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  #1  
Old 08-02-2010, 06:33 PM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Default Estes Mini Launch Pad questions

Hello Doc (and other "YORFers"),

I have three questions about the Estes Mini Launch Pad that comes in the Moon Mutt Starter Set #001476 (see: http://www.estesrockets.com/store/r...-moon-mutt.html ). [I'm inquiring about it because I'm going to England later this month, and it would be ideal to either "mail ahead" or carry in my luggage due to its small size and low weight. The motors and igniters will, of course, be bought over there.] Here are the questions:

[1] Is the Estes Mini Launch Pad's 18" long launch rod the same length as the launch rod that came with the (apparently identical) Lunar Launch Pad that was included in the Estes Screaming Eagle Starter Set #1417 (see: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/no...a/88est006.html ) and the Ninja Starter Set #1412 (see: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/no...a/88est010.html )? [The catalog descriptions said that the Lunar Launch Pad could be used with mini motor or regular (18 mm) motor powered rockets up to 16" long and 1" in diameter that weigh no more than 1.5 ounces without a motor installed.]

[2] Could front-motor boost-gliders such as the Quest Q E-Z boost-glider and the Semroc Hawk (similar to the Estes Falcon boost-glider) be launched safely from the Estes Mini Launch Pad?

[3] For launching in breezy conditions, can the Mini Launch Pad be tilted safely by propping one footpad up on a rock or some other solid object (with weights suspended from the center section if necessary to keep it from tipping over)?

Many thanks in advance to the Doctor (and/or anyone else) who can help.
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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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Last edited by blackshire : 08-02-2010 at 06:37 PM. Reason: This ol' hoss done forgot somethin'.
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  #2  
Old 08-02-2010, 06:43 PM
stefanj stefanj is offline
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Regarding boost gliders:

Mounting these on a launch pad often requires use of a stand-off -- a clothes pin or the like -- a foot or more up the launch rod.

If your launch rod is shorter than average, you're not going to have a lot of usable length left.

Is making a launch pad out of the question?

Any good hardware store can supply you with a 36" piece of 1/8" (2mm) steel rod.

You can make a stable platform for the rod out of PVC, or a big block of wood. Use stakes or weights for stability. A split open can for a blast deflector.
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  #3  
Old 08-02-2010, 06:55 PM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stefanj
Regarding boost gliders:

Mounting these on a launch pad often requires use of a stand-off -- a clothes pin or the like -- a foot or more up the launch rod.

If your launch rod is shorter than average, you're not going to have a lot of usable length left.

Is making a launch pad out of the question?

Any good hardware store can supply you with a 36" piece of 1/8" (2mm) steel rod.

You can make a stable platform for the rod out of PVC, or a big block of wood. Use stakes or weights for stability. A split open can for a blast deflector.
Due to time constraints, building a pad over there isn't really practical. Yup, we loosely taped the firing leads to the rod when flying my father's Falcon boost-glider. A 36" launch rod (even disassembled) is too large to fit in my wheeled carry-on bag. If I end up mailing a Mini Launch Pad ahead, it can fit into a smaller and less expensive express mail parcel. I'm not sure if its legs are readily removable, but since I will leave it there for my hosts to use at their draft horse sanctuary (along with other model rocket goodies) as parting gifts, that's not a problem.
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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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Old 08-02-2010, 10:46 PM
stefanj stefanj is offline
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One thing you should certainly do is bring stakes to nail down the launcher's legs.

RE launch rods, I was suggesting buying it over there. Might be difficult during a visit, of course.
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Old 08-02-2010, 11:56 PM
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BEC BEC is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stefanj
RE launch rods, I was suggesting buying it over there. Might be difficult during a visit, of course.


Yeah....that makes sense to me, too, if it can be done. Note that 1/8 inch is 3.2mm, not 2mm, however.

I've assembled and disassembled my Moon Mutt pad once or twice, and just did so again - it's pretty easy.

The legs on that pad are nearly as long (within 1/2 inch) as a regular Porta-Pad or Quest pad so it should be just about as stable as either of them.
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  #6  
Old 08-03-2010, 02:41 AM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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I thank you all very much for your replies and for the information! Because the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com is rather isolated and because (being a charity) they don't have a lot of money, I don't want to put them out for gas money driving into town to get a 1/8" X 36" (or 3 mm X 1 m) length of music wire at a hardware store.

Stuart Lodge of the British Space Modelling Association will meet me there (he'll bring some motors and ground support equipment), and we'll conduct a demo launch if the weather permits; if not, I'll buy some motors from him and do the demo launch later. (The Northcote Heavy Horse Centre could possibly host competition or sport launch meets.) I just wanted them to have a launch pad and a launch controller for their own use because they expressed interest in model rocketry. (When I get back to Alaska and have more time--and money--on hand, I'll put in an order with Sierra Fox Hobbies in Italy and have them send the folks at Northcote a proper Quest or Estes Starter Set and several packs of motors.)
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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.
NAR #54895 SR

Last edited by blackshire : 08-03-2010 at 02:44 AM. Reason: This ol' hoss done forgot somethin'.
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  #7  
Old 08-04-2010, 01:25 PM
Rocket Doctor Rocket Doctor is offline
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Whatever you do DON'T bring any motors or igniters with you on any aircraft. It is illegal. Just like mailing motors and igniters through the postal service, without the proper documentation, it's illegal.

Why don't you pick up a launch pad once you get to your destination? I'm sure you can find an outlet for model rocket supplies.
Have a great day.

RD
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Old 08-04-2010, 01:50 PM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocket Doctor
Whatever you do DON'T bring any motors or igniters with you on any aircraft. It is illegal. Just like mailing motors and igniters through the postal service, without the proper documentation, it's illegal.
Yep, already covered in the initial posting. Stuart Lodge will bring some when he meets me there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocket Doctor
Why don't you pick up a launch pad once you get to your destination? I'm sure you can find an outlet for model rocket supplies.
Have a great day.
Not in rural Lincolnshire--Stuart Lodge of the British Space Modelling Association (he is one of the British pioneers who got model rocketry legalized in the United Kingdom) told me that there are no model rocket vendors anywhere in the area; it's like the situation in many rural U.S. states in the 1960s, when Centuri and Estes sold *everything* (even "D" photoflash batteries, paint, sanding sealer, glue, and X-Acto knives) by mail order along with their rocket kits and motors.
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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.
NAR #54895 SR

Last edited by blackshire : 08-04-2010 at 01:52 PM. Reason: This ol' hoss done forgot somethin'.
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  #9  
Old 08-07-2010, 07:31 PM
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blackshire blackshire is offline
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The Mini Launch Pad is now on its way in a parcel ahead of me to England, along with several Semroc model rocket kits and a reproduction Estes Javelin/Super Flea kit (that I "compiled" using Semroc parts) for Stuart Lodge. Hopefully the Royal Mail folks won't have MI5 take the box and detonate it in a remote area after they read the Customs Declaration label on it, although I declared the model rocket contents as "ROCKET KITS (NO MOTORS)" and "LAUNCH PAD & CONTROLLER." :-)
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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.
NAR #54895 SR
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  #10  
Old 08-07-2010, 08:20 PM
Rocket Doctor Rocket Doctor is offline
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I would have just listed it as hobby models, I hope because you said ROCKETS, they don't make a big deal about it and tear your package apart.

Hope that you have a great time when you get over there.
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