Moving into 38mm. What to get?

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blackwing94

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I'm currently in the 29mm world. I have a few AT and LOC rockets and I'm working my way through as many different E, F, and G, 24mm (aeropack adapter) and 29mm RMS reloads as I can. I want to try them all. That's just fun.

Looking toward the future, I have my level 1 cert rocket in the build pile (LOC Cyclotron) and I'm starting to educate myself on the world of 38mm. Knowing me, I'll probably want to try every option and casing available. I was looking into the AT 38/240-480 system which includes the 240, 360, and 480 casing to start with. I can understand three different casing sizes with the same for and aft closures.

I was advised that I would be better serviced if I got the AT 38MM 720-360 with adapter set. It's less expensive and gives me a wider range or reloads. I'm not familiar with the "adapter" set. Also the package says RMSPLUS on it. That's new to me.

Any pro's or cons going with the adapter set?

Father's day is coming up. Time to let others spend money on my rocket obsession.... I mean.... hobby. :)
 
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blackwing94 said:
I'm currently in the 29mm world. I have a few AT and LOC rockets and I'm working my way through as many different E, F, and G, 24mm (aeropack adapter) and 29mm RMS reloads as I can. I want to try them all. That's just fun.

Looking toward the future, I have my level 1 cert rocket in the build pile (LOC Cyclotron) and I'm starting to educate myself on the world of 38mm. Knowing me, I'll probably want to try every option and casing available. I was looking into the AT 38/240-480 system which includes the 240, 360, and 480 casing to start with. I can understand three different casing sizes with the same for and aft closures.

I was advised that I would be better serviced if I got the AT 38MM 720-360 with adapter set. It's less expensive and gives me a wider range or reloads. I'm not familiar with the "adapter" set. Also the package says RMSPLUS on it. That's new to me.

Any pro's or cons going with the adapter set?

Father's day is coming up. Time to let others spend money on my rocket obsession.... I mean.... hobby. :)
Click to expand...

The adapter set you are referring to is probably the spacer set and closure that allows you to make a 3 grain casing ( 360 ) hold 1 or 2 grain loads, and the 6 grain casing ( 720 ) usable with 4 and 5 grain loads. As for the RMSPlus dont worry about that too much its mainly a marketing thing. Make sure and get the proper delay adjustment tool for the RMS and Hobbyline reloads, not the UDT for the DMS ( disposable motor system).
 
I have the adapter kit and it is pretty easy to use. It is really nice to be able to use my 480 case for 240, 360 and 480 motors. I recently bought a 720 case and that gets me 600 motors too.
 
Here's an overview of the Reload Adapter System:

[video=youtube;jSDlcjSfxWo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSDlcjSfxWo[/video]
 
I had an RAS with a 360 and 720. Could fly anything from 1-6 grains..... But I found myself only flying the 360 and 720 loads. I love the I600R and J500G
 
I like AT since I am familiar with them from the 90s and they have a great price point. Even the DMS were pretty cheap and no casing to worry about. They tend to need a good 12V igniter to get going.

CTI is pretty easy to use - almost as easy as single use. Ignition is instant with low current igniters (air starts / clusters) thanks to the ignition pellet in the top grain of the motor. Cases are cheaper than AT, but the reloads are more and usually there is HAZMAT due to the simplicity of everything put together. The 38mm have aft closures with plastic threads - careful not to cross thread them.

Loki is great for if you plan to jump into research as snap ring cases are the case of choice for home brew motors. They make some uniquely long motors and have one of the best sparky motors IMO. Get a good pair of Knipex snap ring pliers - do not use the cheap stamped metal snap ring pliers.

If you attend a launch and have access to one brand of another through a vendor, that can be the deal maker. All of them have their strengths and weaknesses. Nothing says you need to stick to one brand either.
 
The only con with getting the 360/720 I can think of is you wouldn't be able to fly the I59 if you into long burn motors. It requires the 480 case with the End Burn closure and isn't compatible with the spacers. The only other con with going that route is you have to clean the closures on the field if you want to fly more than once in the same day not to mention you are screwed if you lose a rocket on the first flight. I myself have complete motors in 120 (fun little case), 240, 360 and 480 with a 720 soon to be added. It's cool having junk and options. 29mm and 38mm motors cover everything I want to fly and I am happy to stay in that neighborhood.
 
the (as listed on WM site) 38 special set is a nice value you get everything you need(except reloads) to fly Gs to small J motors.
Rex
 
Thanks for all the replies!!! :)

rharshberger, I have a handful of 1/4 drill bits with with split ring stop collars set to 1, 2, 4, and 6 seconds. I really like the hands on approach of doing it myself.

K'Tesh, :) You're probably right. A 6 foot 1010 rail was delivered to my house just today!! I'm upgrading my jaw stand launch pad. But first I want to wring all the fun I can out of the 38mm world.

DavidMcann, thanks for the link. I'm sure I'll branch out once I get settled.

Pyrobob, You already told me what to get! That's why I'm asking here. :)

cavecentral, I can see trying CTI in the future. I'm not much of a home brewer so I'll stick with store bought for now. I did attend one of the systemsgo.org launches in May and got to see a couple of dozen hybrid motors in action. That might be fun to look into. They had about a %60 failure rate once the motor lit. Lotsa sky writing. Very exciting!!

38MM 720-360 with adapter set it is. Thanks for the advice. :)
 
And don't forget there are two reloads, the H130W (~equivalent to the classic H123W) and the I180W (~equivalent to the classic I161W) that fit this configuration and can both ship USPS Parcel Post and therefore no HAZMAT fee!
 
grouch , man you hit a nerve. I just replaced a 24/40 case because of user error. Estes motor hook. I know, wrap a wire around it next time! Good point about a single point of failure if the rocket decides to live elsewhere. No more motor!! Hmmmmm. Sounds like I need a variety of casings and use the adapters to fill in when a smaller case goes missing.

Rex, Thanks, that's a good option as well.

I'll get the set, and fill in smaller casings later. When three successful daughters want to get you something "rockety" for Fathers day....life is good! :)
 
2 wraps of masking tape will usually do the trick for holding an Estes type motor hook.
Rex
*edit*
one might mention casually that a fair number of rocketry vendors do sell gift certs...:)
 
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I started with Cesaroni, then moved into LOKI. Since Aerotech tubes are going pretty cheap on ebay, I got a set of them, too. I like all 3, but for different things.

Looking over motor profiles in Open Rocket on a test rocket, you can see that AT and CTI offerings are relatively complimentary. LOKI define performance for the propellant type.

The writing is on the wall about HAZMAT (FINALLY) and there are more and more loads promised that are being revised to be hazmat free.
 

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