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  #21  
Old 11-13-2017, 08:35 PM
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tbzep tbzep is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEC
Some Power Tower info here: http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=16800

Both versions’ plastic parts appear to be identical to the first two versions of the Estes Porta-Pad except for color. Lots of details on the third page of this thread.

They are identical except for the blast deflector. Same mold. I'd post pics of mine, but I'm too lazy tonight.
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  #22  
Old 11-13-2017, 10:17 PM
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That’s OK. I know that parts I have all interchange even between the tall and “redesigned for more stability” versions.
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  #23  
Old 11-13-2017, 10:31 PM
Faithwalker Faithwalker is offline
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Default Centuri Power Tower ID-65 Blast Deflector

Bernard,
Thanks for documenting the Centuri Power Tower that you have! I've been working on a SolidWorks 3D CAD model of the ID-65 Blast Deflector (product no. 5806) for it.

I've attached an image of my 3D prototype so far. It's pretty close, but I'm still tweaking it to get a good flat pattern.

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
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  #24  
Old 11-13-2017, 10:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BEC
Some Power Tower info here: http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=16800

Both versions’ plastic parts appear to be identical to the first two versions of the Estes Porta-Pad except for color. Lots of details on the third page of this thread.
I see what you mean! The printed, black text-on-chrome Power Tower decals are not only informative (including a misfire checklist, recommended batteries, and a launch elevation reminder, as David Stribling's Power Tower photos show at the top of page 2 [Reply #11] in that thread), but having those shiny decals on all sides of the launcher is very helpful during long recovery walks (especially if the grass is rather tall), to see its location--and not lose it!--from the decals glinting in the sunlight. Also:

3D "printing houses" such as Shapeways (see: www.shapeways.com ) print objects in metals--including precious metals--as well as plastics (and even porcelain), so it may be possible to make reproductions of the Centuri angled jet deflectors as well as the plastic launch pad parts, and:

Looking at all of the posted Centuri blast deflector pictures (I prefer their angled design to Estes' disc deflector, too, because burning propellant bits don't "splash back" onto the rockets), it looks like its design might have been inspired by a stamped metal snow shovel, which is similarly-shaped and also has the stamped-in longitudinal "stiffening ridges." I wouldn't be surprised if Leroy Piester, when looking for a contractor to produce his jet deflectors, went to a metal-stamping shop and was told, "Something like a small, stamped-metal snow shovel could be made in one operation, out of one piece of steel." Depending on the set-up costs, this might also be a viable option for having new ones made today...
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  #25  
Old 11-13-2017, 10:52 PM
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Blackshire,
Thanks for the compliment earlier! Faith in our Creator is vitally important to me. I believe it is only because of Him that we can live and move and have our being!

BTW, Rocketguy101 and I are collaborating together on the 3D model of the ID-65 Blast Deflector for the Centuri Power Tower. Hopefully, we'll have some good drawings for it soon!

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
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  #26  
Old 11-14-2017, 12:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackshire
Thank you for posting those (I admire your YORF "handle," too)! ALSO:

If Dewalt pursues his interest in producing clones of them (as he wrote in Reply #65 *here*: http://www.rocketshoppe.com/forums/...33&page=7&pp=10 ), reprints of your scanned instructions (with an added disclaimer line like that in Semroc's "Retro-Repro" rocket kits) would be perfect to supply with them. (The Centuri "Professional Firing Panel" would be easy to make, using a standard aluminum electronic projects box [as Centuri themselves did] for the hand-held controller; the Centuri "Lectra-Line 1" [and 2] launch controllers--see Reply #62 from Hans "Chris" Michielssen that's also in the above-linked thread--could be 3D printed or duplicated in polyurethane casting resin in RTV rubber molds [their resin parts could even be dyed yellow or black, to match the original ones].) Now:

All we need to complete the Centuri GSE (Ground Support Equipment) line are reproductions of the Centuri Servo-Launcher (it used a pneumatic switch!), Powr-Pad, Powr-Control, and Power Tower (and maybe--just for giggles--even a Pola-Pulse Launch Controller [with internal mods to use rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries instead]; you can see all of these GSE items *here*: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/no...a/72cen052.html and http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/nostalgia/82cen26.html )... :-) (Actually, although I suggested bringing these back only half-jokingly, with today's home production capabilities, it's no joke at all; they really could be made today if desired.)


Of course, some additional GSE choices, if you want to go even more retro, might be the EFC-44 Lectra Line controller (https://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/c...i65/65cen6.html) or the EFC-66 Ignition Control Panel controller (https://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/c...65/65cen54.html). *Updated the broken EFC-66 link, so it should work now.

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
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Last edited by Faithwalker : 11-14-2017 at 01:30 AM.
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  #27  
Old 11-14-2017, 12:24 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Faithwalker
Blackshire,
Thanks for the compliment earlier! Faith in our Creator is vitally important to me. I believe it is only because of Him that we can live and move and have our being!

BTW, Rocketguy101 and I are collaborating together on the 3D model of the ID-65 Blast Deflector for the Centuri Power Tower. Hopefully, we'll have some good drawings for it soon!

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879
You're welcome; I discovered the same thing, thanks to shamanic drumming!

Good--if the current 3D metal printing technology is up to producing a sufficiently-durable deflector (it may be), those drawings could be used (either as-is, or by using their graphical co-ordinates) to create 3D printing files for them. The drawings--as they are--could also be used by a metal-stamping shop to set up the tooling to make them.
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http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
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  #28  
Old 11-14-2017, 12:32 AM
Faithwalker Faithwalker is offline
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[QUOTE=Faithwalker]Of course, some additional GSE choices, if you want to go even more retro, might be the EFC-44 Lectra Line controller (https://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/c...i65/65cen6.html) or the EFC-66 Ignition Control Panel controller (https://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/c...65/65cen54.html).

One more retro GSE choice might be the elusive EFC-88 Heavy Duty Ignition Outfit: https://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/c...64/64cen38.html

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
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Last edited by Faithwalker : 11-14-2017 at 01:32 AM.
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  #29  
Old 11-14-2017, 12:32 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Faithwalker
Of course, some additional GSE choices, if you want to go even more retro, might be the EFC-44 Lectra Line controller (http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...i65/65cen6.html) or the EFC-66 Ignition Control Panel controller (http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...5/65cen54.html).

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879
Your second link won't open, but yes, that old metal-cabinet Centuri Lectra Line controller is durable and very easy to replicate. Even the plastic Lectra-Line 1 and 2 could be replicated by 3D printing or resin casting, using RTV rubber molds. I like the original metal-cabinet one just fine, though (but if someone made the later ones, I wouldn't turn my muzzle up at them). ALSO, the flat angled blast deflector on the simpler, "block o' wood" launch pad (on the same catalog page as the original Lectra Line launch controller, in your first link above) would be *very* easy to make--just cut out a properly-sized rectangular piece of sheet steel, then bend it in the correct places and drill (or maybe punch) two holes to fit over the launch rod!
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http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
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  #30  
Old 11-14-2017, 12:45 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Faithwalker
[QUOTE=Faithwalker]Of course, some additional GSE choices, if you want to go even more retro, might be the EFC-44 Lectra Line controller (http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...i65/65cen6.html) or the EFC-66 Ignition Control Panel controller (http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...5/65cen54.html).

One more retro GSE choice might be the elusive EFC-88 Heavy Duty Ignition Outfit: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...64/64cen38.html

Kind regards,
Jeff Jenkins
aka: Faithwalker
NAR #46879
The EFC-88 had 25' firing leads and 5' battery leads--for model rockets, heavy-duty indeed! It too would be easy to replicate.
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
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