New Rockets took flight today!

Estes new Super Alpha - outstanding flier on c6-3 and 5's. This is just a fun to fly, easy to build, and inexpensive rocket. Good job Estes.


Fliskits L-13, great first flight on a C6-3. You just have to love scale rockets.


Dr Zooch Mercury Little Joe - first flight was on a B6-4 and the second on a C6-3. Outstanding Flier!!! This rocket hauls the mail on a C6-3, wow!


Fliskits Tartar - first flight was on a C6-3. The rocket went totally unstable and hit the ground breaking one fin. Minor damage that's easily fixed. Need to work on this one before the next flight.


Estes Explorer - always flies great on a B6-4

Great Pics....The L-13 Kicks... Gotta have one of those. What is the Silver you used on the Super Alpha and L-13?

El Cheapo said:

Great Pics....The L-13 Kicks... Gotta have one of those. What is the Silver you used on the Super Alpha and L-13?

Click to expand...

It's Duplicolor Silver on both.

how are you attaching your launchpad to the tripod? I assume that is just a regular tripod you would use for a camera modified to be a launch pad, sweet idea... so spill the beans

Looks like a drill chuck under the blast deflector. Are drill chucks threaded 1/4-20 on the drive side? If so you could just put one on the screw normally used to mount the camera.....it is a clever idea.

I suppose if they're not you could just remove the tripod's supplied screw that is used to hold the camera and substitute whatever actually does fit the drill chuck. The chuck then of course holds the launch rod itself.

Sweet pix! We're working the Tartar issue and hope to have an announcement out soon. Recommended solution is 1/2 oz of nose weight. Sorry 'bout that

Some great flights there!

As always John, your birds look like they just came off the show room floor. Beautiful work!

Malcolm Smith
L2

jpbell said:

how are you attaching your launchpad to the tripod? I assume that is just a regular tripod you would use for a camera modified to be a launch pad, sweet idea... so spill the beans

Click to expand...

This is the best launch pad for low and light weight mid power rockets. It's compact and easy to store. Easy to adjust the angle since all of the legs are adjustable.

Basically all I did was remove the bolt for the camera and installed one for the drill chuck. The plate for the tripod is fairly thick plastic. All I did was added a washer for the bolt that attaches the chuck to spread out any stress.

Many ways to do it, all easy. For days the wind is blowing you can add a weight to the tripod.

jflis said:

Sweet pix! We're working the Tartar issue and hope to have an announcement out soon. Recommended solution is 1/2 oz of nose weight. Sorry 'bout that

Some great flights there!

Click to expand...

It's no big deal. I added a 1/2oz of shot to the nose cone of the Tartar. I hope to fly it in the next couple of days, but I think it's going to be fine.

Cool looking rocket.

Very Cool Pix.
Nice work too!