Successful launch! Will upload some photos when I get home later. Plenty of people taking video, don't know where/when it'll appear.
It landed standing up? Isn't that like tossing a coin and having it land on its edge?
I found this in You Tube, with close ups through entire flight to touchdown and replay in slow-motion.
Close-up of the S-IC stage base. Some of the "F1" fairings were damaged by the impact with the ground. Overall, considering how intricate this 1/10 scale Saturn V is, the impact damage seemed minimal to me. I suspect that the final word in this department belongs to Steve Eves, though.
Quote from: Alpha Control on 04/26/2009 02:28 amClose-up of the S-IC stage base. Some of the "F1" fairings were damaged by the impact with the ground. Overall, considering how intricate this 1/10 scale Saturn V is, the impact damage seemed minimal to me. I suspect that the final word in this department belongs to Steve Eves, though.Alpha,Since you were on-site, what is the object afixed to the mainstage right next to the "A" of USA on the picture IMG_2840 above? Another camera possibly. I look at all the pictures, of this mainstage, on the article posted on rocketryplanet.com but did not see this item on any of them.
I've got some nice post-launch photos to share.
Quote from: catdlr on 04/26/2009 04:31 amQuote from: Alpha Control on 04/26/2009 02:28 amClose-up of the S-IC stage base. Some of the "F1" fairings were damaged by the impact with the ground. Overall, considering how intricate this 1/10 scale Saturn V is, the impact damage seemed minimal to me. I suspect that the final word in this department belongs to Steve Eves, though.Alpha,Since you were on-site, what is the object afixed to the mainstage right next to the "A" of USA on the picture IMG_2840 above? Another camera possibly. I look at all the pictures, of this mainstage, on the article posted on rocketryplanet.com but did not see this item on any of them. That could be the "button" that fits in (or over) the rail to the launch tower, but I could be wrong. Most all model rockets need either a launchrod or rail for guidance during the first phase of launch until the model reaches enough speed for the fins to sustain proper stability.
Last group of photos. These are of the launchpad, including "pad rats" performing post-launch inspections, and yours truly, popping in for a final photo. A most impressive day.
Never been one who's followed model rockets, but that was cool! Thanks for the videos and photos!
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 04/26/2009 05:53 pmNever been one who's followed model rockets, but that was cool! Thanks for the videos and photos!Well, Chris, flying model rockets (especially scale) can be almost as closeto doing the "real" thing. This is especially true if you're the model's builder.
Still doesn't come close to the Top Gear Robin Reliant Space Shuttle launch. Not sure how that didn't qualify for a model rocket, as that was three times bigger than this.
Quote from: Davinator on 04/27/2009 02:25 amStill doesn't come close to the Top Gear Robin Reliant Space Shuttle launch. Not sure how that didn't qualify for a model rocket, as that was three times bigger than this.Haven't heard nor seen of this, can you provide details?
(I love the US, don't get me wrong!)
Has to be more powerful and bigger than the Saturn V launch? Maybe it's not a "model" rocket launch?
Surprisingly stable ascent, congratulations to all involved.
Quote from: Tony T. Harris on 04/26/2009 02:34 pmSurprisingly stable ascent, congratulations to all involved.Since he worked on the real ones, I think a nod from Tony is one of the highest compliments to Steve & crew!Interesting that when the 1/10 slo-mo is applied to the 1/10 scale, major portions of the flight do look like a real Saturn V!
I'm a member of MDRA (Maryland Deleware Rocketry Assn.) the group who provided for this launch. Here are some tid-bits. The place of the launch was the Higgs Farm in Price MD- that is where MDRA does their winter launches from Oct. to April and is also where al lot of "big" stuff gets fired. They get an FAA waiver up to 16,000 feet- which many of the big rockets actually need. The launch site is about 50 miles east of Washington DC... so no real problems with security are normally encountered. In fact at one launch last April we invited a whole team of BATF agents to obsurve- some came back with their kids the next day to shoot rockets with us or just watch. The most trouble that some of the rocketeers have is transporting their big rockets across the Bay Bridge- one look at a car with 4 or 5 big rockets strapped onto the cartop carrier seems to slow things down at the toll gates.Anyhow- I could not make Steve's launch, but I donated some special Saturn V kits for the cause and bought a T-shirt. I'm really glad that it went well. MDRA is a super group of really cool, laid-back folks.Special thanks to the Higgs family for use of the property... now it's on to the Central Sod Farm for the summer launch season and somewhat smaller rockets. Visit www.mdrocketry.org for MDRA news and see the gallery for cool videos and photos.
Just wanted to put in a word of thanks to our military boys and girls for helping to maintain the peace. You don't get to have this sort of fun under Taliban rule.