Do you recall Rocket Vision?

ATTN: Jim, John and other kitmakers. I would buy another "rugged rocket" or two. Anybody else remember "Rocket Vision" and their tough fiberglass and G10 rockets?

I miss them too. Really wanted that Rotorocket that never came out. Miss my machbuster, boo hoo

I bought a Machbuster & a Gyrmm from them, also a number of 24mm F72-10 motors at a reasonable price. The Machbuster would fly well on a D12-7.

I remember Rocket Vision, I still have many of their model rockets. I really liked their G10 fins and phenolic body tubes.

I recently tried to contact Impulse Aerospace about putting the old Rocket Vision website on the internet archives, but the e-mail just bounces back.

I used to be one of the "experts" on the Rocket Vision "Ask an Expert Forum". I also created VCP and RockSim files for some of the Rocket Vision models. The first tube fin simulation I ever made was of the Rocket Vision Six-Pac.

The Mach-Buster also flies well on C6-5's, I use a spent D motor casing for a motor mount!

Bruce S. Levison, NAR #69055

BYW, I agree with rbeckey that this would be a good niche for a company and a way to ease into mid-power kits without going big. And as pointed out most of their models would fly fine on a D12 to boot. If you look at the recovery rate on G55s, you probably could argue that they flew BETTER on a D12

Does anybody have parts lists and plans for any of the Rocket Vision fleet? I'd like to clone them for myself, if possible.

Looking at the Rocksims on EMRR would probably be as close as you could get. The tubes were slightly bigger than 24mm phenolic and I have never seen that type of cone before or since. So the actual parts are moot. You can very easily get real close though. At least for the simpler models.

I'm sure someone will have the instructions. I'll look in the paper stack in my workshop to see if I can find the Machbuster plans.

Could the tube have been a 29mm with a 24mm insert for the motor mount? It seems that I recall that the motor mount was more of a sleeve insert, and the fins were mounted to the motor mount through slots cut in the tube. Wasn't it some kind of phenolic? Perhaps the cones could be cast from some sort of resin.

The tube was not 29mm, but it did take a 24mm sleeve inside it. Iy was brownish phenolic with slots for the fins.

I am going to continue this in Mid Power with some pictures.

I just discovered this thread...

anything is possible, but certainly not on the drawing boards at the moment. If we were to venture into mid-power (something that we *do* plan on doing, but well down the road), we would mostly likely approach that with thicker walled spiral wound tube like a tough version of what we currently sell...

but we're always open to suggestions and new materials

jim

Rocket Vision body tubes I believe made from Garolite XX which is like Bakelite or Micarta visit McMaster-Carr at:

https://www.mcmaster.com

Look on catalog page 3310 for product 8527K144 Grade Xx Garolite Hollow Rod 1-1/8" OD X 1" ID, 40" Length $ 8.16 each.

I think this is what Rocket Vision used for their Standard body tube, and the fins were G10 fiberglass 12" X 12" sheet part number 8667K211 $5.80 each.

The wider RV models like Grymm and Pegasus were based on 3-1/8" OD X 3" ID material. The nose cones were molded ABS plastic.

Bruce S. Levison, NAR #69055

I still would like the mold for the 29mm cone if anyone knows for sure where it ended up... Matt?

I had the same thought, except I'd rather just buy CONES made from the mold, made of the same material. Somebody must have it. If it is just sitting around, then lets put it to use!

It was a very sad day for me when I went to the RV page and saw the were closed. I had just recieved a purchase from them right before they went under. I bought the Grymm, Chariot and Pegasus and then they were gone. I have built the Grymm but still have the others plus some of the regular kits like the Star-Fire.


If someone wants to borrow them to measure for clones let me know.

Scott

I know I am renewing an old thread. Anyone have the rocksim or a picture of the
Rocket Vision - Star-Fire?

I want a full Pegasus kit. I have accumulated most of the parts for one

-Kevin

I am looking for instructions and parts. Please post photos of the Pegasus kit if you decide to build it.

cwbullet said:

I am looking for instructions and parts. Please post photos of the Pegasus kit if you decide to build it.

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Would love to get a clone of that kit. TMRK also made a Pegasus but it was built up balsa and paper .

cwbullet said:

Please post photos of the Pegasus kit if you decide to build it.

Click to expand...

I will

Brent said:

Would love to get a clone of that kit. TMRK also made a Pegasus but it was built up balsa and paper .

Click to expand...

Yep! I have the TMRK kit; it's fairly well done.

One of these days, if I get a Round Tuit, I want to build a 6" Pegasus.

-Kevin

@troj

I am currently making a 3d printed version of the Machbuster that I call Mach 24. I might have to try my hand at this kit.

For those who are interested, this is most of what a Rocket Vision Pegasus kit looks like.

I'm missing a few parts, as well as the decals.



-Kevin

"pegasish" -- MAC tubes, MC molded smoke fins and tailcone, AMWPROX spun bertha cone, DIY wing.

troj said:

For those who are interested, this is most of what a Rocket Vision Pegasus kit looks like.

I'm missing a few parts, as well as the decals.

-Kevin

Click to expand...

Boy....does that bring back memories! I always regretted not picking this kit up as well as the Quad-Pod. I still have the machbuster and check six in my built kit collection to this day. I have flown the Check-6 a couple of times but have not been willing to risk my machbuster!

I might have to take a shot at cloning this one. I think that one might be able to re-create that wing out of balsa (or a couple of lightweight 3d printed units joined together).

jsargevt said:

I might have to take a shot at cloning this one. I think that one might be able to re-create that wing out of balsa (or a couple of lightweight 3d printed units joined together).

Click to expand...

Provided you're not overly particular on details, it's not horribly hard to do.

In talking with Bill, one of the challenges is keeping it going straight. On this kit, they angled the two lower fins to help with that. What's interesting is that the TMRK kit does not. On burnout, the TMRK kit immediately starts to tumble.

-Kevin

For some of those parts a resin printer would be better than a filament printer. Much better at things like leading edges and sharp transitions. How big are those fins? If someone has an STL file (of other CAD file) for them I would be willing to try one in a resin printer to see how it turns out.


Tony

manixFan said:

For some of those parts a resin printer would be better than a filament printer. Much better at things like leading edges and sharp transitions. How big are those fins? If someone has an STL file (of other CAD file) for them I would be willing to try one in a resin printer to see how it turns out.

Click to expand...

Between bonding and sharp points, 3D printing is going to require a printer that's very dialed in to produce a nice result.

-Kevin

troj said:

Between bonding and sharp points, 3D printing is going to require a printer that's very dialed in to produce a nice result.

-Kevin

Click to expand...

That's why I'd want to try them with a resin printer vs a filament printer. Resin printers can produce very fine details, far more so than a filament based printer. And with the right resin the parts can be very strong.


Tony

sample resin print example ($250 ELEGOO Mars printer):

The limit to a resin printer is size vs cost.

cwbullet said:

The limit to a resin printer is size vs cost.

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Hence my question on the fin size. From the photo it’s really hard to get a feel for scale. The Mars has a build size of 4.53in(L) x 2.56in(W) x 5.9in(H). Most parts are printed at an angle which affects size a bit.


Tony