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Peak-of-Flight Newsletter #528:

The Silo Launch System

Peak-of-Flight Newsletter

When you launch a model rocket, it needs a moment to pick up speed before it will be stable by itself. In the hobby we have traditionally used a launch rod or rail for this purpose, but it is not the only way to accomplish the task.

Norman, the manufacturer of our Gun Turret launch pad, will often bring out his PVC Silo launch system. This thing is a showstopper, and this week we thought it would be a good idea to show it the world, and let you know how you could make one yourself.

A special thanks to Norman Pfund of S.C.O.R.E. for his great design and his contribution to this week's Peak-of-Flight.

 

Read the rest of this week's article, either on a downloadable PDF for printing out, or on our website (great for viewing on your phone)!

Previous issues of our newsletter are found at our archive page.

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Green Vortex rocket plan

 
Newest Products From Apogee Components

Check out the latest products to hit Apogee's shelves!

NCR Vektra

Vektra

The Vektra from North Coast Rocketry is a concept of the future of air-to-air missiles. It stands 3ft tall, has 2 sets of 4 fins, laser-cut plywood components and is designed with high-power in mind. This kit is perfect for those individuals looking to fly on the high end of the 29mm rockets motors. The Vectra is designed for altitude, and it has the motor options to match.

NCR F-117 Nighthawk BG

North Coast Rocketry's F-117 Boost Glider

The North Coast Rocketry F-117 Boost Glider kit is for the daring modeler looking for a challenge. It is a Skill Level 5 kit because it is both a rocket and a glider. At motor ejection, the pop-pod is kicked rearward out of the glider, and the elevon snaps upward to get the model into a fast glide. The kit utilizes a combination of balsawood, plywood, vacuum formed plastic and 3D-Printed parts for construction. It flies on 24mm diameter composite propellant motors. You won't be stealthy on the rocket range for long when you show up with this glider. It attracts attention, like blowing a fog horn in a library.

Estes Mars-Mars Rocket

Destination Mars Mars Longship

The Estes' Destination Mars - Mars Longship flying model rocket kit, we call it the "Mars Mars" kit because they use the word twice in succession in the product name. The shape will remind you of the vessle from the movie 2001: A Space Odyessy with its spherical nose and long body with lots of cargo pods attached to it. It's a nice Skill Level 3 build, and flies on a wide variety of 24mm diameter motors.

Design Your Own Rocket

Doorknob Rocket

Attention School Teachers: You wanted a collection of parts so that your students could make their own models. The Design Your Own Rocket kit includes everything needed to make a basic 24mm diameter rocket with an 18mm motor mount for common A, B, and C size motors. Your students get to design their own fins from balsa, choose between a parachute and a streamer (both included), and stylize the rocket however they want. Cheap and affordable - and NO INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED, so they are truly on their own (but video tutorials are referenced where they can get some guidelines to make safe rockets). 

Estes Doorknob

Doorknob Rocket

Estes' Doorknob kit is a scaled-down miniature replica of the missile that was used to test nuclear weapons in the 1950s. It is an easy-to-build rocket with an attractive and colorful paint scheme. It flies on 29mm diamter motors, so it can take anything from an E to a G motor with ease. 

Big Handy Stand

Big Handy StandThis stand has a large center stand for 29mm rockets, while the outer stands fit 13mm and 18mm rockets. This leaves you with a versitile way to display most mid-power and lower rockets. 

Airfoil Assistants Fin Airfoil Sanding Blocks

Airfoil Assistants

This sanding block set comes with all 3 sizes: Small (1/32" plywood or G10 up to 0.0625), Medium (1/16" to 3/32" plywood and balsa) and Large (1/8" plywood and balsa).

The multiple grooves allow you to determine the curvature you are sanding in, and these blocks can be used for the leading, trailing and tip edges of your fins. Sand your fins with ease using these handy tools.

DynaStar FlameThrower

FlameThrower Rocket

The DynaStar FlameThrower rocket is inspired by a rifle bullet - and it's about that fast too; it uses a two-engine cluster to accelerate it skyward. With two motors, it produces twice the amount of flame, twice the amount of smoke and twice the thunderous noise compared to a regular single-engine rocket. The kit features a blow-molded plastic transition, nose cone, and laser-cut basswood fins. Catch a glimpse of this speedy rocket now. (More coming soon!)

Customer Comments

I first contact the firm regarding the Birdie kits. Then I ordered two. The shipping faster than expected. Suffice to say even Google was impressed. I am convinced that this company is my go-to place for everything concerning model rocketry. After these two, my next will probably be the design my own rocket kit.

- Gregg Levine

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