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-   -   RDC Enerjet Starflite (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=16933)

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-06-2017 05:44 AM

RDC Enerjet Starflite
 
I was looking around this weekend and came upon an old RDC catalog that Chas scanned and submitted to Ninfinger. I'd seen most everything in it before, but deep in the back of the catalog I found a picture of an Enerjet Starflite rocket that promised 3k to 4k flights on the Enerjet motor. Has anyone ever seen a plan/fin scan of this bird? I printed the page off and tried to take measurements using the old fashioned blow up and measure method, but I thought I'd ask and see if anyone could assist with a shortcut. :rolleyes:

jdbectec 11-06-2017 09:46 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
I was looking around this weekend and came upon an old RDC catalog that Chas scanned and submitted to Ninfinger. I'd seen most everything in it before, but deep in the back of the catalog I found a picture of an Enerjet Starflite rocket that promised 3k to 4k flights on the Enerjet motor. Has anyone ever seen a plan/fin scan of this bird? I printed the page off and tried to take measurements using the old fashioned blow up and measure method, but I thought I'd ask and see if anyone could assist with a shortcut. :rolleyes:


I built a semi-scale replica using that exact method. Used BT -60 to 50. I believe the full size Honey bee and maybe the Sampson(?)used the same fin pattern

I have never seen a copy of the plans or an actual model built or unbuilt.

astronwolf 11-06-2017 11:16 AM

1 Attachment(s)
You had me going there for a moment. The way you wrote it made me think you were referring to a "Centuri Enerjet" kit that I never heard of before. But you're talking "RDC Enerjet."

A two foot tall ~bt-60 model rocket isn't going to fly 3000-4000 feet on an Enerjet-8 that's kinda like an Econojet E20 motor. Maybe they flew one way up there using a larger RDC Enerjet motor.

I was inspired to create an Open Rocket file for my take on the RDC Starflite. I think you need to cram a G in there to fly up to 3-4000 feet.
-W

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-06-2017 01:25 PM

I have no intention of flying the poor thing to 3k, but it did catch my eye. :cool: I was surprised to find that the name Enerjet was used by RDC. Did I miss a chapter?

astronwolf 11-06-2017 01:54 PM

The story is Irv Wait and the development of the first composite rocket motors. I found a old rec.models.rockets discussion that had some informative posts by Mark Johnson. I'm sure that others could chime in.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!m...vI/l7hfqG7fUXEJ

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-06-2017 03:38 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
The story is Irv Wait and the development of the first composite rocket motors. I found a old rec.models.rockets discussion that had some informative posts by Mark Johnson. I'm sure that others could chime in.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!m...vI/l7hfqG7fUXEJ

Ah, the old RMR. I barely scraped into the fray there before it ended, but I would sit and let my printer run big jobs so I could read through the archives. Now I'm nostalgic for Yahoo OldRockets. :rolleyes:

Ltvscout 11-06-2017 06:09 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
Now I'm nostalgic for Yahoo OldRockets. :rolleyes:

It's still there. Kevin and I have kept it going.

Jerry Irvine 11-06-2017 06:25 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
The story is Irv Wait and the development of the first composite rocket motors. I found a old rec.models.rockets discussion that had some informative posts by Mark Johnson. I'm sure that others could chime in.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!m...vI/l7hfqG7fUXEJ
Irv Wait is on par with Orville, Lee and Lonnie. I worked with his product on Mosquito Coast.

http://v-serv.com/usr/fx-mosquitocoast.htm

As we all know he invented Enerjet which was instrumental to Composite Dynamics and Errortech and of course U.S. Rockets. I made my first MR style composite with thrust and delay in 1972. EJ was deprecated in 1974.

Joe Wooten 11-06-2017 07:40 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ltvscout
It's still there. Kevin and I have kept it going.


That's funny. I was just looking in there for the first time in years. Does Doug still post there?

