Mystery rocket
 

Hi all,

I picked this rocket up from a hobby shop which is closing its doors. It was already assembled as seen in the attached picture. It is BT-60 construction, 32" long with a 24mm mount. I have no clue if this is a kit or someone's own design. Whomever put this together paid a lot of attention to detail. The fins are airfoiled, well filleted (not overly done but very crisp), no body tube spirals in sight. Lugs are 1/4". Motor mount is epoxied in with a length of kevlar incorporated to the mount. They also took the time to loop top end of the kevlar and seized the end (presumably to allow replacing the shock cord). Nose cone appears to be a PNC-60AO.

I've been searching high and low to see if this is a kit or not. But considering what what into this I just had to give this a home. Has anyone see a kit like this before?

I don't recall Estes making a PNC-60AO. They make a PNC-55AO (Goblin, Bandit, etc). It's probably a PNC-60AH (Red Max, Omega, etc.). Semroc makes/made an upscale BNC-60AO.

I also don't recall seeing an Estes kit that looks quite like that and the internals are not what's included in their kits. If the body tube is 18", it could be bashed from an old Screamin' Mimi kit, but it's likely just a scratch build...a well executed one at that.

PNC-60AH does seem more accurate. I was on e.rockets eyeballing the nearest size and shape. If the body tube is a single piece, then it is 26" long.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it. I have to draw this one up in Open Rocket to see how it sims.

Use a flashlight to look inside for a coupler - unless it was scratch built from a tube from Totally Tubular or other tube vendor. If it is two tubes, and is definitely made from Estes parts, it could have been built from the Designer's Special.

Scratch built. You can tell by the rear fin space from the tube and the fin shape. It was built to reduce common flight damage so it could be flown repeatedly. Also look for interior scorching of the tube.

I never thought about the fin spacing in that way. Thanks for the insight, Jerry. This bird has never flown either. All I have to do is finish it an come up with a name for it. :) I put the dimensions into Open Rocket and it shows to be more than stable. Greg, I did do as you suggested already and found no coupler inside.

http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/stiletto.htm
http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/sonic3100.htm
http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/slipper.htm
http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/warp-1.5.htm
http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/2650.htm
http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/banshee.htm
http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/talon.htm
http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/fire_forget.htm
http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/supersonic.htm

FYI

Great examples, Jerry! Thanks, again. :)

That is the way all bulk pack rockets for students, scouts, etc. should be designed. No swept fins, no heavy plastic fin cans. Let the motor take the landing hit, not the rocket. That way, a streamer can be used instead of a chute for schools that have limited recovery space.

Um, Estes likes selling (replacement) product.

U.S. Rockets has a philosophy of accepting all lengths of motors, motor hits first when possible, and more the merrier.

http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/thequad.htm

http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/BBR.htm

http://v-serv.com/usr/kits/Stiletto2.2-29mm.htm

This describes the BMS School Rocket pretty well.....

I know, but a rocket that is damaged on its first flight is a turn off to the hobby, especially if the instructor makes note that the rockets can be flown over and over.

It's not that big a deal with the usual bulk kits on a 12" chute, but the E2X and Alpha bulk rockets sustain damage about 1/2 the time on streamers.

I have been saying this to crickets for 3 decades.

We could use more rocketeers either new or repeat.

The theory is the rockets are a means to use up motors. In practice the rockets are expendable also. Bad business.

The BMS school rocket almost nearly perfect. It's a decent sized BT-50 kit. The fins could be shaped a bit different to lessen damage potential, he could offer it with chute or streamer (comes with streamer), and it could be offered with 13mm mount to make it more affordable for schools and scouts to do multiple flights. Unfortunately, it costs as much as the Generic E2X from AC Supply, which looks more appealing to non-rocket folks and comes with a chute.

Does the Generic E2X still come with the extra thin-walled BT-50? The plastic fin can is rugged, but the tube kinks too easily (IMO). Otherwise, it's a decent kit for group projects.

Doug

.

I think it is as perfect as perfect can be. and I am a "competitor". I would use a BT-55 version if I was still teaching rocket classes to 42 kids per class, twice a year in 7 elementary schools to 5th and 6th grade students. It is easier to build a bigger rocket and it doesn't go as high so you can actually use B and C motors as well and get more flight variety.

With the BT-50 school rocket you can really only use 1/2A or A and most kids prefer simply A8-5 within a school yard. Some brave souls use a B6-6, but might be their last decision. I liked the Sizzler better than the Alpha for groups.



I liked the Estes Comet.



Jerry

I wish they'd bulk package the A8-5.

They used to. I have a sealed box.

Super like.

IIRC, there used to be several motor selections of bulk packs in addition to the Blast-off Flight Pack that ran so many years in the catalogs. IIRC, there was even one with booster and sustainer motors for two stagers.

The B6-0 / B6-6 pack may still be around. Someone showed up a a local launch with one. Packaging looked recent.