Estes Saturn V Nozzle Modification

[imakecostumes]

Do you recall how much longer than stock you made the engine tubes?

I'd like to use a center engine only but fly w/the nozzles in place as you do.

Thank you!

[R0ckzor]

i have the same plastic model, is that rocket really going to survive a launch? its ment to be sitting on your bookcase

[1996LOD]

I fly with CATO too!

[DaPhotoGuy]

Where is the video of it flying???

[captinnitro]

HOW MUCH WEIGHT DID YOU ADD TO THE NOSE? DO YOU HAVE VIDEO OF FIRST FLIGHT? I WAS THINKING OF FIVER GLASSING THE NOSE CONE. WONDER IF THAT'S ENOUGH WEIGHT. YOUR HELP IS VERY MUCH APRISIATED. yOU COULD SEND ME A PM. tHANK YOU. BY THE WAY MY DOUGHTER IS DOING THIS FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT.

[theblackcomp111]

put up a video of you launching this bad boy already

[donkeyxotedelamanche]

What NAR Section are you out of may I ask ... I'm in CATO in CT.

[v16050118130114]

I am an irregular flyer with NARHAMS, Section 139, in the DC area. I haven't been very active for the past couple of years, though.

The Estes Saturn comes with all 5 nozzles, for display only...  the nozzle section removes for flight, and it has a single "D" 24mm motor mount. However, I modified these to fly with some of the display nozzles in place. The clustered variant will fly with all 5 nozzles in place, with the motor tubes running through them, making it necessary to trim the bells.

[AerotechMan101]

@v16050118130114 They did re release it, however, your vintage kits are already worth a small fortune. About $130

[donkeyxotedelamanche]

Does the Estes Saturn come with the center engine bell or was it obtained additionally?

[billhaley1868]

but will if fly?

[virgomonkey68]

hi

i tried to fire a cluster of 9 estes rocket motors but they did not fire at all.i thought to give them max voltage at twelve volts of a car battery but i guess the heat rise was too quick and did not ignite any of them. Basically how do you ensure simultaneous ignition of 9 engines? Will the supplied lauch unit do the job considering i paralleled all the ignitor circuits?

[v16050118130114]

Igniting 9 motors is pretty ambitious...

A 12V car battery is good. But you need a controller and wiring capable of delivering all those Amps to the igniters; a standard hand-held controller won't do it.

Also, you'll need what's called a "clip whip", to hook up all those igniter leads, and you'll have to be very careful to avoid shorts. I like to use wire-wrapped lead extensions, myself.

Try to find a local rocketry club with a heavy-duty launch system, they will help you.

[v16050118130114]

p.s...

I added a few links that may be helpful, to the video description (click 'more info' to see them.)

I can't post them here, because YouTube doesn't let you put links in comments.

[bikingchad]

With that many motors you might want to consider wiring in a bus configuration. Wire wrap one lead of each igniter together into a single lead and then one clip for that and clips for the remaining igniter leads. Never done it myself, but the reading I've done suggests it works well.

[v16050118130114]

In fact that's exactly what I use for BP clusters... I take the best igniters, pre-check them with a digital Ohmmeter, then add 10-12" wire-wrap leads (one red, one blue or white). At the range, I install them in the motors, check each one individually AGAIN to make sure they weren't damaged, then twist all the like-colored leads together and connect them to the launch system.

This has worked 100% reliably for me, with up to 5 motor clusters.

[just1ofgod]

yeah i dont think i need to tell you how cool that is but i will any way its freaken awesome just like the it should be nice job man

[MartySchrader]

Excellent job with the reinforcing ribs. Most people forget that foam and other kaka fails to provide structural rigidity. Ribs do that job admirably.

[v16050118130114]

Yeah, that's a some basic engineering that I learned from building sailplane wings. Adds a lot of strength, at negligible weight. Mondo thick centering rings are not the best way to transfer the thrust load to the airframe, you can do it a lot more efficiently with longitudinal balsa (or ply) to take the shear forces.

[MartySchrader]

Spoken like a true engineer. I'll let you know if I need help on any of the gigs I have coming up. Heh.

[dwmzmm]

Nice clip!  Keep up the great work!

Dave

[Nopitschstrasse]

That's great, I'd like to see how that works out. I'll probably stick with the modified center nozzle; I have no experience with cluster engines...I assume you'll use 4 C6's and an F24?

[v16050118130114]

Actually, I intend to stick with black powder motors, for the cluster version.

The central motor mount is sized for "E9" motors, so I can use E9, D12, or C6 motors, with an adapter.

For the first flight, my plan is to stick with five C6-5 motors, for a slower and more realistic liftoff. Then, maybe an E9-6 with four C6-5's.