...Next Model-"Star Hauler"

[flying_silverad]

Mt next release is called "Star Hauler" which should be flight tested by next week and ready for sale by the end of the month. It's a pay loader with slight military look. Combination streamer and chute recovery. 23 inches long.
Here's Pic to wet your whistle!

 

[sandman]

Hummmmm!

Kinda reminds me of the Nike Apache. Keewenaw rounds launched from the upper penninsula of Michigan.

Cool!

sandman

 

[wscarvie]

Interesting. Where is the seperation point, please?

I wonder if it would be possible to convert this to a two-stager with gap staging?

Hmm......

Will

 

[flying_silverad]

Originally posted by wscarvie
Interesting. Where is the seperation point, please?

I wonder if it would be possible to convert this to a two-stager with gap staging?

Hmm......

Will

Will, you are right on track!! The seperation point is at the largest transition aft. I am flipping between having the upper come down on a 12"chute, and the lower a streamer. Or, having everything come down on a 14" chute.
As for a 2 stage...you read my mind. I wasn't going to do this just yet but here is...(Max Star Hauler/Star Hauler II((Don't know what to call it yet!)))

 

[wscarvie]

How about "Star Hauler, ER" for Extended Range, or something?

Looks like a nice design. Is this an 18mm bird?

Any idea what the price point will be, roughly?

Thanks,

Will

 

[flying_silverad]

Originally posted by wscarvie
How about "Star Hauler, ER" for Extended Range, or something?

Looks like a nice design. Is this an 18mm bird?

Any idea what the price point will be, roughly?

Thanks,

Will

Yes, 18mm is correct A-C. I have not finalized the price but I am betting in the 15-16 dollar mark. It has a red-tinted payload section, balsa nose cone, 3 balsa transitions, kevlar recovery mount. It will have either a 12" chute/and streamer(for lower section) or 14" chute recovery system (which is what I am leaning torward). Flight tests will be final in a week or so depending on weather. I am holding off on real pics for few days...

 

[Damage...]

Nice looking rocket...

It looks a natural for gap staging, as per Will's suggestion, have you thought any more about that?

The only problem I can see is getting the 18mm hole directly central through the middle of the transition...?

Damage

 

[jflis]

I'd extend the motor tube to go all the way up the lower section and *through* the adapter to function as a snuffer tube.

The concern then is first stage recovery deployment.

 

[flying_silverad]

Originally posted by jflis
I'd extend the motor tube to go all the way up the lower section and *through* the adapter to function as a snuffer tube.

The concern then is first stage recovery deployment.

I agree. I thought I would extend the lower engine tube and repective BT, and vent it. The actual seperation point is at the lower transisiton. Here is an updated pic.

 

[wscarvie]

Originally posted by jflis
I'd extend the motor tube to go all the way up the lower section and *through* the adapter to function as a snuffer tube.

The concern then is first stage recovery deployment.

Yep, and I'm at a loss there. If the seperation point is the top of the bottom transition, I can't think of any way to keep the bottom stage (1st, or 2nd, depending on whether the base model is silverad's one or two-stage model) from coming in ballistic.

One possibility is to actually mount the top stage engine inside the lower transition. One might then be able to put a streamer into the space between the lower stage stuffer tube and outer tube. Maybe. But the top stage wouldn't look right with a transition hanging off the bottom.

Hmm. Maybe if the upper stage wasn't minimum diameter (and, therefore, we had an engine mount tube inside the body tube) we could put a streamer into that space, attached to the lower stage by kevlar. It would then pull out and deploy when the bottom stage fell away (hopefully!!!!).

I dunno. It's an interesting problem, though.

Will

 

[flying_silverad]

Originally posted by sandman
Hummmmm!

Kinda reminds me of the Nike Apache. Keewenaw rounds launched from the upper penninsula of Michigan.

Cool!

sandman

Found this...they do have some similar traits!https://www.kingsford.org/khsWeb/rfs/rfs2002/nikeap.jpg

 

[Damage...]

Hmmm...

Back to the original pic/setup.

If it was to be gap staged, could you move the bottom stage fins slightly forward, while still keeping it stable for flight as a complete airframe, but allowing the bottom stage to tumble recover after the sustainer kicks in?

The other way would be to allow the bottom stage to be clustered, having a tube from one BOOSTER motor to the bottom of the sustainer, the other one a standard delay motor to kick out a chute. Thinking about it - a cluster of 3 x 1/2 A's around the edge to kick out the chute and a central C booster?

Of course, with the payload bay up front, you could always put in a small altimeter for staging...