AeroTech Open Thread

[jnobels]

Went looking for a spare 24 and 29mm casing - no luck. They’ve have been backordered going on *years* locally.

I’m nervous to fly the casings I have i case I break or lose one and am left with a a bucketful of useless reloads.

I desperately want to give Aerotech all my hard earned money but they’re making it really, really hard.

 

[Banzai88]

I’m nervous to fly the casings I have i case I break or lose one and am left with a a bucketful of useless reloads.

I desperately want to give Aerotech all my hard earned money but they’re making it really, really hard.

I've encountered this, too. One company has issues with closures popping reloads (which may also account for their hardware being readily available), and the other company you can't reliably get cases.

Heck, if anyone's been watching (and I have been), USED aerotech hardware is going for almost the price of new because it's so relatively difficult to source new. And they all sell as fast as the listings post.

 

[gldknght]

I don't think your DR. rocket hardware is going to appreciate at all, unless they are special edition, then maybe??, so why not use it. All I have for the Aerotech loads are Dr.Rocket hardware 29 thru 54 mm. I'll use mine until worn out or lost, then I'll be glad to have a nice new piece of hardware.

I'm not actually expecting my Dr rocket equipment to become valuable. I don't want to risk losing the equipment ( due to a lost or crashed rocket, for example) because it can not be replaced. If I lose a motor casing from that other company, the cases are easily replaceable.

 

[afadeev]

Went looking for a spare 24 and 29mm casing - no luck. They’ve have been backordered going on *years* locally.

Sorry, you've just not been looking very hard.
"Locally" means many different things these days, I assume you are referring to something smaller than North America?

The reason I state the obvious, is that I had bought multiple 24/29/36/54mm cases and RAS kits this year alone. Not all were in stock at the usual online sources at the same time, but between the following, both 24 and 29mm cases are available right now:
https://wildmanrocketry.com/
https://www.balsamachining.com/
https://www.csrocketry.com/rocket-motors.html
https://www.siriusrocketry.biz/ishop/hobby-rocket-motors-engines-hdw-36/hobby-rms-hardware-37/

I’m nervous to fly the casings I have i case I break or lose one and am left with a a bucketful of useless reloads.

I desperately want to give Aerotech all my hard earned money but they’re making it really, really hard.

Well, if you are not flying your reloads, and can't find how to order the motors, then how else are they supposed to take your money?


a

 

[gldknght]

It seems like each vendor that has Aerotech cases only has one or two sizes. So you have to go to multiple vendors to get what you need, doubling or tripling your shipping costs on top of already very expensive motor cases.

Aerotech, you guys need to fix this. I could understand a few weeks to a month or two for backorders, but years? Come on Aerotech, you're better than that.

 

[Andrew_ASC]

Aerotech cases are in demand. Supply can’t always keep up with demand. Check all the vendors and usually in a month or less someone has something in stock. Forget local these days dude. Use Google and search what you want then pay the shipping.

I’ve bought a new 38-240 and 24-40 rms this year. I’ll need another 38-240 because I’ve lost mine at Tampa this season. Last year I bought a 38-480 in summer used back when nothing was available. A vendor Wildman sold me some used hardware out of a personal pile on request via phone call. Make some phone calls too.

 

[gldknght]

I understand the supply and demand issue, but this has been going on for far too long for it to be simply too much demand and not enough supply.

 

[djs]

Thanks to ATGM I got to fly the G71R prototype demo 29/40-120 reload today. Nice red flame, and a great little motor. FYI- unlike other loads in this case, this is two bates grains (center core), not a C-slot. Hopefully these are for sale soon!

 

[Donaldsrockets]

Awesome.

The original G71R was 2 C-slot grains.

 

[DankMemes]

Thanks to ATGM I got to fly the G71R prototype demo 29/40-120 reload today. Nice red flame, and a great little motor. FYI- unlike other loads in this case, this is two bates grains (center core), not a C-slot. Hopefully these are for sale soon!

