54mm stealth

[harpman]

HEy does anyone have a set of instructions, for the 54mm stealth? I would like to scratch build one and would like to read the instructions and maybe some pictures.

Thanks

[THier]

Art Applewhite is a great guy,, buy a kit from him and it will come with instructions.

http://www.artapplewhite.com/54mmstealth.html

Tom

[Micromeister]

Or build several hundred Micro Stealths and launch them several times for that same 100 bucks. God what a waste.

[troj]

Or build several hundred Micro Stealths and launch them several times for that same 100 bucks. God what a waste.

Just because it doesn't interest you doesn't make it a waste, and calling it one just puts others off and makes them likely to go elsewhere.

Everyone is entitled to their own rocketry interests, and if it makes someone happy to fly a 54mm stealth, so be it.

-Kevin

[Brent]

I think it is something cool to fly on those windy days. I just bought some high density Cellfoam for the same purpose. I plan on up scaling the small plans I have. I spent about 10.00 on the foam.

[ScrapDaddy]

Just because it doesn't interest you doesn't make it a waste, and calling it one just puts others off and makes them likely to go elsewhere.

Everyone is entitled to their own rocketry interests, and if it makes someone happy to fly a 54mm stealth, so be it.

-Kevin

You know, that is actually one of the lessons I have already learned on here It seems to me, I have learned as many life lessons as tips that make me a better rocketeer.... I owe this place quite a bit

[THier]

Or build several hundred Micro Stealths and launch them several times for that same 100 bucks. God what a waste.

Not trying to start trouble,,,, but what is a waste? Yes I think the kit is a little on the pricey side,, BUT,, I feel it is wrong to just start cutting a guys throat on them. I bought a kit,, well got a kit for Xmas,, now I cloan the kit FOR MY USE ONLY. I feel it is my right to do so. BUT I respect Art enough not to give away his design. I have talked to ART about doing a 76mm or a 98mm Stealth. He even sent me out his BETA plans,, and what he has discovered to be "issues" with the bigger Stealth. In return,, I am sharing my changes and results. He is getting ready to release a kit for 76mm Stealths. When the design gets finalized,, I will probably send Art some $$$. (Probably not the cost of a kit, but probably at least half)

When I got the 54mm stealth,, Art also sent out a 29mm kit,, no charge!

The coolest thing about the Stealth is when it is windy.. like RG7 and 8 were,, it is still a cool flight, with close recovery. Micro rocketry doesn't interest me in the least,,, but I don't consider it a waste. To each his own.

Tom

[harpman]

Hey Tom,

YOu have a very good point. IF I decide to go big I will give Art a call and order the kit. I think I will wait until he comes out with the 76mm version. Thanks for everyones thoughts.

[luke strawwalker]

Just because it doesn't interest you doesn't make it a waste, and calling it one just puts others off and makes them likely to go elsewhere.

Everyone is entitled to their own rocketry interests, and if it makes someone happy to fly a 54mm stealth, so be it.

-Kevin

OL JR

[ScrapDaddy]

Just because it doesn't interest you doesn't make it a waste, and calling it one just puts others off and makes them likely to go elsewhere.

Everyone is entitled to their own rocketry interests, and if it makes someone happy to fly a 54mm stealth, so be it.

-Kevin

Kevin, I would like to reword what you said, abet in a softer fashion.

Since Mark hasn't made it on this thread yet , I will like to quote this from another thread, it refers to one specific subject, but can be generally applied here,

Building, launching and recovering a small mach-buster is a significant challenge; nevertheless, one cannot demand that another rocketeer not attempt it because one deems the project as being unworthy of the effort. The other rocketeer may have different goals for the project than you might have, and may simply be pursuing it out of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Many people learn better if they have something physical to work with and get an opportunity to experience the process first-hand. That is basically what we all do in a hobby like this. A constructive response would be to advise the rocketeer of the issues that are involved and to point him to some helpful resources. Exploring the issues and finding ways to address them is how we all become more knowledgeable about rocketry. We also don't all follow the same schedule when we pursue our hobby. Nearly all of us go "out of sequence" at one point or another because a particular problem or challenge has grabbed our interest. It's a hobby, not an apprenticeship. Following an interest and trying something out are good ways to learn; if nothing else, the process may educate the person in what he doesn't know (I have reached that point SO many times) and may spur him to do further research. As the saying goes, we learn from our failures; successes don't teach us anything that we didn't already know. We all need to have the freedom to fail.

