Quest Future Launch Vehicle

[Initiator001]

The Quest Future Launch Vehicle (FLV) kit made it's debut at NARAM-52.

The packaging states, "While NASA continues development of the real vehicle (Aries V?), Quest's engineers designed our own!"

The big 'feature' of this model is the pre-printed body wraps.

I built the model at a nice, leisurely pace, finishing it in one day.

First flight is expected in a few weeks.

 

[Rocketcrab]

Very nice looking model there Bob. Looking forward to the flight report.

 

[RangerStl]

Looks like the good ol' Shuttle Intrepid/Harpoon domed cone.

I like it a bunch.

 

[e42]

Looks very nice. I too look forward to the flight report.

--- Ron

 

[shrox]

Flies great, I've seen it.

 

[dedleytedley]

I'm very disappointed with this design. A major kit maker like Quest should have made a custom nosecone for the main airframe. The elliptical shape doesn't at all resemble the stepped cone of the Ares 5. Maybe Estes will produce one with the old Titan III E nosecone. Ted

 

[BRS Hobbies]

Bob,

Great job on the rocket! What is the length and diameter of the Quest FLV?

Best regards,
Brian

 

[foose4string]

I'm very disappointed with this design. A major kit maker like Quest should have made a custom nosecone for the main airframe. The elliptical shape doesn't at all resemble the stepped cone of the Ares 5. Maybe Estes will produce one with the old Titan III E nosecone. Ted

Spoken like someone who is not footing the bill for manufacturing.

I think the idea was to make something that had a scale-like appearance with parts that were already available. It's suppose to be a future concept vehicle...nothing is ever set in stone in those regards. They are simply ideas which are open for interpretation by the engineers and general public. Granted, it's not the BEST match for the model, but I don't think they ever claimed it was a "scale" representation of anything.
Even with the inaccuracies of the MLAS, it's a fair representation.

 

[Initiator001]

Bob,

Great job on the rocket! What is the length and diameter of the Quest FLV?

Best regards,
Brian

Brian,

The length of the FLV is 21.6" (54.9 cm).

Diameter: 1.547" (40 mm), uses Quest T40 body tube.

The body tube and nose cone are the same as used on the Quest Big Betty kit.

 

[shrox]

I'm very disappointed with this design. A major kit maker like Quest should have made a custom nosecone for the main airframe. The elliptical shape doesn't at all resemble the stepped cone of the Ares 5. Maybe Estes will produce one with the old Titan III E nosecone. Ted

It's possible that it might not be the only design in the world...

 

[dedleytedley]

It's possible that it might not be the only design in the world...

I smell a better kit in the offing...How about this? A BT-101 airframe with the Cygnus 24mm+4x18mm mmt. Detaching boosters of BT-60 with 24mm mmt. Four clear fins on the BT-101 to stabilize the boosters. A paper tailcone on the BT-101 centered on a three inch tube and paper shrouds for the bottom of the boosters. Conical balsa nosecones for the boosters and a part balsa/part paper shroud central nosecone. A shockcord attached to a parachute bulkhead and a little noseweight ought to do it. Ted

 

[shrox]

I smell a better kit in the offing...How about this? A BT-101 airframe with the Cygnus 24mm+4x18mm mmt. Detaching boosters of BT-60 with 24mm mmt. Four clear fins on the BT-101 to stabilize the boosters. A paper tailcone on the BT-101 centered on a three inch tube and paper shrouds for the bottom of the boosters. Conical balsa nosecones for the boosters and a part balsa/part paper shroud central nosecone. A shockcord attached to a parachute bulkhead and a little noseweight ought to do it. Ted

Who's the designer here? Oh wait, I guess we all are...

 

[powderburner]

Brian,

The length of the FLV is 21.6" (54.9 cm).

Diameter: 1.547" (40 mm)

Ya know, I'm not sure why, but for some reason I was sort of expecting a much bigger size, like 30-40 inches long, 2-3 inches diam. Something that would really stand out, and look good climbing out on a big motor.

Maybe a future version?

 

[Boosterdude]

I'm very disappointed with this design. A major kit maker like Quest should have made a custom nosecone for the main airframe. The elliptical shape doesn't at all resemble the stepped cone of the Ares 5. Maybe Estes will produce one with the old Titan III E nosecone. Ted

I have to agree, the design looks great until you get to the nose cone. It just doesn't fit the design. A stepped nose cone would really make the difference.

I'm sure Sandman could make the balsa cone that would really make the FLV.

 

[falingtrea]

I'm very disappointed with this design. A major kit maker like Quest should have made a custom nosecone for the main airframe. The elliptical shape doesn't at all resemble the stepped cone of the Ares 5. Maybe Estes will produce one with the old Titan III E nosecone. Ted

Well, I would hazard a guess that you can thank Uncle Sam for that. Looks like the new product safety laws make it a lot harder to make new parts for a product in a short time period and without a large cost. Even parts made from balsa have to go through testing. So I am not surprised that they used an existing nosecone.

 

[shrox]

You do understand it is not meant to be the Ares 5. It's the Quest FLV

 

[cls]

ummm, you guys are all rocketeers, first class. you can modify the nose cone to be the shape you want. wrap some paper cones around it. glue sections of other nose cones on it. find interesting bits of plastic like lug nut covers and deodorant caps and lipstick caps. turn a new balsa one on your drill press or lathe. call Sandman or BMS to do it.

personally I like the way it looks.

