyward,
Larry Rice -Columbus, OH

Centurion-4 03-29-2005 11:01 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by gpoehlein
I was looking at the plans for the Astron Sprite, and discovered that they are the old plans for the short 18mm engine version. This is the case on both Jimz and Shasta. Does anyone have access to the 13mm version that was used later?

Greg


Greg,

The plans are the same. The only difference was an adapter, Which Estes also sold
separately (I have one). And it only consisted of a rejected engine casing, a self-
adhesive strip, and a engine clip. (will look for part number).

Upwards,
Larry Rice


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