Where’s the Philip fry shut up and take my
Money meme when you need it... don’t get me wrong I like the g76 Mohave reload, but a redline in the hobbyline case is something I’ve been looking forward to for some time...

 

[DankMemes]

Thanks to ATGM I got to fly the G71R prototype demo 29/40-120 reload today. Nice red flame, and a great little motor. FYI- unlike other loads in this case, this is two bates grains (center core), not a C-slot. Hopefully these are for sale soon!

Where’s the Philip fry shut up and take my
Money meme when you need it... don’t get me wrong I like the g76 Mohave reload, but a redline in the hobbyline case is something I’ve been looking forward to for some time...

 

[Donaldsrockets]

Thanks to ATGM I got to fly the G71R prototype demo 29/40-120 reload today. Nice red flame, and a great little motor. FYI- unlike other loads in this case, this is two bates grains (center core), not a C-slot. Hopefully these are for sale soon!

Awesome.

The original G71R was 2 C-slot grains.

 

[Donaldsrockets]

Double post

 

[djs]

but a redline in the hobbyline case is something I’ve been looking forward to for some time...

Same here- I'm thinking a cluster of these would be pretty sweet (and not super expensive).

FYI- if you look in the Aerotech FB page, you can see a slo-mo video of the launch that my wife took. Nice red on the motor, even though it's just a G.

 

[CzTeacherMan]

Same here- I'm thinking a cluster of these would be pretty sweet (and not super expensive).

FYI- if you look in the Aerotech FB page, you can see a slo-mo video of the launch that my wife took. Nice red on the motor, even though it's just a G.

I'm thinking of a cluster of two red, two green for Christmas!

 

[DankMemes]

Same here- I'm thinking a cluster of these would be pretty sweet (and not super expensive).

FYI- if you look in the Aerotech FB page, you can see a slo-mo video of the launch that my wife took. Nice red on the motor, even though it's just a G.

I saw that, good looking flight, my Go to motor is the G77R single Use but having some that’s close and us mailable will it nice

 

[DAllen]

Hmmm...seems to be a common thread here. Waiting...waiting...waiting...

 

[grouch]

So let's eat our suppliers. Treat them like crap and speak ill of them every chance we get. Pretty sure that will be in our best interest. Once we run AT in the ground, we can work on CTI. Then we'll set our sights on Loki. Sound good??

 

[Normzilla]

So let's eat our suppliers. Treat them like crap and speak ill of them every chance we get. Pretty sure that will be in our best interest. Once we run AT in the ground, we can work on CTI. Then we'll set our sights on Loki. Sound good??

Well said.

 

[roytyson]

I don’t think that’s what all of us are doing. If you look back at page one and what Charlie was asking for. Feedback. Now 81 pages later and nearly four years later it’s a reoccurring frustration. For AT it’s a good problem. More demand than supply. For consumers it’s frustrating. Am I frustrated? Yep. Looking to end a business. Hell no. If we were to loose AT. The entire hobby looses. I doubt the others could pick up the slack. But at some point AT should address the things like website design and info delivery, demand, and lead times.

 

[DAllen]

So let's eat our suppliers. Treat them like crap and speak ill of them every chance we get. Pretty sure that will be in our best interest. Once we run AT in the ground, we can work on CTI. Then we'll set our sights on Loki. Sound good??

Hope you're not referring to me...

 

[Eljay]

The case thing is definitely frustrating. Over the last year I've managed to get a variety of 24/29/38mm cases, jumping through hoops, buying them slowly, paying WAY too much in shipping, buying spares and lengths I don't really need right now blah blah blah. But I got it done and I feel like things are basically under control. And now it's time to invest in 54mm... and I just don't want to do this again. So I just checked and my local vendor carries CTI, and that's probably what I'm going to do for 54mm. What a pain.

And I gotta say if I was talking to somebody getting ready to invest in cases I'd make it REAL clear EXACTLY what I had to go through to get a set of Aerotech cases. I wouldn't say 100% don't do it, but understand the true cost in time and money.