 

[bob jablonski]

You do understand it is not meant to be the Ares 5. It's the Quest FLV

Not only that, but the way the goverment is cutting NASA back will there ever be a Ares 5?
Mr. Bob
Starlight Dude

 

[dedleytedley]

I wonder if a rocket with so much payload is really necessary. The Ares 5 is planned to lift around "75 tons to TLI". Would it be more efficient to send modules of a lunar/interplanetary ship to the ISS and assemble them in orbit? The Atlas V and proposed Falcon heavy lifter each can boost approx. 30,000 Lbs to LEO. Perhaps the money spent on Ares 1 and 5 would be better spent on Man-rating an existing proven rocket like the Atlas V. The Constellation program represents a refinement of old technology, it's disappointing that so many years later kerosene/oxygen engines are still the "state of the art".
I didn't mean to be so harsh in my comment about the FLV. The FLV is definitely more innovative than the typical Estes " new color, new decal/name" new rocket. Ted

 

[Fred22]

Looks very nice. I too look forward to the flight report.

--- Ron

Same here I'm going to buy this one
Cheers
Fred

 

[aerospike]

Well, I would hazard a guess that you can thank Uncle Sam for that. Looks like the new product safety laws make it a lot harder to make new parts for a product in a short time period and without a large cost. Even parts made from balsa have to go through testing. So I am not surprised that they used an existing nosecone.

What new laws are you talking about? The large cost would be $10K for a new (Chinese made) mold for a nosecone. I don't know of any airframe component testing required by any gov't agency for model rockets. NJ has the most draconian laws regarding model rocketry but their certification of model rockets is based primarily on NFPC codes and definitions. Even there the Dept. of labor doesn't test models.

 

[Peartree]

The reference was probably to the new lead testing law.

(//rant on//) Last week we inherited a car full of Scout material from another troop that disbanded. In it was an entire box full of award badges for Cub Scouts (which are expensive and cost our Pack a LOT of money) but the Cubmaster wasn't sure we'd be allowed to use them because they obviously were purchased before the new lead law went into effect and she wasn't sure we would be allowed to use them. We live in a poor county and we serve low income families. The thought of throwing over a hundred dollars of brand new (still in the original box) badges in the trash repulses me. (//rant off//)

 

[rokitflite]

The reference was probably to the new lead testing law.

(//rant on//) Last week we inherited a car full of Scout material from another troop that disbanded. In it was an entire box full of award badges for Cub Scouts (which are expensive and cost our Pack a LOT of money) but the Cubmaster wasn't sure we'd be allowed to use them because they obviously were purchased before the new lead law went into effect and she wasn't sure we would be allowed to use them. We live in a poor county and we serve low income families. The thought of throwing over a hundred dollars of brand new (still in the original box) badges in the trash repulses me. (//rant off//)

A simple "Do not eat" label on the back of each badge should solve the problem.

 

[falingtrea]

What new laws are you talking about? The large cost would be $10K for a new (Chinese made) mold for a nosecone. I don't know of any airframe component testing required by any gov't agency for model rockets. NJ has the most draconian laws regarding model rocketry but their certification of model rockets is based primarily on NFPC codes and definitions. Even there the Dept. of labor doesn't test models.

Talking about the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act which requires third party testing of any child related product and greatly reduced lead level allowances. Since Quest and Estes are pretty much in the toy category, they fall under this law. So you also have to add lab testing cost and time to any new product. And test cost and time to existing products. For instance, according to what I have read, ink used to put graphics on parachutes had issues with lead content levels so now chutes are just undecorated plastic sheets.

 

[shrox]

Talking about the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act which requires third party testing of any child related product and greatly reduced lead level allowances. Since Quest and Estes are pretty much in the toy category, they fall under this law. So you also have to add lab testing cost and time to any new product. And test cost and time to existing products. For instance, according to what I have read, ink used to put graphics on parachutes had issues with lead content levels so now chutes are just undecorated plastic sheets.

Quest makes hobby rockets, not toy rockets. There is a big legal difference.

 

[shrox]

The reference was probably to the new lead testing law.

(//rant on//) Last week we inherited a car full of Scout material from another troop that disbanded. In it was an entire box full of award badges for Cub Scouts (which are expensive and cost our Pack a LOT of money) but the Cubmaster wasn't sure we'd be allowed to use them because they obviously were purchased before the new lead law went into effect and she wasn't sure we would be allowed to use them. We live in a poor county and we serve low income families. The thought of throwing over a hundred dollars of brand new (still in the original box) badges in the trash repulses me. (//rant off//)

I'll bet there is less lead in the badges than in the water in someplaces right here in the US.

 

[falingtrea]

More CPSC fun stuff. Check this thread.

 

[falingtrea]

Quest makes hobby rockets, not toy rockets. There is a big legal difference.

Ahh, but the law seems to be broad enough to include school supplies and clothing, not just toys. And are not black powder motors shipped as "toy propellant" (1.4S)??

 

[shrox]

Ahh, but the law seems to be broad enough to include school supplies and clothing, not just toys. And are not black powder motors shipped as "toy propellant" (1.4S)??

Maybe, but as far as distinctions go, we make model rockets rather than toy rockets. There is a legal difference as I understand.

 

[DRitchie]

I like it....waiting for the postman to drop it on my doorstep....I find Quest to be much preferable to Estes products and have been waiting on some new product releases for a while now.

I also ordered their Raptor kit which looks to be a fun build...