- Joined
- Jun 27, 2012
- Messages
- 5,438
- Reaction score
- 121
Huh, seems like it should fly OK on a C11-3, at 8.6 ounces - not very high, though! I agree that the fins are plenty big enough. I really need to get one of these.
Good price for it @ $14.99Good to get a spare.
I think there’s a post on YORF about it from John Boren (Designer @ Estes) and he says it’s a mistake because there’s no changes to the PSII Star Orbiter.I didn’t even know the catalog was out. But yes, how strange.
View attachment 501293
You don’t suppose they’re changing the actual Star Orbiter kit?
I think they just had a case of the Vapors.I didn’t even know the catalog was out. But yes, how strange.
View attachment 501293
You don’t suppose they’re changing the actual Star Orbiter kit?
Good to know.I think there’s a post on YORF about it from John Boren (Designer @ Estes) and he says it’s a mistake because there’s no changes to the PSII Star Orbiter.
I agree, it looks very cool.Still, that might be a fun mod to it.
You are correct. I made the mistake of gluing them on wrong so I cut 6" off the tube to salvage it. I will glass the fins and to make up for the grain issue. Good eyes.Looks like you are building two of them, what is the grain direction on the stock kit, did you attach those fins on the correct root edge? Hard to see the grain lines in the picture. I thought the root edge should be the hypotenuse edge.
I mainly noticed the fin profile looking different. It might make more sense to put the larger fins on the shortened tube model, but probably enough stability margin in the design that makes no adverse impact either way. Looks like a great kit, enjoy the builds!You are correct. I made the mistake of gluing them on wrong so I cut 6" off the tube to salvage it. I will glass the fins and to make up for the grain issue. Good eyes.
I read a post in mid power about a gentleman having stability issues with the Vapor with F motors and blamed the fins. So with that in mind is why going bigger fins. I like the looks better with the larger fins as well.Not clear why you think the stock fins are inadequate. Have you tried simulating it?
I don't think it's going to be a problem. Once CG is established should fly good. Might not get the altitude you get but that's ok with me.I fly mine with E motors with no issues. Wonder how the bigger fins will actually affect stability.
I've have 2 Vapors'. Both fly great with the factory fins.The fins in the kit don't look to be big enough for stable flights so I enlarge them to what I think will be better.
I’ve been thinking about a Vapor finned SO since I saw the erroneous catalog picture - bashing a HL Vapor and a Hi-Flier XL looks doable - plenty of balsa in the Hi-Flier kit to cut down the fins with TTW tabs using the Vapor fins as patterns plus the Hi-Flier with it’s original fins is way over stable so it’s a good recipient for those Vapor finsGood to know.
Still, that might be a fun mod to it.
Just to clarify. This is the 24mm mount LPR Vapor, which is basically similar to the MPR 29mm motor Star Orbiter. Both are kits designed for Estes black powder. When you start going beyond that, those balsa fins might shred, I don’t have this personal experience but there are some older threads to that effect. So upgrading the fins with ply, glass for higher than kit-rated power is likely required. Making the fins larger is perhaps not required for stability, but reinforcing them structurally for strength and flutter resistance is essential, when you start using larger than the recommended Estes black powder motors for the stock kit. In fact, making the fins larger without reinforcing them structurally can make the fin flutter problem worse beyond the kit rated motors.Rocksim reports a stock Vapor with a CTI 6-grain G motor has 2.74 calibers of stability (and over 3700').
It is stable with the stock fins. Some people have put them on backwards and it's still stable. Making them larger will indeed make it more stable moving the CP aft. Looks fine!The fins in the kit don't look to be big enough for stable flights so I enlarge them to what I think will be better.
I bet it’d be fine on a G25W or something like that. Something with nice low thrust.Just to clarify. This is the 24mm mount LPR Vapor, which is basically similar to the MPR 29mm motor Star Orbiter. Both are kits designed for Estes black powder. When you start going beyond that, those balsa fins might shred, I don’t have this personal experience but there are some older threads to that effect. So upgrading the fins with ply, glass for higher than kit-rated power is likely required. Making the fins larger is perhaps not required for stability, but reinforcing them structurally for strength and flutter resistance is essential, when you start using larger than the recommended Estes black powder motors for the stock kit. In fact, making the fins larger without reinforcing them structurally can make the fin flutter problem worse beyond the kit rated motors.
Ask @CPUTommyI bet it’d be fine on a G25W or something like that. Something with nice low thrust.
Enter your email address to join: