I have not contacted any model rocket companies. One of Tim Milligan's comments in his series of online newsletters (where he also says "Buy a model rocket company instead!") is something along the lines of "We aren't looking for rocket designers." This pretty much sums up my take on the industry since prowling around about it. How many new kits does Estes put out a catalog year? Less than 10? How many people work for them creating useable rocket designs? John and who?

I'm not complaining: There are a number of model-rocket-business-related personages on this forum, and at least a couple have said a kind word or two about some of my designs; but nary a one have expressed any more interest than that - which supports my point about this 'corporate' mindset. Which I get. If I started a company like this, I'd want to be the brain behind it.

I expect 'twould be folly to try. ;)

Not yet!

That's an idea that's been forwarded by others, which is great for all those die-hard kit builders & bashers that abound on this forum... but there are rocketeers out there who aren't BARS that might like these designs as well. Marketing to that potential (larger) group is probably the first best target (which means full-on kits), and the BARS & the rest can still do what they do with what's there. That's my theory.

I'm still behind the curve on building most of these designs and determining what's what, and I'm not going to pretend I have vast knowledge of model rocket testing techniques, 'cuz ah don't. It would be some time before I could get around to offering anything that a customer wouldn't be justified in demanding his money back for.

Actually, six of my earlier designs have been built and tested more than once and they are good to go - there are contruction-technique-details I have to work out with a couple. A couple of others are too simple to offer as kits... bash away!

I do not have anything even remotely resembling a workshop with which to do this work properly, so I have a handicap there. It remains to be seen what happens!

This is an atlatl:

I do not think there will be a stability problem with the Atlatl. FlisKits has a couple of designs which uses body tubes spliced together like that and they fly fine.


Bill

I knew I had seen an example or two somewhere (else).
Ideally I'd like to design a paper shroud for the blunt ends of the body tubes in order to get an unbroken, streamlined overlap (and it'd be a good spot to put a 'logo'). Here I was trying to come up with the simplest construction technique. I wonder how much math would be involved in getting this one lined up right... :confused:

Nimrod STO
 

The NIMROD Surface-To-Orbit missile.
Inspired a bit by the new Estes QCC Explorer...

Oh, that's nice & lethal looking! :D

Empress
 

The Empress.

Nniiiicccee!

I hope you don't mind if I scratch build for my own use something inspired by your SPARINGER-AO

The SPARINGER-XL 2 Stage (BT-60 to BT-55)

Agreed! Nice design. What tube sizes?