EER company has been flying a variant of the Aries Called the Conestoga-1 since about 1981. In the mid 1990s they upped their game to what was named the Conestoga-1620. This configuration really caught my eye as it is a Stepped 4 stage rocket consisting of a core and 6 surrounding boosters and a larger diameter upper stage "star-48V" (Thanks mikec) 4th stage containing the satellite. In August 1995, EER launched this rocket from Wallops Island, VA.
Sadly the rocket didn't perform all that well and was destroyed in mid flight just after the 1st 3 boosters dropped off leaving the core and 3 boosters. It was quite a sight.
I found the Conestoga-1620 a fascinating subject so decided to model it but wasn't sure what size I wanted to try. after looking at a number of standard size multi motor combinations I thought. I wonder if I can do this as a 7 motor Micro Maxx cluster? At T-3 (.375") and BT-5 (.544") I came up with a workable scale that should be big enough to do what little detailing there is on the vehicle and small enough to stay within sight when launched on 7 motors LOL!!!
Conestoga-1620 is a finless design so some clear Polycarbonate fins will be required for the models flight.
I've had the Drawings done for over 4 years she's just been hanging around waiting for the spirit to move me to turn all those nosecones which I finally got around to the beginning of this month.
Most of the early parts work is done, I'm now considering how I want to configure the strap-on Booster & Core. "Do I want to try to drop 3 Boosters in flight or just leave everything together is a single unit?" Also looking at rolling the strapping attachment bands or using thin wall brass tubing for the thin bands....Minor scale detailing stuff.
Here are a few photos of the subject vehicle and the MMX model parts as they are today. Should be an interesting build and really KEWL flights if I can just decide what configuration I want to use.
Sadly the rocket didn't perform all that well and was destroyed in mid flight just after the 1st 3 boosters dropped off leaving the core and 3 boosters. It was quite a sight.
I found the Conestoga-1620 a fascinating subject so decided to model it but wasn't sure what size I wanted to try. after looking at a number of standard size multi motor combinations I thought. I wonder if I can do this as a 7 motor Micro Maxx cluster? At T-3 (.375") and BT-5 (.544") I came up with a workable scale that should be big enough to do what little detailing there is on the vehicle and small enough to stay within sight when launched on 7 motors LOL!!!
Conestoga-1620 is a finless design so some clear Polycarbonate fins will be required for the models flight.
I've had the Drawings done for over 4 years she's just been hanging around waiting for the spirit to move me to turn all those nosecones which I finally got around to the beginning of this month.
Most of the early parts work is done, I'm now considering how I want to configure the strap-on Booster & Core. "Do I want to try to drop 3 Boosters in flight or just leave everything together is a single unit?" Also looking at rolling the strapping attachment bands or using thin wall brass tubing for the thin bands....Minor scale detailing stuff.
Here are a few photos of the subject vehicle and the MMX model parts as they are today. Should be an interesting build and really KEWL flights if I can just decide what configuration I want to use.
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