Clustering

[mach7]

I just finished a new project that will breath new life into a stalled project.

I just finished the Fliskit 4x13, 1x24 motor mount. The glue is still wet. I've never done clustering before so I decided to jump in with a small project!

This will go in to a kit that I started 8 or 9 years ago, picked up again about 2 years ago, and hope to have finished this spring.

Any guesses?

 

[o1d_dude]

Not sure what you're gonna put thing in (BT-70 tube for sure) but it's a very impressive hand grenade!

You're giving me ideas here, Mark.

 

[mach7]

Well, I was deceptive. It's not going into a BT-70. In fact it's going into a BT-101. That should give it away.

A nice quality engine mount, of course I'm going to add some nose weight.

 

[o1d_dude]

Estes Maxi V-2? Saturn V?

Inquiring (but maybe not so knowledgeable) minds want to know!

 

[Gillard]

Guessing it's an Estes 1/100 scale saturn V.

a five motor cluster for your first attempt at clustering - it will be rememberable - what ever happens

 

[foose4string]

You mean the Saturn V fairings didn't give it away?

That looks like a great configuration.

Having only clustered like sized motors, I have a few questions. Are you planning on using plugged 13mm, will they rear eject from the model, or will the duration for all the motors be such that they will eject at roughly the same time?


Edit: I now see the central motor is the only one that is ported, partially answering my own question.

 

[mach7]

Yup, it's for my Estes Saturn V. It should be memorable. I was going to build it stock but after posting questions here it seemed a D12 did not have the ompf to get her up, especially with the Moldin the Oldies fins and capsule!

Hope it works out, getting 5 to light might be fun. I went with this mount because I could adapt the existing 24mm mount easily. I have a centering ring I cut from cardboard to mate the cluster to the end of the BT-101.

 

[mach7]

You mean the Saturn V fairings didn't give it away?

That looks like a great configuration.

Having only clustered like sized motors, I have a few questions. Are you planning on using plugged 13mm, will they rear eject from the model, or will the duration for all the motors be such that they will eject at roughly the same time?


Edit: I now see the central motor is the only one that is ported, partially answering my own question.

I have 8 A10pt's, so that is 2 flights!

I don't think I want to launch this more than that (assuming I get a good launch). I think this will be a heads up launch.

 

[tonypv]

Can't wait to see it Mark!

A clustered Saturn V is always a good show.

 

[mach7]

Good to see you back online Tony.

I'm sure it's going to take some time to finish. I would like to have it ready for the April launch but I have a ways to go. painting is going to be a bear, and I have about 5 rockets that I need to finish up. Kind of bad about that and I started a plastic model on top of it all!

 

[jflis]

Looks good. Will be most interested in launch photo's If you have questions/concerns about clustering, this is the place to be, that's for sure.

Keep us posted and let me know if that engine mount assembly gave you any problems

jim

 

[BobH48]

Mark,

I can't wait to see this.

If you're going to try clustering, might as well start small.

 

[dpower]

Well, I was deceptive. It's not going into a BT-70. In fact it's going into a BT-101. That should give it away.

Aww, I was going to guess R2-D2!

 

[Pantherjon]

Yup, it's for my Estes Saturn V. It should be memorable. I was going to build it stock but after posting questions here it seemed a D12 did not have the ompf to get her up, especially with the Moldin the Oldies fins and capsule!

Hope it works out, getting 5 to light might be fun. I went with this mount because I could adapt the existing 24mm mount easily. I have a centering ring I cut from cardboard to mate the cluster to the end of the BT-101.

That will look nice going up with the 5 flames! And getting them all to ignite shouldn't be all that difficult..Just use a little patience and some wire leads to extend the ignitor leads..

Here is how I rigged the 6 motors in my Trois Duex and all 6 lit successfully!

 

[mach7]

Jim and Bob,

The only way I'll launch this is at a club launch. I'm going to need all the help I can get!


Jim,

The Motor mount went together very nice. No problems at all, but this is what I have come to expect from your kits.

I've got to figure how much mass to put in the nose, I don't think I want to swing test this bad boy. I guess I'll weigh the new mount, new centering ring, resin fins, and 4 A10's. Subtract the resin nose cone minus the plastic cone and go from there. That should give me a starting point.

Anyone have a stock Estes Saturn V that they could measure the C/G with a D12?

 

[jflis]

I've got to figure how much mass to put in the nose, I don't think I want to swing test this bad boy.

My philosophy is, if you're going to swing test something like a 1/100 scale Saturn V, you need to do it in your living room...

...If you're going to destroy a beautiful, expensive rocket, you may as well take out half your living room at the same time. You'll be so concerned about how you're going to explain that to your wife that you'll forget all about the destroyed Saturn... LOL

 

[mach7]

I can see it now....

Her:
"Honey why is a rocket sticking out of the front of the TV?"

Me
"Hummina hummina hummina..."

 

[FROB]

I just checked the rocksim model from EMRR "Estes Saturn V 1/100 scale 30th Anniversary"
modeled without the engine shrouds or LES, and the capsule as a perfect cone, rocksim reports CP at 24.4" from the tip of the capsule using Barrowman, or 27.2" using Rocksim method. Thats doesn't include base drag effects, which would tend to increase stability a bit (moving the CP back)
Because this is usually such a slow liftoff, underpowered model, you really don't want it overstable- i'd shoot for a CG about 18-20" ready to launch.

 

[mach7]

Thanks FROB.