Couple of questions bordering on fine print:
1) Bonus points for multiple engine, but we can't add anything? Doesn't this mean the judges basically stack the deck to a small degree by sending out single versus multi-engine assortments? Seems a little impractical if one guy gets a single and another gets (5) 18mm tubes or an 18" length of BT50 plus a BT80 body tube. I figure I'll naturally receive a pair of motor tubes for whining--a 38mm and an MMX... Glider/helicopter bonus looks sweet, but probably only applies if you get decent sheet stock (corrugated box panels make poopy wings/blades)
2) Are templates allowed in lieu of parts. Example--nose cone?
3) Centering rings are not mentioned in parts requirement, so presumably we'll all have to cut these from the box unless we get ample balsa/basswood for fins/rings.
4) Decals are mentioned in the judging criteria--are we allowed to make our own, or must they only be provided?
Any chance this could be tied in with Narcon, at least for the kickoff? I kind of like the idea of heading back to the hotel room, opening the box o parts, and having a build/bash session right there.
Excellent questions Chan... Now for what hopefully will be viewed as excellent answers...
1) My thought about the motor tubes was that if you didn't get exactly the tube you were hoping for in your box that you could always roll your own... I know that that thought is weird in this day and age where not getting laser cut everything is unheard of... 38mm and MMX motor tubes! Hehe... I gotta remember to make up a
special box just for you... (98mm and MMX...)
2) By templates, do you mean can you make paper nose cones and so forth? Sure! One of the main things that I was going to make sure was in every kit that went out the door was several sheets of paper and a bit of card stock for rings, transitions, cones, paper airplanes...
3) Don't know what rings I'll have sent to me, but having a backup plan in case you don't get ones that you like is always a good idea...
4) I'm kinda torn of this one... (Especially if they are Estes decals... Get it? Because their new decals are so flimsy? Okay, bad joke, back to your answers...) I'd like to think that I'd get enough decals to send out some with every kit, but I can't guarantee that I will. Possibly we should change the heading to "creative finishing". I would say that you could print on the above mentioned paper and afix that to the rocket, but you can't add decal paper to your kit unless someone happens to send some in with their box.
I'd love to tie it in to NARCON, but that cuts the time frame kinda short. If I have all the boxes in to me by March 1, I will make an attempt to get them out in time for you to work on it in the hotel room.
Getting back to #1 briefly, and my plan on distributing the parts... Whereas it would be fun to "customize" boxes for people, I don't think that'd really be fair. I plan on distributing the parts as evenly as possible into the correct number of piles and then randomly assigning the piles of parts to each contestant. Seems like the most reasonable way to go without the potential of showing any favoritism....
