Hello All,
The Centuri Argus kit, which was patterned after the Lockheed X-17 re-entry research missile (and may have been named for "Project [or Operation] Argus," in which the U.S. Navy launched three X-17 vehicles--each carrying a small atomic bomb--from the U.S.S. Norton Sound, to create artificial radiation belts), used three different tubing sizes. I *think* I've successfully figured out (with the help of the Ninfinger Productions chart, see:
http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/bo...es.html#centuri ), and measurements of the three tubes in a little-foreshortened Argus catalog photograph (see:
http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...81/81cen10.html ), which Centuri tubes the kit used, and I was wondering if anyone here could confirm--or correct--my conclusions. Now:
If I'm correct, the bottom, widest section was ST-1313 (13.5” long [Estes labels this 1.34" O.D. tubing BT-56]), the middle tube was ST-88 (8” long), and the top tube was ST-79 (9” long). Are these the correct lengths? Also (for anyone else who would like to clone the Centuri Argus [scans of its kit instructions--with decal scans--are here:
http://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/cen5309.htm ]):
Its PNC-70 and PNC-71 nose cones (the Argus kit came with both; the conical PNC-71 was also used in the X-24 Bug boost-glider kit [the Estes Yankee--and assorted RTF rockets of theirs--use a virtually identical one for BT-20 tubing; here's a picture of an Argus with a PNC-71:
http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/no...a/73cen70g.html ], and its PSR-813 and PSR-78 plastic transitions, are available--in cast resin duplicates--from Sirius Rocketry, in their "Moldin' Oldies" line [see:
https://www.siriusrocketry.biz/isho...ype-c-parts-35/ ]). Also, a YORF member--I won't identify him here, not having obtained his permission to do so in this context--has made me beautiful 3D printed PNC-70 duplicate nose cones (this nose cone, used in the Centuri Lil' Herc, Moonraker, and Hummingbird kits, was also included in their Argus kit (see:
http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/ca...77/77cat20.html ), and:
The Argus' X-17-like plastic fin unit is (and/or was) used in various Estes kits that are--or fairly recently were--in production (their Eliminator kit is one), so obtaining this plastic fin unit (and the ST-13/BT-56 motor mount parts) wouldn't be difficult.
I hope this information will be helpful, and many thanks in advance to anyone who can help!