What are your least favorite (or most hated) rocket designs?

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I have flown the RTF Athena on Aerotech SU D10-7Ws with no issues. I expect it would be OK on the F21T as well.

Not finding an F101 of any sort and the hardest-hitting currently certified 24mm SU F motor (highest thrust) is the F32T. I'm not sure one can get a 24mm motor into this model even after you rip out the supplied 18mm motor mount. The Alpha III fin can's ID is not big enough. Interesting thought experiment, though.

Now that I think of it, one could get an old FSI F100 in this model with some creative surgery....but of course, from what I hear about those motors (have never flown one) it'd be just as likely to CATO as take the model to flutter speeds....

h, they're long out of production. The F101 and F72 motors were little screamers. The plastic fins would buzz like a mad bee. The only thing like them is a G55 (24mm) that I'm saving for a *REALLY* good cause.
 
Rocket built to a Fan base of a genre Like Star Wars or Star Trek that Emily tons vacuform or heavy plastic build into jun and wonā€™t fly with a 18ā€ body tub bod shove up the rear. IE USS Enterprise, Star Wars Tie Fighters etc
 
I see many people pay good money and spend hours and even days to build some of these rockets and I'm like, "You knew it would be that ugly before you started!" This is all a matter of opinion, of course, but where better to share an opinion than on the internet!

Here are some of my least favorite rocket features:

  1. Dull, rounded off nose cones.
  2. Rectangular fins, especially if they come off at a 45 degree angle (looks like a child's drawing to me).
  3. Short, stubby rockets.
  4. Split fins (unless part of a scale model kit).
  5. Lame paint jobs (especially neon pink ones).
  6. Rockets designed to be under-powered so they fly low and slow.
How about you? What leaves you shaking your head when you see it? Again, not talking about construction techniques or anything, just design and finish. I'm curious how many posts it will take before someone describes what they hate most and it's my preferences!

View attachment 453198
Just... no.
any rocket with up swing fins. they look hideous
 
Anything with 4 fins.. that 4th fin costs altitude.. just sayin..
If altitude isn't your thing, more than 4 fins make for interesting designs. I love Cluster Duck - 6 fins, seven motors, lots of smoke and noise, doesn't go too high, big enough to see the entire flight. Yet if you jam a composite motor in the center it can go to over 3,000 feet. I have an 3 upscales designed in Rocksim - 4", 5.5", 7.5". Now you add electronics. 4" can hit 8,000'. 5.5" & 7.5" can hit 13,000'. 7.5" is 11' tall. What's not to like?
 
I see many people pay good money and spend hours and even days to build some of these rockets and I'm like, "You knew it would be that ugly before you started!" This is all a matter of opinion, of course, but where better to share an opinion than on the internet!

Here are some of my least favorite rocket features:

  1. Dull, rounded off nose cones.
  2. Rectangular fins, especially if they come off at a 45 degree angle (looks like a child's drawing to me).
  3. Short, stubby rockets.
  4. Split fins (unless part of a scale model kit).
  5. Lame paint jobs (especially neon pink ones).
  6. Rockets designed to be under-powered so they fly low and slow.
How about you? What leaves you shaking your head when you see it? Again, not talking about construction techniques or anything, just design and finish. I'm curious how many posts it will take before someone describes what they hate most and it's my preferences!

View attachment 453198
Just... no.
I was about to post a pic of my fat boy. I thought of it as soon as I read your criteria. But. Now Iā€™m guessing you also wouldnā€™t like my NORAD Pro Maxx.. hahaha

Personally, I hate missle rockets. Especially the ones that are exact scale reproductions. For whatever reason I just donā€™t like the scale paint jobs on missles. Regardless of manufacturer. That said, I admittedly have one but I painted it a sporty color.

Hereā€™s a pic of my pro maxx. I know youā€™ll hate it ;)
 

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I hate those ten-fin, two nosecone, three motor, two parachutes and multiple body tube rockets.

Me, too. I have a Rocksim design for a two stage, booster has three engine in-line cluster, eight fins, 3 chutes. All 29mm. Black powder staging, so no air-start required. BP or composites in the outboards. Lots of engine combos. 1200' to over 5000'. I envision G72DM's in the outboards, F15's for staging. Spectacular, especially if the F15's CATO. šŸ¤Ŗ
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The great Rick Gaff once told me ā€œitā€™s a crime against humanity to build a Fat Boy stock.ā€ I followed his sage advice and built my very first Fat Boy with a 24mm mmt, only to crash it on itā€™s second flight... Oh well. Parts were acquired, fins were salvaged. Rebuild paused years ago for no good reason... šŸ¤”
I also built my first one with a 24mmt
 

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Really?

I've built and flown 2 with great success. Many flights.
I had to build the 2nd because the 1st one glided into the sunset.
I did paint mine though the instructions stated not to. Only had one in the early '70's so I would certainly try it again.
 
Rocket built to a Fan base of a genre Like Star Wars or Star Trek that Emily tons vacuform or heavy plastic build into jun and wonā€™t fly with a 18ā€ body tub bod shove up the rear. IE USS Enterprise, Star Wars Tie Fighters etc

The Death Star.. never understood that as a rocket. it's a ball on the end of a standard tube & fins..

Now, the old Buck Roger's themed kits were cool!!
 
Don't know about a video, but I've seen it in person several times. The 4 quadrants (slices?) of the ball are foam and pop away with little streamers. A pain to pack but a hit with the kids.

If it didn't have that feature, I'd agree its pretty merchy.
 
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