Dynasoar Rocketry RC Rocket glider kits

[rstaff3]

Frank's kits just hit MAKE magazine: https://makezine.com/2016/07/26/launching-flying-rc-rocket-gliders/

 

[burkefj]

So, Now you think I'm coool?

 

[burkefj]

Got the stickershock decals for the Valhalla and finished it up.

 

[tab28682]

I see an Arrow in my future....

 

[burkefj]

I did a one-off of a Delta Dart based version, but it flew so well, and was so easy to put together I'm going to release it as well with the other three.
38" long, 25" wingspan, 12 oz rtf, I got some great video/flights today, maiden yesterday in 10mph winds showed perfect trim on both boost and glide off the board and it really handled the wind well with a lot of hovering flight into the headwind. I'll post the video tonight.

 

[burkefj]

Here's the video from my lunchtime flights. Hard to see but on flight three I do a couple of rolls one way and then the other.

[video=youtube;KlsPmiV5fSc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlsPmiV5fSc&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[aerostadt]

I flew Frank's SR-71 kit twice at Hellfire-21 with little or no wind. Both flights were on E6's. My Orange transmitter does not allow me to flip a switch to get into glide mode, so I am relying on the Orange's trim button. I noticed that it takes a few seconds for the trim to move the up-elevator, so I started to do trim near just before apogee. On the first flight I used too much trim (or up elevator) and towards the end of the glide I had a lot of stalling. On the second flight I used about 1/2 as much trim and my control was much better with a good soft landing. I noticed that at times on the second flight there were times I was approaching a stall, so I had to go into a short little dive for an instant to pick up a little bit of air speed. Then I could go back to a flat glide. I'm learning.

 

[burkefj]

Very cool, glad you are having fun, the SR-71 kit was pretty good about waggling the wings when it gets too slow for warning. I sure wish we could have figured out how to get the trim switch working for you, but sounds like you have a way to make it work now.

Frank

I flew Frank's SR-71 kit twice at Hellfire-21 with little or no wind. Both flights were on E6's. My Orange transmitter does not allow me to flip a switch to get into glide mode, so I am relying on the Orange's trim button. I noticed that it takes a few seconds for the trim to move the up-elevator, so I started to do trim near just before apogee. On the first flight I used too much trim (or up elevator) and towards the end of the glide I had a lot of stalling. On the second flight I used about 1/2 as much trim and my control was much better with a good soft landing. I noticed that at times on the second flight there were times I was approaching a stall, so I had to go into a short little dive for an instant to pick up a little bit of air speed. Then I could go back to a flat glide. I'm learning.

View attachment 298666 View attachment 298667 View attachment 298668

 

[burkefj]

Got the vinyl from stickershock and finished up the Archangel...

[video=youtube;ubggo9iWGaQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubggo9iWGaQ[/video]

 

[burkefj]

I've updated my Hypersonic kit to now have a mid mounted wing and conical nose with cardstock canopy to look a bit more scale like the X-15-3.

https://www.dynasoarrocketry.com/hypersonic-ii.html

[video=youtube;XtVQ1NixNDk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtVQ1NixNDk[/video]

 

[tab28682]

Frank, have you kept any altimeter data on how high your models typically fly on E6 motors?

Including the profile kits. Trying to convince the local club that my E6 profiles will not bust 1000ft on the new 500 foot min dim field.

 

[burkefj]

Yes, 8 oz profile went to 700 feet, tube based 11/12 oz model to 500+ feet measured with an easy mini altimeter

Frank

Frank, have you kept any altimeter data on how high your models typically fly on E6 motors?

Including the profile kits. Trying to convince the local club that my E6 profiles will not bust 1000ft on the new 500 foot min dim field.

 

[tab28682]

Yes, 8 oz profile went to 700 feet, tube based 11/12 oz model to 500+ feet measured with an easy mini altimeter

Frank

Had always estimated that the profiles go to around 700-800, but had never put an altimeter on one.

Did you ever measure the E12 powered Bomarc? My guess was around 450-500 feet.

 

[burkefj]

I think based on weight and thrust its closer to 400"

 

[tab28682]

I think based on weight and thrust its closer to 400"

that sounds about right.

Taking a forced break from building and flying for a while. Family commitments, travel, work and two R/C events that I run are looming heavily. Only have two free weekends until Nov 12. Most of my build threads will go on hiatus until then, I predict.

I am sneaking off for a couple of hours on Saturday and going to the DARS club meeting. Bringing the Bomarc for show and tell.

 

[burkefj]

Got some nice feedback from our good buddy Mark at stickershock that got a chance to fly his Mach 2 kit and sent me a video.
It's too bad the price plus shipping on the 4" bt101 tubing from semroc got so expensive, It got to be over $17/tube shipped to me just for the darn tube.

Mark Wrote:

Well got three good flights out of her today it flies AWESOME! this was a little shakey on takeoff wasnt used to where to trim to... but yeah a touch of down is all it needs. I actually rolled over and did a loop at the top although you really cant see it.. glides perfect!

[video=youtube;FEpy4QUrqvU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEpy4QUrqvU&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Here's a nice review by Chuck Pierce on one of my Interceptor III kits, pdf at the bottom attached.

[video=youtube;Wf24c2uL-sY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf24c2uL-sY&feature=youtu.be[/video]

View attachment DynaSoar Rocketry Interceptor III Rocket Boost Glider Review (1).pdf

 

[burkefj]

Quick update, now out of SST kits, Still have Interceptor III, Hypersonic II and Pegasus parts for kits. I'm now set up to ship the E-6 RC motors usps ground myself and have plenty in stock at this time.

