Introducing The Mini Tower

[maxvelocity]

I fly small rockets all the time and a couple weeks back it occurred to me that I really don't need to take my medium sized tower out to every launch if I just built a downscaled version. So I spent a couple hours in CAD downsized my tower design and came up with the mini tower. This thing easily fits in the back seat floor of my extra cab truck, only three feet long it is easy to store easy to transport and light to carry around. It is perfect for flying your little rockets without needing a lug or rail buttons. The tower is designed for shorter 38mm min diameter down to 18mm or even smaller. I plan to use it for my 38mm to 24mm altitude birds. I figured I would offer these for sale since it seems like every once in a while someone on here is looking for a tower. I haven't figured out a price just yet but that really depends on how much interest I get, the more I build the better price I can do. So I'm thinking I will leave this post up for a week or so, see how much interest there is and then contact those who show interest with a price to see if they would like to purchase. The tower is made with stainless steel base, stainless pyramid blast deflector, steel frame, aluminum rails an zinc plated hardware. I opted to skip the stainless hardware since it drives the price up and zinc has worked fine on my larger tower for years. The super Jart is shown to give you an idea of the size. Let me know if there is any interest.

Thanks

Chris

 

[blackbrandt]

I am interested, shoot me an email:

[email protected]

 

[patelldp]

Looks interesting! I'd like to know what the price will be before I toss my hat in the ring, which is a little backwards from your initial post.

 

[BigRiJoe]

I'm interested too....PM me,please

 

[crossfire]

I also have an interest. I just hate putting rail buttons on my smaller rockets.

 

[J Blatz]

Interested.

Jason
[email protected]

 

[crossfire]

Question will you have a 3/4" rod on the bottom of the pad so it can be slid into the standard launch pads?

 

[kruland]

Me too. I'm interested.

Kevin

 

[chadrog]

I also have an interest. I just hate putting rail buttons on my smaller rockets.

Hey Gary, can I use your new tower?

 

[crossfire]

Chad
I think it would be great if Mark would spend some money out of the WOOSH account to buy the club a tower.

 

[dlb]

I'm interested, interested in hearing a price.

 

[Green Jello]

3 Things....

1) I would be interested depending on the cost...
2) With these type of towers, do they scratch up the sides of the rocket more?
3) Those pics....were you on the moon?

 

[chadrog]

Chad
I think it would be great if Mark would spend some money out of the WOOSH account to buy the club a tower.

I was joking, though that is a good idea. If the price is right, it should not be a problem.

 

[cwbullet]

I am interested!!!!

 

[Yoehahn]

I'm interested too.

 

[maxvelocity]

Question will you have a 3/4" rod on the bottom of the pad so it can be slid into the standard launch pads?

No. The tower is standalone and I may or may not include 3 stakes. Normally with my larger tower I drive stakes in the ground then use ratchet straps to stabilize the tower. Problem with this one is first it is shorter, second it is lighter material and ratchet straps might easily bend the tower. So what I am thinking is to keep the cost down have the purchaser furnish their own stakes. Tent stakes should work fine and then instead of ratchet straps use bungees. These smaller motors wont have enough thrust to thrash the tower around, at least that is what I am thinking. You will notice the little eyes on the tips of the upper triangle, this is where straps will go.

 

[maxvelocity]

3 Things....

1) I would be interested depending on the cost...
2) With these type of towers, do they scratch up the sides of the rocket more?
3) Those pics....were you on the moon?

1- Looks like there is a fair amount of interest so i will start figuring up pricing and post here
2- They can leave small rub mark here or there. I would recommend teflon tape on the rails to prevent this and I may include that but again most people want low pirce, this will drive the price up. Maybe an option?
3- Yes, photos were taken on the moon to give buyers the idea that when you use this tower you can fly to the moon. No, Jk these were in Helm, CA at our TCC launch in a dirt field used for alfalfa, corn, cotton etc at others times of the year.

 

[majordude]

Your PM box is full.

 

[Bone Daddy]

I'm interested also.

I was getting ready to build one myself.

Bones

 

[maxvelocity]

Major- your box was full too. I just made some space in mine.

 

[crossfire]

Have you seen some of the large motors we are flying out of the so called small rockets? 5-6 grain 38mm reloads in a Super Jarts.

 

[maxvelocity]

Have you seen some of the large motors we are flying out of the so called small rockets? 5-6 grain 38mm reloads in a Super Jarts.

Yes, this tower is made for 38mm diameter and smaller. So the Jart would be out of the question. This tower is really intended for smaller sized rockets. When designing this what I had in mind was my 38mm, 29mm and 24mm altitude birds as well as estes type rockets without rail buttons or lugs. My larger tower would be perfect for the Super Jart the problem with selling those is the shipping cost is ridiculous due to the large size and long length. However I will still sell that version if someone is willing to pay that shipping or pick it up locally. The mini tower is perfect for the guy who flies smaller type rockets and doesn't want to lug around a large tower just for that, or someone who wants to fly small rockets at their local field out of a tower and not have to depend on a club for a tower setup.

 

[majordude]

Major- your box was full too. I just made some space in mine.

Me too!

 

[Eyeguy41]

I just built a tower that will work with any rocket diameter from 1 1/2" to 6". It is easily adjustable. It can also be configured for either 3 or 4 fin rockets. It has a 3/4" rod that attaches to the bottom so that I can easily mount it on any launch base at our club launches. It is 61" high. It was designed to come apart easily for transport to and from a launch, although it is easy to transport assembled.
It was designed for 29mm engine rockets and down. Not sure if a larger rocket would reach a high enough velocity by the end of the 61" to be over 30+ MPH. There is plenty of stiffness with the 1010 rail that the top does not need to be supported.

It can also used as a rail.

I know it is over built but nothing exceeds like excess!

 

[majordude]

Nice, Eyeguy41!

 

[CarVac]

I just built a tower that will work with any rocket diameter from 1 1/2" to 6". It is easily adjustable. It can also be configured for either 3 or 4 fin rockets. It has a 3/4" rod that attaches to the bottom so that I can easily mount it on any launch base at our club launches. It is 61" high. It was designed to come apart easily for transport to and from a launch, although it is easy to transport assembled.
It was designed for 29mm engine rockets and down. Not sure if a larger rocket would reach a high enough velocity by the end of the 61" to be over 30+ MPH. There is plenty of stiffness with the 1010 rail that the top does not need to be supported.

It can also used as a rail.

I know it is over built but nothing exceeds like excess!
View attachment 142864View attachment 142865

I will have to say: I'm not concerned about the rails bending with that, but rather the angle brackets at the bottom yielding to something like a J570 or I1299 when the rails try to splay apart...

EDIT: I now see that you say "29mm and down".

 

[blackbrandt]

Are you forgetting something like an H399?

 

[maxvelocity]

Alright so I am thinking the price will be $125 plus shipping to you from 93662. Those of you interested at that price let me know.

Thanks

Chris

 

[majordude]

Alright so I am thinking the price will be $125 plus shipping to you from 93662.

I'm sure there is a mathematical term for it but I have played the Andoid game, and suffice it to say, I am NOT smarter than a 5th grader...

From one of those pointy ends of the triangle on top, to the flat side opposite it, how wide is it? (I am wondering how constricting it is for rocket fins.)

 

[blackbrandt]

Just out of question, what causes the cost to be so expensive?


Matt