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#51
11-21-2022, 03:31 PM
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They weren't that bad, really. The first Falcon 9/Dragon was a little difficult in that you had to apply a full length body wrap to a rather thicker-than-necessary body tube. That version was later re-released with a thinner BT that was already wrapped. This was a simple-to-build and decently performing model. The later one, with the big payload section, was better, and had a 24mm mount. From some of the details in the kits (the second version of the Falcon-9/Dragon, which was the only one I've built) I'm quite certain the supplier is modelrockets.us. Some parts of their kits are pretty distinctive: a very nicely-made motor hook, parachutes of a thicker-than-usual plastic sheet with very bright colors and a unique shroud line material, for example. The Falcon-9/Dragon that I built clearly shared those parts with other modelrockets.us releases.
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE 
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#52
12-11-2022, 02:12 PM
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I've got a SpaceX Falcon 9 with Dragon Crew capsule from Boyce Aerospace. Yes, you have to buy some of the parts separately, but the 3D printed parts are really good quality. Layer lines are so tight I didn't even bother to sand them (as recommended). And the cost maybe half that of the Estes one (after getting additional parts). It's not RTF, you have to build and finish it so it meets the requirements most of us want from a model rocket (build and finish/detail). I flew it for the first time last month. I'm going to be flying it more often. Satisfies another requirement (fly it).
With that said, I pulled the trigger and bought the Estes RTF version (using the 10% off coupon that was so graciously provided by a fellow YORFer). No, I'm not going to fly it. My 1/89th scale from Boyce fills that niche perfectly. I probably won't even open it. I bought it because I know that in 5 years I'll be kicking myself in the butt for NOT buying it when I had the chance. And now, my collection of 1/100 scale manned space flight vehicles continues. Unfortunately, Artemis is a 1/200 scale. But I've got one that I can use to build 1/100 scale. Anyone know whereI can get 1/100 space shuttle system..... 
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Don NAR 53455 "Carpe Diem"
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#53
12-11-2022, 04:41 PM
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I believe Matt Steele (NCR) is close to releasing their 1:125 Scale mid-powered SLS Kit and their sport Scale mid-powered Argo D-4 Javelin Kit.
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#54
12-13-2022, 02:18 PM
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I went ahead and purchased one of the Estes Falcons - basically just to add to my 1/100th static display. It does help demonstrate just how big the Falcon 9 is - as tall as the Saturn 1B, and simply dwarfs the Gemini-Titan (that's a really cool thing about same-scale displays - it dramatically demonstrates how things have changed over the years). It is a fairly nice and detailed model (although - unlike the Saturn V and 1B - I'm not as up to speed on the intricacies of the Falcon 9 to readily spot scale errors).
The box the Falcon 9 comes in is serious overkill - probably added ~10% to the price - and yet isn't suitable for displaying the model.  Quote:
That might interest me - after getting my high-power certs I've become less and less interested in anything with less than a 29mm mount.
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#55
12-13-2022, 04:00 PM
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The Javelin has been out for a while, at least, you could order one. https://northcoastrocketry.com/prod...ecember-15-2020
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-Wolfram v. Kiparski NAR 28643 - TRA 15520 I lost my Drifter
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#56
12-13-2022, 05:32 PM
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Wolf - Tigerhawk is probably referring to the lower priced, “semi-scale” version of the Argo-Javelin that Matt has talked about since the $500 kit was released. I know it makes more sense marketing and sales -wise but of all the future products Matt has spoken of since NARCON and last year’s NARAM I wish we were seeing the rerelease of the NCR 4” kits - especially the Quasar 
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John Scott B. NAR #102949/L1
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#57
01-25-2023, 01:54 PM
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Agree... not really interested in RTF at this point. I'd rather scratch build, and considering kit prices, that's mostly what I do. I'll get around to my own Falcon 9 at some point. I got in on the special price they had on the Estes Saturn V years ago ($99 bucks IIRC) and ended up with two-- the one they sent the morons delivered it and left it on the front steps in a full-on monsoon rain-- we were in Indiana and my nephew who was living with us at the time called me after work when he got home and finally saw it, asked what to do... I had him bring it in, open the box, and stand all the tubes up over the heater vents in various parts of the house to dry them out. I called whomever I bought it from that was doing the specials at the time and they sent me another kit free, which was delivered PROPERLY. I managed to salvage the one with little/no apparent damage, the tubes were dry when we got home a week later as they'd had plenty of heater cycles blowing warm air up the tubes to dry. Who knows about the longevity though... Anyway, not really interested in RTF. Not really interested in ANY rocket at $150 bucks +, I know my craftsmanship skills and I can do better at a lower price in the end, even if it takes me longer... Oh well...
__________________
The X-87B Cruise Basselope-- THE Ultimate Weapon in the arsenal of Homeland Security and only $52 million per round!
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#58
01-25-2023, 02:18 PM
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Makes sense, since the Falcon 9 is basically a modern reincarnation of the Saturn I-B... if they had replaced the Saturn IB's "Cluster's last stand" of 8 Redstone size tanks surrounding a Jupiter size tank first stage with a 260 inch diameter stage using a single LOX and RP-1 tank similar to Saturn V, with the intertank, and kept using the S-IVB for the upper stage, it would have been rather similar to Falcon 9... only using 8 H-1 engines instead of 9 Merlins on the first stage, and a single hydrogen burning J-2S instead of the kerosene burning Merlin Vac engine on the Falcon 9. The liftoff thrust is similar and with a hydrogen powered upper stage the performance capability to orbit would be similar. BUT the Falcon 9 wasn't built for all-out maximum performance, it was designed for lowest-cost, particularly on the second stage which is thrown away, and for reuse on the first stage. Having a kerosene upper stage, while it hits the performance capability somewhat, is MUCH easier than messing with liquid hydrogen and reduces the size of the rocket, plus it greatly simplifies the GSE servicing the rocket and filling its propellant tanks. Plus if they wanted to switch to a hydrogen burning upper stage at some point it would give a nice performance increase due to the added specific impulse of hydrogen propellant over kerosene.
__________________
The X-87B Cruise Basselope-- THE Ultimate Weapon in the arsenal of Homeland Security and only $52 million per round!
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