Recommendation for an easy build kit for an E or F motor

I am an old lapsed rocketeer who now has grandkids interested and I have some old ProDyne motors I would like to build around. The Cyclone motor has a 1 inch motor diameter and varies in length and probably is in the low E category The Hurricane motor is 1.125 inch in diameter and also has various lengths and might be in a high E or Low F range. I am not looking for ultimate altitude just want to see how they perform. Being that they are old engines I didn't want to invest a lot of time or money in case they don't work.

Image above shows some of my supply with a an Estes D 24mm for comparison

So really you need a rocket with a 29mm motor mount. If you have the capabilities to make centering rings I'd say a trip to Hobby Lobby is in order. An Estes Big Daddy goes for $20 but you'll have to find an appropriate sized MMT tube and modify the centering rings. Great rocket for those sized motors. '

If you want to spend a little more with less fuss then LOC Precision is your answer. They have a few rockets that would fit the bill like the 1.65" Aura.

There are other cheaper options out there I am sure but those were the simplest that came to mind for me.

DAllen said:

So really you need a rocket with a 29mm motor mount. If you have the capabilities to make centering rings I'd say a trip to Hobby Lobby is in order. An Estes Big Daddy goes for $20 but you'll have to find an appropriate sized MMT tube and modify the centering rings. Great rocket for those sized motors. '

If you want to spend a little more with less fuss then LOC Precision is your answer. They have a few rockets that would fit the bill like the 1.65" Aura.

There are other cheaper options out there I am sure but those were the simplest that came to mind for me.

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Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into it. I figured I'd have to make or modify a motor mount tube and centering ring. I am a little concerned about the weight of the motor making the CG a bit lower on the rocket so wanted something with generous sized fins.

I would recommend any of the smaller AeroTech kits. They are designed for E-F-G motors and have many nice features which makes them easy to build and fly.

The current versions of all the kits accept motors of various lengths.

You know another REALLY simple option is just get a spool. One with 6-8" diameter plates on the ends or so. You can even get away without recovery because those usually tumble really well and if they aren't too delicate and aren't landing on pavement they'll be fine.

https://www.artapplewhite.com/free/index.html

DAllen said:

You know another REALLY simple option is just get a spool. One with 6-8" diameter plates on the ends or so. You can even get away without recovery because those usually tumble really well and if they aren't too delicate and aren't landing on pavement they'll be fine.

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Along the same vein are saucer rockets. This website has instructions for building it yourself out of your own materials. They’re actually a lot of fun, very cheap to build, so you don’t lose much if your engine CATOs

https://www.artapplewhite.com/free/index.html

Interesting suggestions. Thanks

For cheap, (<$30) I'd get an Estes Star Orbiter, Majestic (<$50), or Super Big Bertha (<$40). All have a 29mm motor mount. Should handle E's or small F's with a little fin reinforcement, and the Majestic will need something to seal the top of the fins. They will go pretty high, though. If you want a little better, get an Aerotech kit (Mustang, Cheetah, etc.). The Aerotech kits are pretty nice, and should last a while.

In the odd rocket line, I believe Rocketarium has a Turbo Vortico ($25) that will fly on 29's also.

LOC Onyx, Graduator, Hi-Tech, or Wi Roc would work well. Easy to build, affordable,and tough.

Balsa Machining has a 3" "School Rocket" for $23. Cardboard airframe but should be adequate for F and G motors. It has a 24 mm motor mount, so you'd need a piece of 29mm motor tube, and open up the centering rings.
https://www.balsamachining.com

or just buy a set of CR52H-300's and a stick of BT52H-34, when you purchase the 3" School rocket.

prfesser said:

Balsa Machining has a 3" "School Rocket" for $23. Cardboard airframe but should be adequate for F and G motors. It has a 24 mm motor mount, so you'd need a piece of 29mm motor tube, and open up the centering rings.
https://www.balsamachining.com

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Apogee Aspire: https://www.apogeerockets.com/Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-2-Model-Rocket-Kits/Aspire
Suitable for 29mm E, F, and G motors.
Use 1/4" tape to build up a rear thrust ring on the end of each motor.
Install motor and do a tape wrap around the end of the rocket body and motor to prevent motor kick-out at ejection.
Since the Cyclone is a smaller dia. need to either build up the dia. with tape or use a ST-10 tube (from erockets) as a motor tube and sleeve fit to the 29mm motor tube.
If the motors CATO you're only out $22.
If they work you'll get a wild ride and your grandkids will be stoked.
Hope you get it back.

