Here's another Rocket Doctor design. This is what he says of this one:

"This is the original prototype for the 36 D Squared, quite different from the current version, check out the nose cone and fins. Also, my original name was "Double D's.""

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/atta...tachmentid=7536

I hate to point out that this could have been an interesting companion to the 36D Squared. :

-- Roger

I know it's supposed to be a skunk, but I too thought it looked phallic the first time I saw it

Doug

Now, now, if you only knew the history of the Double D's, it's very interesting to say the lwast, and the name 36 D Squared wasn't mine........but, from a higher authority.

And YES, that was a skunk !!!!!!!

So did Kurt.

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

Do you remember the cluster bomb rocket, do you remember what the nose cone looks like?
I adapted a rocket and used some flesh color paint, you fill in the blanks

Just thinking of you, buddy

Rocket Doctor,

Would you give us the history of how the Double D's made it to production.

When did you submit it?

How did it morph into its production version?

What is the process by which a design gets chosen for production?

Were you involved along the way?



I'm also really curious about how the Skywriter came to be, and would love to see a photo of your prototype. (That was a brilliant design; simple, elegant, incredibly attractive to kids).

Gus
I will get my Skywriter prototype and take a photo and have it posted. I wanted to come out with a pencil rocket, as I called it, and I looked around for materials to make such a rocket.

There was a pencil rocket in a MRN many years ago, and, I was Accused of using that desing, but, they are clearly different.

I figured that the pencile (Skywriter) would be great for school children, so, I made up a prototype and submitted it. As soon as it was passed around to those who would make the decision, I was told immediately that it was going to be made into a kit.

Many thousands of Skywriters have been sold and it is very popular. I was to a launch at GSSS and a couple of kids had the Skywriter, I mentioned to them, that was my design. It nice to see your creation produced and being sold and flown.
Usually, I will come up with an idea,just give me a bunch of parts, and a rocket is created. I have created many prototypes, right now Estes has around 13 potential rockets in the "rocket graveyard" an area where prototypes are placed if they didn't make the cut. But, out of those, seveeral of those should have made it all the way through. I also have about 20 prototypes with me that were sent back. The photos is just a small example of the prototypes.

Some of my prototypes were damaged in shipping and need to be fixed. I have flown them with great success. And, as I had mentioned previously, four of my designs were supposed to have been produced this year.

I will "fill" you in on the history of the "Double D's" and how it's name was changed to 36 D Squared. One thing I can say now is, that Estes wanted a cluster rocket, they only had one from the X-Prize series (Thunderstar) and wanted more, than I was told that Estes was no longer interested in clustered rockets.

So, look for the photo of the Skywriter (pencil rocket) to be posted over the next couple of days

*raises hand*

To be honest, I've seen more blatant examples on the launch range.

__________________
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati