No. They could be flown in others with adaptape. Amazing what masking tape will do.
I built one with a 29 mm motor mount and used tape for the Dark Star motors.
I built one with a 29 mm motor mount and used tape for the Dark Star motors.
So you could only fly Dark Star motors in NC kits......
JD
Here's a picture of a NCRBE G70-10 Dark Star motor next to a G62-6 motor.
I was told the Vulcan propellant was cut into equal length Bates grains.
Two of these grains were used for the F62 motors.
Three grains for the G70 motors.
There was talk of a single=grain 'E' motor but I don't know if any were made.
View attachment 257872
There was also an F62-9 motor which was to be used in a never-released kit called the Orbit. The Orbit looked much like a stretched Enerjet 1340/Maniac/Eliminator.
The Orbit would have a stronger body tube and be weighted down to keep it's velocity below Mach 1.
This kit was to be part of a Starter-Set (Orbit, Launch Controller, Launch Pad but no motors) which would retail for $49.99.
The Orbit Starter Set was never released.
At NARAM-42 in Colorado, I flew a modified Estes Maniac kit with an F62-9 Dark Star motor (It had been NAR cetified).
That thing took off like a rocket! :wink:
A second or two later the rocket suffered structural failure.
Here's the Maniac before launch:
View attachment 257873
The F62 Dark Star motors were an excellent product. Too bad they didn't last long.
View attachment 257874
Really cool. Did Vulcan go straight to market or did they have a retail network? I'm thinking Ross Dunton at Magnum had some.
Really cool. Did Vulcan go straight to market or did they have a retail network? I'm thinking Ross Dunton at Magnum had some.
Any idea why they chose to change the name?
Any idea why the motors were discontinued? Same for the kits?
So you could only fly Dark Star motors in NC kits......
JD
Really cool. Did Vulcan go straight to market or did they have a retail network? I'm thinking Ross Dunton at Magnum had some.
Marcus, I have some more photos of some of these 'times' - but this thread is more about Vulcan and doesn't need to be hijacked by me on this topic.………….."Legend"?? Not so sure about that…..……..I thank you for using the more noble term ……………..I notice your avatar has an individual playing a tenor………. I'm an alto and bari fellow myself - john.
Thanks all for the confirmations on NCR-BE Darkstar motors being Smokey Sams, I thought that was right. I was lucky enough to fly a couple of those back in the day and always enjoyed them as they had a great roar and a lot of kick—much different than Black Jack propellant, which was the only black smoke propellant I had seen at the time. The F62’s were killer in the Big Brute!
Rcktnut, nice! Love that dark, dark smoke!! Seems blacker than (CTI) SS and FJ.
I guess what helped the F-62's on the impressive scale is that it was a full 100% - 80Ns. F. Most of the F's available now are skimpy's. (skimpy on the Ns.) There are only a few over 70 Ns most are under 60 Ns.
Love that dark, dark smoke!! Seems blacker than (CTI) SS and FJ.
Cool thread loving the history.
TA
<img src="https://www.rocketryforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=258396"/> My NCR Phantom 4000 on it's first flight using a Vulcan low-smoke G at the old airport in Huntsville. Picture credit: Matt Steele.
Sweet. Not much in the way of special effects, all power! I've noticed LS tends to have a white flame. Pretty sure the motors in the attached pic are LS...from the '89 LOC catalog, Top Gun rocket.
Sweet. Not much in the way of special effects, all power! I've noticed LS tends to have a white flame. Pretty sure the motors in the attached pic are LS...from the '89 LOC catalog, Top Gun rocket.
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