A Call For Fin Patterns
 

Everyone,

RockSim has a database for CUSTOM fin templates, but only one or two of these have any significance to the models we work with. What I would like to do is to create a new database of templates, based on our own designs and those of Estes / Quest / SEMROC models that we have the patterns available for. These can then be added to, or substituted for, those that come with the program.

To do this, once you have created your CUSTOM fin pattern, save it to the existing database first, then extract that row using a spreadsheet. Rename the old CSV file to a ".BAK" (backup) file, then save the new spreadsheet as a CSV database with the original name. You should be able to call it up without RockSim knowing any difference.

Finally, post a copy of the new CSV file here for all of us to import.

Jay's CFDATA.CSV file -- Feb. 2009
 

Okay, Craig, here you go. Here are 38 custom fin patterns from many of my original designs, as well as from classics and variations on old-school themes.

These are from RockSim 8.


Enjoy!

.

Thanks, Jay!

Now, for everyone else, before you try swapping this file into RockSim, let me make some "minor adjustments" to it first. :o

I'll post a corrected file shortly...

(Jay, it's the quotation marks surrounding each of the fields in the file. You need to strip them out before saving. RockSim doesn't know how to handle them...)

A Corrected CSV file
 

OK, everyone, here is Jay's contribution to the Custom Fin project. I had to strip out the quotation marks, which seen to confuse RockSim. I've just tried the file out, and it seems to work correctly now.

So much for success...
 

Well, *that's the last time I believe Microsoft Works Spreadsheet when it says it's saving as "Text & Commas (*.csv). :mad:

I'm going back to Wordpad! :rolleyes: ;)

.

Download OpenOffice 3...

You'll be happier... :)

I *could* order the CD-ROM... If I *had* to...
 

Not when the download is 142.4MB.

On dialup. :eek: :mad:


Not much happier,

Jay,

I would be happy to burn a copy of Open Office to CD and mail it to you.

Consider it a thank you! You sent me a copy of the Centuri Hummingbird plans and patterns a few years back. :)

I agree with Craig, it is a great software package, especially as its free. But as you mentioned the download is a bit much for a dial-up download.

PM with your contact info if interested.

... Bill


P.S. Thanks for the fin pattern data! This is even more valuable now with Rocksim's scale functionality!

Gahkk... Dial Up? Jay, I didn't realize you only had that. Sorry, buddy!

Bill, be sure to get one of the developer's builds for him, along with a "stable release". They're plenty stable, even though the program gets an update about every two to three weeks. I haven't found any show-stopper bugs yet, and I've been using OOo for years now. Way back in the V1.0 days, yeah, but not recently.

Jay, let me know (here) when you get it up and running.

Bill T. digs up some fossils...
 

Namely, the end of November 2002. :eek: ;) :D I had to look in my previous e-mail program to figure out the date!


It's headed your way momentarily. :D


Y'know, I hadn't even thought of that, but you're right!

Fin patterns from my RS9 designs will have to wait while I'm out of town later this week.


Cheers,

Wow! I didn't think it was that long ago! You actually have saved emails from 2002 ??? :confused:

I sent you a PM. CD is going in mail tomorrow morning! It includes latest version of both released and development versions of the Open Office software.

Enjoy,

... Bill

34 fin patterns in the attached file. EnerJet, FSI and LOC Precision as well as a few custom fin patterns from a few BARCLONE submissions. I need to dig out others from my back up but this is just what I transferred back into v9 after my initial install. There are a few rare and OOP fin sets included from SSRS, Blackhawk R&D and Public Enemy Rockets in the file as well.

These LOC Precision fin sets I posted here are from kits not included with the data RockSim v9 installs. I built the actual kits so these LOC Precision files are not estimations but entered with data that I obtained from the kit fins that shipped with the kits.

I think the file is ok but Craig may want to give it a quick once over just to be sure before you import the CSV file .....

:)

.

File looks good...
 

Steve, thanks for the additional fin patterns. They appear to be functional. I had a little trouble importing them, probably my own fault, but I worked around the problem and they're running fine.

Everyone, go ahead and use them!

Batch #1...
 

OK, here's my first contributions to the fin database project. I've collected some of the better models beginning with "A". I'll try to post more a few at a time.

This batch includes the Antares and the Arcturas...

Designs beginning with "B"...
 

Here's the next fin pattern installment.

Is it true nobody knows here what an Enerjet 36 booster is?

Is there a TEXT based list of needed and wanted fin patterns?

Jerry

I am a bigger geek than you are.

This thread has sorta languished for the last few weeks... :o

We don't have a list of needed fin plans, except to say those designs on the BARCLONE design list which have not yet been added into the fin database. I have not looked fully through the RKT files Apogee provides with the program, so I don't know if the EJ36 is there, but once someone produces a RKT file using it, they're welcome post the CSV entry here.

If you happen to have an original pattern for the EJ36, we'd appreciate having it posted. We can also do the plot, if you don't already have RockSim running.

BTW: At 245 lbs, I'm not exactly a small geek... :D

This was a Nike-Ram lower section as booster and a Nike-Ram as upper stage. It used an "instajet igniter" in the booster and Enerjet fuse upper stage, initated by a Sure-Shot or an AG-1B flashbulb.

It was intended for fairly heavy payloads.

Jerry

I just looked again at the database file I'm using. Unless there is a difference in the models, Steve Naquin posted a CFDATA.CSV file earlier that has the Nike-Ram fin pattern included. All you have to do is place this file into the DataImport folder of RockSim 9 before you start the program, and it will import (append) the contents to the active database.

I found my copy of "The InstaJet" Development of an instant EnerJet igniter article that Taras sent me some time back. I have most of the data entered into RockSim from ages ago based on dimension given in the article and other dimensions from an old post on here from AL.

If there is interest, I'll tweak up the file and post to BARCLONE. Last year I purchased all the parts to build a Sonic 36 from Semroc, except for the fins (I planned to cut those myself).

Some of the things Jerry posted have started to click and make sense about the concept of a booster for the Nike-Ram. I didn't realize the Nike-Ram was the basis for the Sonic 36 design until I located and looked at the line drawing in the article. The dimensions differ a little as the booster is a little shorter and the fins just slightly larger than the Nike-Ram.

Thanks Jerry for the info you posted in the other thread ..... now it makes sense.

.

Jay weighs in (again)
 

Okay, Craig, I'm "up and running" with OpenOffice... *finally.* :o

Lemme tell ya, it came in pretty handy when I had to throw together the slideshow for Dad's funeral. I'd *never* done any kind of PowerPoint presentation, and managed to muddle through "Presentation" successfully.

BTW, Bill T., thanks again! I couldn't have done it without you! :cool:


So, where are we with this whole fin project, anyway? *Now* I know to strip the extra quotation marks out, but I found a bunch of extra ones in the "Streamer" data file. :eek:


Cheers,

Good to hear you 'mastered' it so quickly. When you start working with Writer, you'll notice it has a native "export to PDF " capability. This comes in handy when writing instruction booklets... ;)

The CFDATA project fell apart and has not been brought back up, I'm afraid. Like so many other good ideas with good intentions, such as the update of all the DATA files with SEMROC and BMS components... :o

Maybe this year we can get all of the CSV files updated. I'll need some assistance, though... :D

I may try to put together an Impress slideshow of some of the better-liked BARCLONE designs.