Need your input on the next 3 Dogs kit

[Steve JensenParticipant]

I like Edward’s suggestion above too. Hybrids seem cool.

Hope you get enough of a market to make them worth your while….

[John A. WilkeParticipant]

I like the 5 fins idea. That is pretty intriguing, actually!

I also like tube-finned rockets, though I don’t think that is in the cards.

JW

[edwardModerator]

Would it be worth it to do a completely mechanically fastened rocket? I’ve always like those because parts are interchangable.

Edward

[Ed Dawson]

Chad, I love the chart showing where to opportunities lie. Some great suggestions with things like 5 fins. I’d like to see something that no one else has done. Perhaps some quality upscales / military / sounding rockets.

What about a boosted dart? I don’t know of any current kits there. Could you make one work for the masses? You would probably need a small tracker or small GPS in the nosecone? Something to think about, perhaps.

[John A. WilkeParticipant]

A dart is on my list (and has been for a long time). I think it is the essence of doing something that pushes all the boundaries. Check this out http://www.rocketryplanet.com/content/view/236/38/

Alas, it is probably not a good kit – thin market, lots to go wrong, etc. That said, I’d sure like to do one at BALLS sometime. This year is bizzy and I’m not going to have time anyway. Next year?

[Chad]

PML has a 6 fin rocket- Miranda, but don’t know of any kit 5 fin ones. My daughter and I made low-mid power scratch rocket with 5 fins and a 24mm MMT. Flies great. With 5 fins there is more drag to keep velocities sane, and the fins can be shorter and thus be less likely to be damaged.

Sometimes you can do a few minor things to leave behind the “3FNC” look- add a second set of small fins (look at Madcow Prion), or strakes (my avatar shows a Wildman Jr. with front and back strakes, and the Thrustline Arapahoe is unique).

It would also be great if some rocket kit company (hint, hint) would develop a real boattail- not a stubby motor retainer like the Slimlines, not a conical retainer like the Acme’s, or the hacked nosecones like the PML’s.

But regardless, seems like you are on the right track. Us consumers appreciate you listening to our ideas (Dr. J sets the standard).

[sserell]

John,
How about something that would be a little different than anyone else is doing… something along the lines of a modular kit, where the buyer / builder could say select different modules or configurations for what they were looking to do, and or upgrade / purchase add- on modules later – ie, video module, 2nd stage, 3rd stage, cluster mounts, more fins / tubes, etc. Think semi-custom house idea, it would allow people to expand their creative designs without having to order all custom or scratch stuff, swap out different fin cans or modules. Personally, I think a 54 w 38 mm would be fun. Not too high to require tracking and fairly inexpensive to fly. Maybe call it the “DYOD” Design Your Own Dog – Sean

[Warren B. MusselmanModerator]

I like Sean’s idea – a modular kit. A standard booster/motor mount assembly with choices for DD and SD forward deployment modules, nosecones, etc. Each module priced separately I would assume.

Warren

[edwardModerator]

I don’t know the cost or the volume, but the fin spacers for 3-4 fins in .0625 and .09375 thick for 29-98 would be awesome. Leave them long for other fin shapes. That would be nice to have re-usable ones. I’ve just got a stack of foamboard cutouts.

Edward

[John A. WilkeParticipant]

All cool suggestions, and I *LOVE* the modular idea. You will see it in a 3DR kit eventually. Right now, the economies of scale dictate I do 30-50 of something more or less repeatable. If I end up with a lot of variables, then my costs go stratospheric (no pun intended).

One thing I am seriously looking at is putting all the above into one kit – in other words, sending two forward sections that allow for largely different flight configurations.

Right now I’m leaning towards an upper-end 75mm>>54mm kit that will employ some of the things in a KestreL (which I realize many of you have not yet seen). Things like fin jigs, the “duplex” bulkheads, high-end Kevlar included, etc. I may also incorporate the GLR boattail-retainer. We’ll see. There are a lot of guys out there selling bare-bones kits. I want guys to crack open the bag of goodies and be floored by what they received. From what I hear from those who bought KestreLs, that is what they are experiencing…

BTW, once you use these bulkheads, you’ll never go back 8) They are exquisite – crafted by NCR’s own Mr. Billings. The fin jigs rock as well! Also BTW, wait until you see the KestreL fins. I’ve never seen finer bevels, and they were done by Ed Dawson. It is great to have those guys involved!

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