Replacement tube for Centuri Little Joe II or Estes Mercury-Atlas (3.44 inches in diameter)

Anybody got a lead?

I've checked Apogee, BMS, Semroc, Totally/Uncle Mike. Nada

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NAR 79743
NARTrek Silver
I miss being SAM 062

Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
Repair/Rescue: Cherokee-D (2); Centuri Nike-Smoke; MX-774
On the Bench: 2650;
Dream Stage: 1/39.37 R-7

Mark-

I've checked around in the past couple years myself and had no luck (from all those you mentioned).

Just as a side note, the Centuri 1/45th Little Joe II body tube and the Estes Mercury-Atlas body tube, while VERY close in size are NOT the same. The Centuri LJII plastic capsule on the Estes M-A body tube is a pretty loose fit. It could be 'made' to work, but the two sizes just ain't the same. I understand that you are probably not wanting to match the LJ nosecone to the Estes M-A body tube, but it was a 'demonstration' to me that the two tubes are definitely not the same diameter.

Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Have you talked with Mary Roberts at Estes? Although their Mercury-Atlas kit isn't currently in production, it's possible that they might have some of the 3.44" tubing around. Another option would be to make Jetex-style "built-up" tubing for the upper stage, using sheet balsa discs (actually flat rings) and balsa stringers covered with 1/64" sheet balsa skin. While somewhat labor-intensive, it would enable you to exactly match your existing model's 3.44" diameter tubing.

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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
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NAR #54895 SR

I actually thought about a built up plug, but I think the easier method may be to take a sliver out of some relatively available BT-100 and cover the joint with a conduit.

Or find another cheap, partially-built Mercury Atlas . . . .

__________________
NAR 79743
NARTrek Silver
I miss being SAM 062

Awaiting First Launch: Too numerous to count
Finishing: Zooch Saturn V; Alway/Nau BioArcas; Estes Expedition; TLP Standard
Repair/Rescue: Cherokee-D (2); Centuri Nike-Smoke; MX-774
On the Bench: 2650;
Dream Stage: 1/39.37 R-7

98mm casting liner is close to that size and there seem to be 3-4 different variants of that around.

Ours is about 3.37" OD. I suppose you could do some sort of slit and shrink or slit and grow on a nearby size. We do that for oddball couplers.

Matt Steele got several from us for a scale Shuttle project he was working on years ago.

Jerry

Peter Alway used that method with great results! He not only hid the lengthwise tubing joint under a conduit in several of his scale models, but he also used the removed "strip" of body tube as an interior "glue tab" for making the joint both strong *and* tidy as viewed from the outside.

__________________
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

I posted this over on the Atlas Scrubbed thread... But I noticed the Quest MLAS is listed at 3.46" in diameter. Not sure if there would be a source there or not...

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Kurt Knox
NAR #93503
MASA section 576
SAM #0316

Red Arrow Hobbies often has some unusual sizes. Call them at 269-429-8233.

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4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

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SAM# 0078

I posted this yesterday in the identical thread over on TRF:
http://www.rocketryforum.com/showpo...750&postcount=2

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SAM # 0011

Does it have to be a BT from a vendor?

If not, here is an option: I would take poster board and cut it to the desired diameter. I would blue-tape the ends to form a butt seam. I would then put fiberglass cloth on the inside, then wet out the cloth with laminating epoxy. Then inflate a balloon along the centerline axis to hold a true circumference. Deflate the balloon after 24 hours and remove the blue-tape. Now you have your custom BT. Another wrap will give it extra stiffness. More time, but less bucks. As a bonus, no spiral to fill, just the longitudinal seam.

Greg