Nike Smokes though the years - Different Kits and Brands - Post what ya got !

[Art Upton]

Who is that young guy in the photo?

The same one you met at Naram-45 in Indiana or out at the Playa in 2005-07?

 

[Joekeyo]

Well, now I had to get mine out to show you.

Last flight the ejection charge blew the Aeropack retainer and engine out of the rocket. I did find them with my metal detector as we saw about where they landed in the grass. Looking at it today, I noticed the FG tube was black, do you remember what color your FG tube was?

Nike Ram DD setup on the left, Smoke cone still new on the right. Below the Black FG tube.

View attachment 654926
View attachment 654927

My tube was blue-green. A color I expected. Not black???

 

[Joekeyo]

The 2.6" Madcow 'Smoke has some heft for its size. Compared to my Estes rockets it "feels like a real rocket". A heavy rocket requires motors that command respect. I am currently lauching with G64s. The apogee tests my visual acuity. After I get used to that, I'II try something bigger.

 

[ljwilley]

As you wish!, @Art Upton

Also, a picture close up of the nose cone detail:

AND, the V-Falcon, just because:

 

[Art Upton]

The 2.6" Madcow 'Smoke has some heft for its size. Compared to my Estes rockets it "feels like a real rocket". A heavy rocket requires motors that command respect. I am currently lauching with G64s. The apogee tests my visual acuity. After I get used to that, I'II try something bigger.

I had used AeroPacks on many rockets and larger motor sizes. But for some reason the JB Weld did not hold on the tube for very long. Perhaps it was a "bad mix" of the JB or something about the motor tube.

Still wondering today why my tube was black. I don't seem to remember that but no big deal. I can see a 'hint' of black under a scratch on the outside as well. It is not carbon fiber that is much different.

 

[MALBAR 70]

Nice MPC kit and neat mag fin can. What did you use to make the color ?

I believe it was just Rusto Metallic Copper.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that any more. Like most metallic rattle can paints it oxidizes and takes on finger prints quickly.

 

[cls]

The same one you met at Naram-45 in Indiana or out at the Playa in 2005-07?

oh yeah, BR 2005.. didn't recognize you because in the photo you are not plastered in alkali dust!!

 

[Art Upton]

Who is that young guy in the photo?

And then I run into this picture in the first time in almost 15 years, in the 'Smoke configuration ready to fly. That is a Booster Vision logo above the shirt pocket. Original Curtis Turner 5.5 Nike Smoke with the fully formed fin can.

 

[ljwilley]

Even better?

 

[Zman1961]

Left to right, BT-5 SRW clone from eRockets parts, BT-60 Estes kit, PS II Estes kit, 4 inch figerglass Mad Cow (aka Composite Warehouse) - I want another one of those Mad Cow kits! The second picture is a close-up of the BT-5 version. I put an MMX motor mount in it so that I can get it back.

 

[Bluegrass Rocket]

Here’s two of mine. The FlisKits Deuces Wild Nike Smoke version and my NewWay Nike Smoke Squared.

 

[ljwilley]

Was waiting for someone to post a picture of the square one! Very sad that newway can no longer source the tubes.

 

[Art Upton]

Even better?
View attachment 654999

Der 'Smoke Max ?

 

[Cape Byron]

Here’s two of mine. The FlisKits Deuces Wild Nike Smoke version and my NewWay Nike Smoke Squared.View attachment 655044View attachment 655045

That Deuces Wild Smoke is fantastic!

 

[ljwilley]

Der 'Smoke Max ?

Yep!

 

[Art Upton]

There were Curtis Tuner kits with "fully formed" fiberglass fin cans. My 5.5" above is one of the last of them.

Here is an example of such a can but in 4" Little John. Curtis then went to "fully formed" Fins that pushed into slots, and now they are just flat plate fins you find for sale. I will post the "fully formed" Nike Smoke fins shortly.

 

[Art Upton]

These full fin cans were taking too long to build it seems, and the second gen kits had fully formed plug in fins... Very similar to the PSII Nike Smoke

Now lots of the fiberglass kits are just flat plate fins, not gel coated formed.

 

[Art Upton]

Any Centuri or Enerjet kits to post ?

 

[Cape Byron]

Found this morning.

Quest Quick Kit Nike Smoke. Hideous decals, but a great flier.

Still has the bayonet motor retainer. Might need another flight soon.

 

[vixenrider]

If you want to go old school, the April 1968 issue of American Aircraft Modeler has an article by Harry Stine with info to build one.

 

[kjhambrick]

I've got a circa 1995, 2.68 inch Nike Smoke with a beautiful ( but heavy ) Scotglass Nose Cone:

The rocket is currently in my triage pile.

The fins are 1/32 inch copper clad PC Board with balsa skins but my yellow fin needs a little surgery.

This rocket also landed in Mission Bay and soaked for 30 minutes or so at a DART Fiesta Island launch way back when and the motor mount is a little swolen so that needs some work too.

Finally, I've got plans to retrofit a Blue Raven "Space Capsule" for HED so I can fly it with bigger 29mm motors without messing with motor ejection.

-- kjh

 

[ljwilley]

I just finished a scratch built ST10 Nike smoke. I even added a metal pipe to the top for extra detail. No, it's not a kit, but I might as well post it here anyway.

 

[kjhambrick]

Nice paint on your ST10 Nike Smoke. @ljwilley !

I believe my friend, @tsmith1315 is looking for something like that for one of his builds ...

-- kjh

 

[ljwilley]

I used a st10 Nike smoke balsa nose cone from Erockets, and it looks like there is still 2 left. Link: https://www.erockets.biz/semroc-balsa-nose-cone-st-10-6-3-flared-conical-sem-bc-1063-discontinued/
(They also sell a 3d printed one)

I also bought an 8" long st10 tube from Erockets, and I cut my own fins from 1/8" balsa.




Edit: Thanks for the compliment!

 

[tsmith1315]

Nice paint on your ST10 Nike Smoke. @ljwilley !

I believe my friend, @tsmith1315 is looking for something like that for one of his builds ...

-- kjh

Yes, indeed!

@ljwilley what color did you use for that green?

 

[ljwilley]

I used rust oleum "camouflage" paint. I believe it was the "army green" color. It puts a nice light matte olive drab color on a rocket.


I know it is the one in the photo, and I found it at a local hardware store.

 

[cwbullet]

If someone takes measurements, I will willing to design 3d files to reproduce them.

 

[cwbullet]

If someone takes measurements, I will willing to design 3d files to reproduce them.

 

[ljwilley]

The army green paint looks nice, but I doubt it is the actual scale accurate paint color. It's the only army green I had on hand.

 

[ReynoldsSlumber]

Nike Smokes though the years - Different Kits and Brands - Post what ya got !

In other words, Nike Smoke 'em if you've got 'em!