Thrust ring 1921 Mercury Redstone

[dirtmidget33]

We just recently bought a new kit and was surprised by the thin blue thrust ring that came with kit. I just recently got back into rocketry because of my daughter after about 27 years. So far this is her third kit and first I ever seen such a thin thrust block. We just purchased a 2157 Saturn v, 7234 crossbow sst and 3232 centuri, two of those had thick green thrust block, but the 3232 centuri has this cheap blue thrust block also. Is this becoming the new standards of estes thrust blocks are do I have two kits with wrong Thrust block. I plan on replacing the cheap blocks with a thicker thrust ring if this blue ring is what they expect us to use. Might even change the 1921 Redstone to a 24mm engine mount.

 

[Flyfalcons]

Thin blocks will hold the motor just as well as thick blocks.

 

[dirtmidget33]

Thin blocks will hold the motor just as well as thick blocks.

They will launch yes but erosion from ejection charge decreases lifetime of rocket faster then with a heavier ring. Same way with using a hook behind the thrust ring starts to rip the tube after several launches instead of hook being in front of ring.

I had over 50 launches on some of my old rockets years ago.

 

[Flyfalcons]

Cool, it's your rocket, you can change out parts how you want.

 

[hcmbanjo]

Those engine blocks are much like the old style Estes rings before they went to the thicker 5/20 centering ring style.

From the 1974 catalog:


These were sort of a dark blue/black and had a thin wall.
They'll work fine.

 

[rharshberger]

They will launch yes but erosion from ejection charge decreases lifetime of rocket faster then with a heavier ring. Same way with using a hook behind the thrust ring starts to rip the tube after several launches instead of hook being in front of ring.

I had over 50 launches on some of my old rockets years ago.

Then cut a section of a spent 18mm motor to use as a thrust ring. Its cheap and stout.

 

[Micromeister]

Then cut a section of a spent 18mm motor to use as a thrust ring. Its cheap and stout.

Ya beat me to it Rich:
I've used both thin wall and Thick wall thrust rings for decades. I actually prefer the lighter thin wall thrust rings and have models with over 50 flights on them.
As rharshberger mentioned it's easy to cut a 1/4" section of spent 18mm motor casing to make CAD (Cheap & Dirty) thrust rings if you really think you need them. As a matter of fact we can do the same with 13mm and 24mm motor casings for those BT-5 & BT-50 motor tubes.