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-06-2017 10:53 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ltvscout
It's still there. Kevin and I have kept it going.

I know, but it's a different world now. So many of the people who made it interesting are nowhere to be found in the hobby anymore. ;)

Ltvscout 11-07-2017 08:55 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Wooten
That's funny. I was just looking in there for the first time in years. Does Doug still post there?

Once in a great while. But it's usually something off-topic. :chuckle:

astronwolf 11-13-2017 09:06 AM

1 Attachment(s)
I adapted the Open Rocket plans for the original RDC Starflite to use currently available parts. The plans have been adapted to use 24mm motors and Semroc parts from eRockets. This is a Big Bertha sized model that I would hesitate flying with an E motor from most of the woodsy fields that I fly on.

The original used tube sizes that are not easily found or sold by any rocketry vendor.
-W

Royatl 11-13-2017 12:47 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
The story is Irv Wait and the development of the first composite rocket motors. I found a old rec.models.rockets discussion that had some informative posts by Mark Johnson. I'm sure that others could chime in.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!m...vI/l7hfqG7fUXEJ


Mark Mayfield had an excellent article on Irv Waite in LAUNCH magazine (sadly I lost all but the last two issues in my recent move)

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-13-2017 01:29 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
I adapted the Open Rocket plans for the original RDC Starflite to use currently available parts. The plans have been adapted to use 24mm motors and Semroc parts from eRockets. This is a Big Bertha sized model that I would hesitate flying with an E motor from most of the woodsy fields that I fly on.

The original used tube sizes that are not easily found or sold by any rocketry vendor.
-W

I cut the fins for my clone last night at work. I picked up the other close parts last Tuesday at eRockets and I'll be putting it all together tonight. I'll post a pic when it gets to the point that it can stand without anything falling off.

Joe Wooten 11-13-2017 02:01 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ltvscout
Once in a great while. But it's usually something off-topic. :chuckle:



Allis-Chalmers tractors or Terri Garr???? :chuckle:

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-13-2017 03:15 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Wooten
Allis-Chalmers tractors or Terri Garr???? :chuckle:

Ah, the good ol' days. ;)

astronwolf 11-13-2017 03:33 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
I cut the fins for my clone last night at work. I picked up the other close parts last Tuesday at eRockets and I'll be putting it all together tonight. I'll post a pic when it gets to the point that it can stand without anything falling off.

I just ordered the parts. This model rocket intrigues me. Nothing terribly unique about the design. It's the history. It's among the first, if not THE first, kit offered for the first composite propellant model rocket motors.

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-13-2017 05:48 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
I just ordered the parts. This model rocket intrigues me. Nothing terribly unique about the design. It's the history. It's among the first, if not THE first, kit offered for the first composite propellant model rocket motors.

Ditto. I have a fin pattern if you want to try it out. Not sure if it's exact, but I think it's close.

Jerry Irvine 11-13-2017 07:03 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
I just ordered the parts. This model rocket intrigues me. Nothing terribly unique about the design. It's the history. It's among the first, if not THE first, kit offered for the first composite propellant model rocket motors.
Clearly the first.

tbzep 11-13-2017 08:36 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Wooten
Allis-Chalmers tractors or Terri Garr???? :chuckle:

Orange paint on Allis-Chalmers tractors and Terri Garr's nose. ;)

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-14-2017 12:32 AM

1 Attachment(s)
This is where it stands so far.

stefanj 11-14-2017 10:05 AM

I really like the looks of that. I hope you make a full write-up.

I picture it with a checkerboard wrap and a red and black finish.

jdbectec 11-14-2017 10:17 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
This is where it stands so far.


Does that have four fins? I was under the impression from the catalog picture that it only had three.

astronwolf 11-14-2017 10:54 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
This is where it stands so far.

Nice. ST-10 upper tubing? Four fins? I'm looking forward to seeing how this is going to turn out.

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-14-2017 03:53 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdbectec
Does that have four fins? I was under the impression from the catalog picture that it only had three.

