Estes - Comanche 3

[thobin]

I love this thread I have a Comanche 3 that I built this summer and never had the chance to launch it. Its a daunting challenge to launch and retrieve intact. Many of my friends have launched and lost. Its the challenge than makes it so fun.

Id like to see some of these attempts that have been discussed here.

Keep'em flying! op:

TA

 

[skybuster]

Done and ready to fly !!

I paint based on our university athletic nickname, Tigers University of Nuevo Leon, of course i increass the possibility of lose it

First I applied a blue layer and use a painter's tape to create the tiger print
View attachment 68336

Then apply several yellow coats
View attachment 68337

When the paint was dry, remove the painter's tape
View attachment 68338

Final Finish !
View attachment 68339 View attachment 68340

I hope this weekend we can fly it !!

wish me luck !!!

That's an awesome paint job!!

 

[JStarStar]

In my experience, birds that fly under these conditions leave the rod very slowly thus making them much more prone to the effects of any outside influences, be they tip off or wind or rod angle. Bottom line is that this thing can only be flown under ideal conditions - 0 wind, long rod - or things will get real exciting

Doug

.

I think, given the adventures people have had recovering the 'stock' Comanche-3 on the all-up D-C-C motor combination, launching under more or less zero wind conditions (and a nice long launch rod) is pretty much a given if anyone is gonna try the E-E-E trifecta.



Since the total impulse of a E12-E12-E12 comes out to 81 n-sec, that's over the max of 80 for the F motor class, so anybody who launches a "Comanche-3E" is actually solidly into MPR impulse territory, where issues of tracking and recovery are in a whole different league than our modest little modrocs.

No reason not to try it, especially if you fly from a field that normally hosts MPR or HPR flights, but it's definitely a huge step up from conventional LPR launches where 2000 feet is an awesomely high flight.

 

[GDJ]

.........but it's definitely a huge step up from conventional LPR launches where 2000 feet is an awesomely high flight.

PHHT.:eyeroll:

I fart 2000 feet.
:tongue::wink:

 

[Leo]

Nice paint job and good luck with the flights!

I ordered 4 kits yesterday, just to be on the safe side so that I have enough spares should I tackle similar engine configurations

 

[JStarStar]

PHHT.:eyeroll:

I fart 2000 feet.
:tongue::wink:

Hmmm. Maybe they should stop serving chili at your launches.


:y::y:

 

[GDJ]

Hmmm. Maybe they should stop serving chili at your launches.


:y::y:

Hmm......maybe that's the reason I keep losing rockets.....:tongue:

 

[AtomicStorm]

Has anyone actually built a e, e, e configuration yet or is it still in the "talk" stage?

 

[banjonate]

Has anyone actually built a e, e, e configuration yet or is it still in the "talk" stage?

I have one modified, 20% upscale, scratch-built one that was inspired by the C3, but not an exact clone by any means. I have the rocket and one of the two boosters built. Going to fly D-D-(D?) first.
Three E’s are awfully heavy.

 

[BABAR]

I have one modified, 20% upscale, scratch-built one that was inspired by the C3, but not an exact clone by any means. I have the rocket and one of the two boosters built. Going to fly D-D-(D?) first.
Three E’s are awfully heavy.

Would love to see the pics.

if you are going DDD, get them before the first launch, cuz unless you have a big field and/or a zero-wind day, you may not get a second chance!


wish you three straight trails!

 

[rocketace]

Has anyone actually built a e, e, e configuration yet or is it still in the "talk" stage?

I did a D12-D12-E9 once....Lets just say I miss my Comanche

 

[AtomicStorm]

I did a D12-D12-E9 once....Lets just say I miss my Comanche

So you didnt put any engine mounts in it and you put the e motor in the aft booster? I thought about doing that to mine and just starting over on a new one after i watch this one go to the moon.

 

[GalantVR41062]

I have purchased 4 total, built 2. I did the D12-C6-C6 in both rockets. The first weather cocked into the wind and I looked but did not find any part of it. The 2nd was at my first high power launch and it was a nice straight flight and recovered all the parts.



I found a old C3 kit and purchased it from the yard sale here and plan to build mostly stock, just have the payload tube house electronics for seperation duty on a failed stage event. And possibly little tubes glued to the boosters that will hold a 6" plastic chute or streamer.

The other new kit will be something. I cut out basswood fins. I plan to lengthen the boosters to take the E12 motor and the 1st stage could use the AT 24/60 case.



It will have a lot going on in tbe payload: gps or rocket hunter, raven 3. This will cover finding the thing and possible stage duty/apogee event.

I plan to fiberglass the airframe and have the option to fly it on the CTI G65 long burn motor, staged to or just the sustainer.

I built and flew a couple 2 stage rockets that were inspired by the C3, I did fly a AT E20-4 to E12-8 but the delay on the booster motor was to long and it started to weather cock as it staged and was a impressive lateral looking sustainer. I also flew a few E12-E12 flights and achieved 1875' I think.







I have not had success in open rocket to estimate the altitude of such a project. But based on my other flights and accounting for the smaller diameter I would fly the AT F35w - E12-0 - E12-8 and I hope it would go around 5280'.

 

[AtomicStorm]

You almost have to have a f35 to put all that and 2 e's in the air dont you? I may do this build stock just because im not looking fo loose this rocket or set any records, just doing it for fun and would like to keep doing it lol.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

Come to Kansas. No trees, broad vistas...you won't lose it here.

Unless the wind is blowing, then it could end up in Nebraska or Oklahoma....

Write your name on it, we'll save it for you.

 

[AtomicStorm]

If i had a "contact" in kansas that my wife and i could stay with for a day or 2, i would drive from nc to launch some rockets. Lol nothing like a road trip with a big rocket strapped to the top of the car that looks like a civilian warhead

 

[banjonate]

Would love to see the pics.

if you are going DDD, get them before the first launch, cuz unless you have a big field and/or a zero-wind day, you may not get a second chance!


wish you three straight trails!

Here you go. Industry standard 7-year-old for scaling.

 

[BABAR]

Most excellent!

 

[BABAR]

Here you go. Industry standard 7-year-old for scaling.

I dunno, that doesn’t look like the Industry Standard, I think you got the Super Deluxe version.