Wow! what a lot of great suggestions now time to decide.

Question: High high do you want it to go? (Ie, how long do you want to chase it coming down?)

The 3" school rocket will keep it nicely in range. The Apogee aspire will have you squinting

rharshberger said:

or just buy a set of CR52H-300's and a stick of BT52H-34, when you purchase the 3" School rocket.

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If you contact the folks at BMS they’ll substitute the 29mm parts. They also have an optional payload/e-bay section.

I am building an Estes Magician. It is an easy build. The payload fits an Altimeter 2 exactly. Estimated altitude is 1600 feet.

Joekeyo said:

I am building an Estes Magician. It is an easy build. The payload fits an Altimeter 2 exactly. Estimated altitude is 1600 feet.

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Fantastic rocket, very slick.
I suggest a smaller chute than included, or a streamer. Otherwise, have fun hiking after it

24mm? Estes Cherokee E or or Vapor
29mm? Star Orbiter

BMS 29mm school rocket for the win, best value out there and sturdier than Estes kits.

Apogee Aspire on a streamer is probably a good bet here, since you can't really count on correctly guessing the thrustcurve or delay.

Tape up to match the 29mm tube and keep the weight down IMO.

I want something that will stay within site so modest altitude would be my preference. The suggestions I am getting are overwhelming but appreciated.

Jerry Thompson said:

I want something that will stay within site so modest altitude would be my preference. The suggestions I am getting are overwhelming but appreciated.

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If you're going for low altitude, you can skip the Apogee Aspire

dhbarr said:

If you're going for low altitude, you can skip the Apogee Aspire

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yes I had

I second, or third, the Estes Magician. It's an easy build and comes with a fin alignment tool that's so awesome you'll have to try to misalign your fins. I made it a little more complicated by painting it 2/3 purple with a small silver stripe between the purple and white areas and by altering the bottom piece of the payload bay, but that's my fault. Honestly, I find the out of the box design a little bland, but the rocket itself flies incredibly well.

I flew it on an Estes D engine and strapped a key chain camera to it, but I've heard such nasty things about Estes E engines that I'm hoping to use some of the alternatives suggested on this forum.

Here is my Magician's flight:

Mercury Engineering has some very nice looking kits with 29mm motor mounts - they’re a sister company of Balsa Machining. https://mercury-rockets.com/

Okay, since you want to keep it low and in sight how about the Estes Star Orbiter?
$14.99 at AC Supply:https://www.acsupplyco.com/estes/9716_star_orbiter.html
29 mm motor mount.
Cheap, no big loss if your motor CATOS.
Fun, straight flyer. More rugged than the Magician.

In the enthusiast car world it’s TAIAM - the answer is always Miata. In the rocketry world it’s becoming TAIASO - the answer is always Star Orbiter

While I do endorse Mercury engineering ( I have the Grave Danger ) the OP doesn't want to spend too much money on something that might go Boom. Hence the SO.

kuririn said:

Okay, since you want to keep it low and in sight how about the Estes Star Orbiter?
$14.99 at AC Supply:https://www.acsupplyco.com/estes/9716_star_orbiter.html
29 mm motor mount.
Cheap, no big loss if your motor CATOS.
Fun, straight flyer. More rugged than the Magician.

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The Star Orbiter is great, but how exactly is that "keeping it low and in sight" on an F motor? Need something bigger and heavier (or at least draggier) to stay within reasonable bounds on an F.

Regarding Mercury Engineering: add that to the list of rocket vendors I never knew existed. Are they actually still in business? That's a pretty old-looking website, and I've never heard anyone mention them before.

neil_w said:

Regarding Mercury Engineering: add that to the list of rocket vendors I never knew existed. Are they actually still in business? That's a pretty old-looking website, and I've never heard anyone mention them before.

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They're a subsidiary of BMS. Their website went dark a little while ago:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/mercury-engineering-kaput.147628/
But they're back up now. Nice kits.
The Star Orbiter I launched went up on a 24mm composite E with adapter, approx. 1400 ft. apogee.
Recovered within the confines of our small(ish) park.
Main thing, it's cheap.