Estes 1/34 scale Little Joe I unboxing (unbagging?)

[James Duffy]

A copy of the new 1/34 scale Mercury Little Joe kit landed this week! Care to see what's in the bag?



James

 

[SCooke123]

Thanks for posting!!!Great video!

 

[Woody's Workshop]

Thank You Kindly for sharing your knowledge so we might enjoy our interests Mr. Duffy!

 

[zog139]

James, had a chance to look at your YouTube video. Great stuff, thanks for taking the time to do it. Do you think this model could be done as version 1A with a 3D printed replacement capsule ?

 

[James Duffy]

Do you think this model could be done as version 1A with a 3D printed replacement capsule ?

No reason that it couldn't be reworked to represent the LJ-1A flight. In addition to the different capsule, the build would also need to shorten the ST-20 section of airframe tubing.

James

 

[MaxQ]

Nice video review of the kit…..been enjoying your documentary Little Joe DVD.
That 1/12th LJ model from 2016...what motor(s) did you fly it on?

 

[rocketguy101]

FYI...the kit is now in stock at AC Supply!! Mine are on order

 

[James Duffy]

Nice video review of the kit…..been enjoying your documentary Little Joe DVD.
That 1/12th LJ model from 2016...what motor(s) did you fly it on?

Thanks for the kind words on both the video and the DVD package! The 2016 Little Joe model flew on a cluster of 2x Aerotech F42-4 plus 4x Estes A10-PT motors. You can see it fly at the 18:33 point of the following video:

 

[MaxQ]

Thanks for the kind words on both the video and the DVD package! The 2016 Little Joe model flew on a cluster of 2x Aerotech F42-4 plus 4x Estes A10-PT motors. You can see it fly at the 18:33 point of the following video:

Okayyyyy.....very interesting.
Appears at 19:16 into the vid there is an airtstart-two stage event going on...is that an escape motor ignition for mission points?
If it is...is that what that cylindrical white looking thing under the capsule is when assembling on the pad...or is that a stuffer tube?

 

[James Duffy]

Okayyyyy.....very interesting.
Appears at 19:16 into the vid there is an airtstart-two stage event going on...is that an escape motor ignition for mission points?
If it is...is that what that cylindrical white looking thing under the capsule is when assembling on the pad...or is that a stuffer tube?

There is indeed a staging event occurring at that point in the flight. The base of the boilerplate Mercury capsule features a B6-2 motor for staging, ignited by a PerfectFlite miniTimer. The white cylinder that you see in the pad prep shot is an extensible staging piston into which the B6 motor fits. At ignition, the piston extends about 250mm, getting the bulk of the staging exhaust away from the booster. The piston also aligns the capsule with the booster, and serves as the primary connection between the two.

The staging motor is in a non-prototypical location, but the system is very, very reliable. You can see more in this build thread: https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...-was-anyone-care-to-id-this-component.130403/

James

 

[rocketguy101]

James I asked this same question on the NAR FB group, but will post here too...
I still have some questions regarding paint scheme...I have attached a sketch to help...on the black/orange fin, is it: 1) half orange/half black split down the center 2) one orange face the rest of the fin black 3) one black face the rest of the fin orange? I dug up my David Week's drawing and confirmed the fin tips are orange for 12" so at this scale they are .35" wide. The DW drawings did not mention the orange/black fin for LJ5. Also the drawings don't mention the color of the nozzles and they don't show up too well on Estes face card...any help there?

 

[rocketguy101]

...and to follow on documenting the LJ5 launch from the youtube video you mentioned on FB

James Duffy The black fin face that I mention in the unboxing video can be seen from about :56 through 1:40 in this footage of the LJ-5 flight. To recap, the new Estes kit most accurately represents the LJ-5 round due to the fact the the Mercury capsule in the kit has a "porthole" window.