I went with four. The catalog pic I had was pretty fuzzy and I couldn't tell for sure.

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-14-2017 03:58 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
Nice. ST-10 upper tubing? Four fins? I'm looking forward to seeing how this is going to turn out.

Yes, ST-16 to ST-10, all from eRockets. It's nice because when I have a Tuesday night off I can attend the build session. I place my order that morning and pick it up there that night. My last order was parts for the Starflite, Coaster Saturn and Kopter Eagle. All three of them should be ready for my next launch window.

tbzep 11-15-2017 09:17 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
This is where it stands so far.

It stands in the corner. Is it in trouble? :D

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-15-2017 03:49 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
It stands in the corner. Is it in trouble? :D

It's in my corner, but I'm not pregnant.

jdbectec 11-15-2017 04:56 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
I went with four. The catalog pic I had was pretty fuzzy and I couldn't tell for sure.

Fwiw I looked at the root edge of the fins. It seems that the fin closest to you is lonnger
I adjusted for the angle and cut my fins accordingly.. I will have to hunt up my model to checck.

I used BT 60 Toby 50. Hbt-90 is the closest thing to the RDC tube.

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-15-2017 05:23 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdbectec
Fwiw I looked at the root edge of the fins. It seems that the fin closest to you is lonnger
I adjusted for the angle and cut my fins accordingly.. I will have to hunt up my model to checck.

I used BT 60 Toby 50. Hbt-90 is the closest thing to the RDC tube.

I'd be interested in seeing your interpretation of the fins, just to see if we in the same ballpark. If it does turn out to be a 3fnc bird, I've got plenty of tubing to rebuild another ST-16 section. :cool:

JohnNGA 11-15-2017 06:54 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
This is where it stands so far.


Cool, reminds me of a shorter version of a FSI EOS.

jbuscaglia 11-15-2017 08:12 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnNGA
Cool, reminds me of a shorter version of a FSI EOS.



I was thinking the same thing. The top section is thinner than the Eos, but it has similar lines.

A Fish Named Wallyum 11-15-2017 09:13 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnNGA
Cool, reminds me of a shorter version of a FSI EOS.

The EOS is one FSI bird that I haven't attempted, but I'm a) building up quite a backlog of unflown projects, and b) I still have several of my initial FSI clones to finish. :D I know for sure the camo on the Hercules is still unfinished, the Penetrator is still in all white, and the Voyager is still in primer.

jdbectec 11-19-2017 12:48 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
I'd be interested in seeing your interpretation of the fins, just to see if we in the same ballpark. If it does turn out to be a 3fnc bird, I've got plenty of tubing to rebuild another ST-16 section. :cool:



Bill, I have yet to find my model. Will post some scans when I do. IIRC I enlarged the catalog picture which appeared to have the root edge of the fin perpendicular(i.e. a straight on shot. I then laid out a 3 an four fin circle and extended the lines to get a 120 degree lay out of the span if that makes any sense.

I'll continue to look for it and will post scans when I find it.

astronwolf 12-02-2017 10:23 PM

1 Attachment(s)
I finally put together my rendition of the Starflite. See attached....

A Fish Named Wallyum 12-02-2017 10:48 PM

3 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
I finally put together my rendition of the Starflite. See attached....


Oddly enough, I took mine apart. :(

astronwolf 12-02-2017 11:31 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum
Oddly enough, I took mine apart. :(

With what motor?

A Fish Named Wallyum 12-03-2017 06:17 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by astronwolf
With what motor?

Estes E9-8

ghrocketman 12-03-2017 07:31 PM

Got'z ta LUV an explodo on the pad.
I prefer POWR-PRANGGGGGS though.....

tbzep 12-03-2017 08:43 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
Got'z ta LUV an explodo on the pad.
I prefer POWR-PRANGGGGGS though.....

No way. Explosions and fire are always better than a dull thud. :cool:


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