Anyone use Apogee’s Blue Tube?

[Steve JensenParticipant]

Looks a bit lighter than fiberglass and interesting. http://www.apogeerockets.com/blue_tubes.asp

On the other hand, it’s not that much cheaper or massively lighter. Looks more durable than paper and unlike PML’s Quantum Water Pipe, is mach friendly (or so they say).

Anyone use it and/or exceed mach with it?

[sserell]

Check out this flight with Blue Tube on a Warp 9 J1999. Seems like the tube held up or at least didn’t shred. I dont think they ever found the rocket though. -Sean

[sserell]

oops it would help if I posted the link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HuTKabj04o

-Sean

[RocketwhizParticipant]

Gotta get one of those. For the 2 or 3 frames it’s visible it looks like the rockets bent from acceleration. Too cool

[John A. WilkeParticipant]

I can’t remember who told me that they’d never use the stuff again… I’ve not seen it, haven’t played with it, and I have an obvious conflict of interest 😀 That said, someone was quite upset with the stuff… Now I wish I could remember who it was?

Up until that point, I’d heard good stuff about it. OTOH, from what I have heard, it is indeed pretty comparable in weight and price to glass. I’ve driven over glass and not broken it – I don’t know if Blue Tube would be quite that robust?

[Steve JensenParticipant]

in the video?

Did it just shred at altitude?

I don’t think I’d recommend trying a Warp in anything but fiberglass.

Thanks for the video.

[Chris LaPanse]

Really? I’d fly warp in plain QT, honestly. It’s surprisingly difficult to shred a body tube from thrust alone.

[Steve JensenParticipant]

Just for science, you know…

[new2hprParticipant]

Apogee is just a reseller. You can get all the info from Always Ready Rocketry, who makes it. The early version 1.0 had issues warping in high heat/high humidity, but they claim it’s cured in 2.0. Not really an issue for CO flyers. I got a small chunk of 38mm coupler for an ebay and it’s VERY stout!

ARR always has some sale going on or free shipping deals. Randy is great to work with.

Just my $0.02.

Ken

[John A. WilkeParticipant]

Really? I’d fly warp in plain QT, honestly. It’s surprisingly difficult to shred a body tube from thrust alone.

I partly agree, but mostly disagree…. you can’t fly QT in minimum diameter as it will melt. So you are putting a bigger airframe onto a smaller motor.

Personally, I don’t think a 54mm rocket in QT would hold together w/ a J570 😀 The Warp 9 stuff, as well as V-Max, etc would be better served in something other than paper or QT…. There are other obvious variables that come into play. A very tall, skinny rocket is more likely to have issues vs. a squatty one.

I’m not a fan of Quantum. I do really like PML phenolic – I think it is a much better material.

[Author]

Posts