So do you guys really just think I should keep my mouth shut about that? Doesn't seem logical to me that somehow "badmouthing" them here - where they asked for feedback - is going to drive the company out of business versus just silently losing customers and them not knowing why.

 

[Banzai88]

The case thing is definitely frustrating. Over the last year I've managed to get a variety of 24/29/38mm cases, jumping through hoops, buying them slowly, paying WAY too much in shipping, buying spares and lengths I don't really need right now blah blah blah. But I got it done and I feel like things are basically under control. And now it's time to invest in 54mm... and I just don't want to do this again. So I just checked and my local vendor carries CTI, and that's probably what I'm going to do for 54mm. What a pain.

And I gotta say if I was talking to somebody getting ready to invest in cases I'd make it REAL clear EXACTLY what I had to go through to get a set of Aerotech cases. I wouldn't say 100% don't do it, but understand the true cost in time and money.

So do you guys really just think I should keep my mouth shut about that? Doesn't seem logical to me that somehow "badmouthing" them here - where they asked for feedback - is going to drive the company out of business versus just silently losing customers and them not knowing why.

I'll pretty much agree on all of this. It's taken me almost 2 1/2 years to aquire a set of 38mm, some 54mm and some 29mm tubes and closures. MUCH too much spent on shipping.

Most everything that I've bought tube wise has been second hand Dr. Rocket or Rouse, from here and ebay.

 

[afadeev]

And I gotta say if I was talking to somebody getting ready to invest in cases I'd make it REAL clear EXACTLY what I had to go through to get a set of Aerotech cases. I wouldn't say 100% don't do it, but understand the true cost in time and money.

So do you guys really just think I should keep my mouth shut about that?

I think this hobby costs too much time and money, period, and you should probably underplay that fact when talking to others, especially your significant other!

It's taken me almost 2 1/2 years to aquire a set of 38mm, some 54mm and some 29mm tubes and closures. MUCH too much spent on shipping.

Generally speaking, the $$ I spent on cases pale in comparison to the $$$$$ I spent on motor reloads.

I'm not sure shipping cost even registers.
At all. Even with the Hazmat surcharge.

a

 

[mrwalsh85]

I'm still waiting on a 29mm plugged, threaded forward closure for the 29/180-240-360 series. I cannot remember offhand but I may have offered to help make CAD models, but haven't been taken up on this offer. This is a key element for 29mm minimum diameter airframes not wanting to use a hardpoint style recovery anchor.

 

[grouch]

The plugged 29mm closure while nice to have is far from a necessity. I have one for over 5 years and haven't used it yet but won't get rid of it for love or money. Just grease the delay grain and you are done...instant plugged closure.

I have a decent collection of AT 38mm cases that I have been kicking around letting go. Not because I want to capitalize on a bad situation but because I don't fly 38mm motors much anymore and it seems that someone else should use them. Trouble is, once gone they can never come back and I might change my mind in the future and all.

All very pretty blue RT cases in the following:
38/120 Complete
38/240 Case only, needs closures
38/360 Complete (love that one)
38/480 Complete and the special end burner forward closure
38/720 Complete

To further rub salt in the wounds, only two have been flown and then only a couple times. Maybe one day I will get around to putting a price on them all....with single point shipping to boot!

While I generally agree there is a shortage of available cases, it bothers me to see AT getting throttled. I am not sure what's going on over there or anywhere for that matter. I just feel they have been very good to the hobby and hate to see the current situation on all sides.

 

[crossfire]

Sell your cases while can. There won't be a shortage for long.

 

[Eljay]

Sell your cases while can. There won't be a shortage for long.

People have been saying that for years.

 

[Normzilla]

Sell your cases while can. There won't be a shortage for long.

You know something we don't?

 

[Banzai88]

Sell your cases while can. There won't be a shortage for long.

People have been saying that for years.

You know something we don't?

We've been threatened with a good time before. Hurt me and make me smile.