Estes 200:1 Scale Saturn V

At the May 11th RIMRA launch someone launched an Estes 200:1 scale Estes Saturn V on a C6-3. The wind was minimal. The launch started out fine but then went horizontal causing a less than smooth landing, resulting in fin damage. I'm wondering if the kit needs some nose weight? Has anyone seen this rocket launched?

Adding weight isn't going to help.

I have flown mine twice - on a C6-3 (which was old, and had about 1s delay, resulting in a stripped 'chute and broken fins). The boost was pretty straight.

Today I flew the repaired model on a Q-Jet C12-4. It was a gorgeous straight up flight that worked just like it was supposed to. Onboard altimeter reported a 348 foot apogee. I expect I'll fly it again tomorrow on both C12-4 and D16-4 or -6.

BEC said:

Adding weight isn't going to help.

I have flown mine twice - on a C6-3 (which was old, and had about 1s delay, resulting in a stripped 'chute and broken fins). The boost was pretty straight.

Today I flew the repaired model on a Q-Jet C12-4. It was a gorgeous straight up flight that worked just like it was supposed to. Onboard altimeter reported a 348 foot apogee. I expect I'll fly it again tomorrow on both C12-4 and D16-4 or -6.

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If you fly it on the D16, I would love to hear how it went......i really like the quest motors! I flew a Semroc Arcas on a C12, and it was awesome!!

Thanks for the replies. I just noticed that this topic already exists but your feed back is very helpful. I plan on launching my 200:1 Saturn V at the CMASS (cmass.org) July 20th "Land the Eagle" contest. The Acton, MA field is not very big so I may use the C6-3. At a larger field I can use one of the C12-4 engines that I have.

Try using a 4 foot long steel launch rod instead of a 3 foot or 30 inch long rod. $ foot long rods are cheap and easily found at Home Depot or Lowes. Check for straightness before buying and clean/lube with WD-40.

The D16-4 took it to 468 feet and the delay was a touch short. So I'd say C12-4s and D16-6s for this model. The C12-6 might also be OK.

BEC said:

The D16-4 took it to 468 feet and the delay was a touch short. So I'd say C12-4s and D16-6s for this model. The C12-6 might also be OK.

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I prefer "a touch short" (~.5 seconds short) to "a touch too long" (~1.5 seconds past apogee - turned over, heading downward, parachute stuck inside from air pressure or ripped backwards from ejecting while pointing downward).

I plan to test on Saturday with C6-3 and C12-4. Can't test with D16-4 until later in June when we are back on our normal larger field.

Fred,

Then (based on exactly one flight) the D12-4 would be what you want. The C12-4 flight on Saturday looked to be a spot on apogee deployment. Both Q-Jet flights were very nicely straight. Actually the C6-3 flight I've done was straighter than I was expecting with all the comments about arcing in these threads.

Of course there are the variations in the actual delays and at least some Q-Jets that were mismarks with respect to delays that are "in the wild" to contend with, but that's really a different discussion.