In the case of an 18mm mach-buster, the rocketeer may eventually come to the conclusion that making it conform to the Safety Code (building it to safely return to the ground using an appropriate recovery device and launching it so that it recovers within the launch field) involves solving some problems that are too formidable for him at the time, and so he may reach a dead end and never actually launch his rocket. But he will certainly know more at the end of the project than he knew at the start of it, and isn't that the goal?

I have recently been as guilty as anyone else of forgetting these points.

Mark K.

These are the Second wisest words i have heard after what Mr. Stine said......

"Model rocketry is my hobby, to which I have given much time and effort and from which I have gained rewards far more valuable than mere money. The basic motive for my involvement in model rocketry stems from my youth, when many scientists, engineers, teachers, and other adults freely gave me advice, guidance, help, and the means to do things.

Once, I asked one of these men what I could do to repay him. 'Do the same for others when you grow up,' he told me."

[harpman]

Well Said Scrapdaddy!!

Its good to see that there are a lot of geed people on this forum.

Jeff

[ScrapDaddy]

Oh and one more thing, Welcome to the Forum

[Micromeister]

Just because it doesn't interest you doesn't make it a waste, and calling it one just puts others off and makes them likely to go elsewhere.

Everyone is entitled to their own rocketry interests, and if it makes someone happy to fly a 54mm stealth, so be it.

-Kevin

Kevin:
You are quite correct... MY BAD and I apologize for the comment.

[w9ya]

Hey gang;

Here's my take as both a beta-tester for Art Applewhite and as his customer.

As a beta-tester I can tell you that it truly is not as simple to scale up a smaller stealth and get something to hold together with engines running up to 700n-secs of (peak) thrust. Construction materials that are hidden inside the frame as well as under the finish are HUGE. The Applewhite beta-testers have been working on various approaches for a larger (75mm) stealth for over a year now, it just is not as easy as it might seem. More on (some of the reasons) why below.

PLUS if you add up the cost of the materials, the time it takes to get the RIGHT stuff, and the free kit that Art sends with all of the orders he receives the cost you will pay comes amazingly close to the price he charges ! ... And I suppose it is repeating myself somewhat, but some of the specifics of what parts to buy is **not** evident even if you have one of his kits and then try to replicate it. i.e. IF you end up managing to acquire materials for less than 65% of what he sells you the kit for, you are either buying enough materials for 20 kits or you are NOT buying the right materials.

As a customer I am thrilled at all the engineering he puts into his kits that is both subtle and important. More especially with the stealth series as you can easily build it yourself and get it to weight twice as much. This will **ruin** it's safe recover characteristics. Then when you say it is an "Art Applewhite Design", and it comes in too hot on recovery, people will think it REALLY IS Art's design and not want to buy one.

But perhaps the biggest problem with making one for yourself is that you contribute to the same attitudes that are causing the small vendor and hobby shops to go out of business. Heck whenever I find a hobby store, I buy something from them just because I may need them one day and I want to do my part to see that they can stay in business.

Anyways, that's my input, and I hope no-one takes it too personally, as it is meant to be an open response and not a reason to incur someone's anger.

Support your vendors, especially the ones that are doing the off-the-beaten-path kind of things that add humor, diversity, and fun back into our hobby. You cannot go wrong doing so, and you might well enjoy things more. I know I certainly do !!

[w9ya]

P.S...

I have flown my 54mm Stealth three times so far and it is a GREAT crowd pleaser. It always gets LOTS of verbal response while it is still in the air. As the basis for a "demonstration flight" it is VERY hard to beat.

If you are coming to NSL I hope to have enough engines to fly it all three days.