Frank

 

[burkefj]

Not kit related, but I did get a chance to take my Buran shuttle out and burn up the last of my 24mm E-12RC and E-15PW motors....Both of these motors are a bit too hard on my nice lighweight kits, however the E-15PW really pushed the draggy 14.5 ounce shuttle faster than I've ever seen it go, but it didn't flutter or show any angst....and the E-12's were pretty nice as I have flown them in this model before. I've now got over 40 flights on the Buran now...

My daughter and I were acting weird, she kept mentioning landing in the hudson and I was trying to count down from 5 in russian and then I think my accent turned into schwartzanegger from Red Heat......were were laughing so hard, i think the other club members were wondering what sort of crack we were on...


[video=youtube;QJoA1pIX134]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJoA1pIX134[/video]

 

[burkefj]

Just FYI, My Buran has a simplified rear end since I wanted to make simple plans for people to build from. You can always modify it as desired for more tail detail or modify it to have the oms pods for a US shuttle if you wanted..The cockpit and nose detail aren't specified in the plans but can be carved to your liking by solid blocks or built up as I did. Plans can be found at https://www.dynasoarrocketry.com/plans.html

Frank

 

[burkefj]

I've released my latest kit, called the StratoDart. This will replace the Pegasus and will join the Interceptor III and Hypersonic III in the lineup. I based the wings and tail roughly on the old estes skydart, but went with a mid mounted wing. I've designed the construction to be about as simple and light as I can get it using these materials and still giving a wing area and loading of around 6 oz/sq foot. I've done two videos, one on assembly, takes about 25 minutes, and another 25 minute video on installing the radio. Maidens were perfect, nice straight boost and about a 90 second glide time. 11.25 oz rtf, 23" wingspan, 38" long.

Frank

Instructions are here: https://www.dynasoarrocketry.com/stratodart-instructions.html



[video=youtube;du7JPPMfEv4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du7JPPMfEv4[/video]

[video=youtube;ApjwmkYwYfA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApjwmkYwYfA[/video]

 

[burkefj]

Here is the video from this morning, it was dead wind so glide was a bit shorter than yesterday that had a bit of a wind, but still not bad.

[video=youtube;fSbRrn4hIhc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSbRrn4hIhc&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[aerostadt]

The StratoDart looks good. Can these be ordered? I think I saw in the video instruction that you use a little bit of nose-down flap on boost. Is that right?

BTW I thought that you were getting low on 6 mm depron.

 

[burkefj]

Yes, they can be ordered now on the web site. On this particular model and the Hypersonic , I'm not using any down trim on boost On the Interceptor I'm using a just a bit of downtrim, most likely due to the double tails causing a bit more drag on the top side.

Frank

The StratoDart looks good. Can these be ordered? I think I saw in the video instruction that you use a little bit of nose-down flap on boost. Is that right?

BTW I thought that you were getting low on 6 mm depron.

 

[burkefj]

Sorry, forgot to reply to your question about depron. Yes, I have 35 more wings left for kits, when they are gone, they are gone, as they say.
I've also redesigned my Hypersonic III to simplify construction slightly and to streamline assembly, should also be slightly lighter.

Frank

 

[aerostadt]

Sorry, forgot to reply to your question about depron. Yes, I have about 40 more wings left for kits, when they are gone, they are gone, as they say.
I've also redesigned my Hypersonic III to simplify construction slightly and to streamline assembly, should also be slightly lighter.

Frank

The StratoDart looks like it will be a good glider and the price looks good, too. As you know I have already ordered one.

 

[tab28682]

Another good looking RC RG there, Frank. I like the mid wing update.

Once I work through some of my current backlog of designs, I am going to do a couple of fictional classic/vintage looking winged rockets from Haggerty's Spaceship Handbook. (Recently procured a copy)

One that I am going to do strongly favors the StratoDart, the Athena from the Lee Correy/G. Harry Stine short story, "The Day the Rocket Blew Up." Some small pictures and drawings from the book are linked below. Ought to fly nicely, with a fun 1950's look and style.


https://www.rogersrocketships.com/page_view.cfm?id=67

 

[burkefj]

In order to test my new construction/assembly for the Hypersonic III, I did this prototype in white and had Mark at stickershock do the decals in black instead of white. Since the X-15-3 was a hypothetical design and it would probably have to have been coated with ablative, a white scheme isn't out of place...it doesn't look too bad. It also saves about a half an ounce in the ready to fly weight by not painting it. Current weight rtf here for the white is about 11.35 oz.

Frank

 

[mikec]

The Hypersonic looks good in white. I hate to be "that guy", but the fonts that are being used for the tail number and the "US Air Force" are not very accurate. I found a shareware font, AmarilloUSAF ( https://www.tlai.com/med_des/amusaf.html ) that's a much better match.

 

[burkefj]

Yeah, I just sort of let Mark at stickershock do what he could scaling his X-15 decals up from what he had already had, but never really gave it a close look, He can tweak those to whatever we want, i just need to bug him.

Frank

The Hypersonic looks good in white. I hate to be "that guy", but the fonts that are being used for the tail number and the "US Air Force" are not very accurate. I found a shareware font, AmarilloUSAF ( https://www.tlai.com/med_des/amusaf.html ) that's a much better match.

 

[tab28682]

I have been putting the Amarillo font on all my rocket gliders with USAF markings. Easy to get the font free on line.

Although, the other fonts are not terrible on a fantasy scale model. In that alternate universe, who knows? Perhaps the USAF went to the Arial font or something similar when they went to space....