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Model Forum / General / Rockets / January 2006Nostalgia Time: Looking for info about launch pad
While searching the Internet for something totally unrelated to model rockets I happen to stumble onto this site. Reading through some of the posts brought back numerous memories when I flew model rockets probably 30 years ago. At the time, I seem to recall having a launch pad that was basically a yellow piece of plastic with a steel rod, metal defector, etc that attached to the top of a double sided 6 volt battery. Does this possibly ring a bell to any of the modelers on this list? Does anyone still remember who made this launch pad and even possibly point me to a picture of one? Thanks, Brett Centuri Power Pad. I think I have one somewhere in storage, but I'm afraid I don't have a photo available. David Erbas-White >While searching the Internet for something totally unrelated to model >rockets I happen to stumble onto this site. Reading through some of the [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Yup, Cunturi had that but Estes also had similar version. IIRC it was with the Challenger starter set. Ted Novak TRA#5512 IEAS#75 > Centuri Power Pad. I think I have one somewhere in storage, but I'm > afraid I don't have a photo available. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> >> WoW. That's it! I can't believe it's been almost 30 years since I've launched a bunch of rockets that pad. I was speaking to my brother this past weekend, and I mentioned that I think it would be fun to launch a couple of rockets for the sake of some nostalgia. He thinks he might actually still have my Centuri Powr Pad along with some of my rockets, including some of my favorites, the Centuri SST Shuttle, Estes Andromeda and Nilke-X. I found the rockets FAQ and it made for some interesting reading. From what I seem to recall, a lot has changed. The mid-power and high-power rocketry seems very fascinating. Lots of interesting companies with web presence also, like LOC-Precision, Launch Pad, Public Missle, etc. All very cool. I think I'm going to order one of these mid-power scale rocket kits and give it a whirl. Now, doing a little research on the web, it seems as though a number of people just make their own launch pad using a camera tripod and a keyless drill chuck. Not that I really need it, but I've seen reference to an old article called Tripod Mount Launch Pad" design in "Sport Rocketry" (p. 20). by Bruce Levison. Would anyone have a link to where I could find and read that article? Thanks brett Tripods have a notoriously high center of gravity and will tip over in a breeze or if there is side load (like when the rocket 'twangs" the rod). You are much better off with a low center of gravity launch pad made from wood boards or PVC pipe. Use a large blast deflector. Large ceramic tile is great. Cheap and easy to replace if it cracks. -Fred Shecter NAR 20117 http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsassZshreadvector  Signature"""Remove "zorch" from address (2 places) to reply. > WoW. That's it! I can't believe it's been almost 30 years since I've > launched a bunch of rockets that pad. I was speaking to my brother this [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > brett > Tripods have a notoriously high center of gravity and will tip over in a breeze or if > there is side load (like when the rocket 'twangs" the rod). You should find a tripod that's older than you. That's what I used to use for my tower until someone broke the pan head at NARAM-21. It was solid enough to hold a 3' tower horizontally without tipping over. They don't make them like that any more. SignatureBob Kaplow NAR # 18L >>> To reply, there's no internet on Mars (yet)! <<< Kaplow Klips & Baffle: http://nira-rocketry.org/Document/MayJun00.pdf www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/ www.nira-rocketry.org www.nar.org "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, except to encourage attendance in Christian churches; or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, except to require prayer in schools; or abridging the freedom of speech, except for those questioning the Bush administration; or of the press, except that not owned by Rupert Murdoch; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, except those protesting pre-emptive wars; and to petition the government for a redress of grievance, except those we don't like." -former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart > battery. Does this possibly ring a bell to any of the modelers on this > list? Does anyone still remember who made this launch pad and even [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Brett Try this for a picture. Centuri and estes catalogs that go waaay back. http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/rockets.html http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/catalogs/centuri74/74cena.html > http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/catalogs/centuri74/74cena.html Bill, Didn't you say the other day (perhaps on another forum) that you had one of these but the terminals didn't line up with the battery you had? Looking at the pic, the PowrPad calls for a 6V lantern battery. But all the batteries I've seen in that form factor have always been 12V. EG, http://www.radioshack.com/sm-eveready-12v-heavy-duty-replacement-lantern-battery --pi-2104682.html All the 6V lantern batteries I'm used to seeing have square tops (2.6"x2.6"x4"). From the Centuri page, there were apparently 6V batteries in that larger size as well. I'm wondering if maybe they were manufactured with the terminals in slightly different positions to keep folks from inadvertently connecting the wrong voltage (although using 12V is usually an improvement in rocket launchers). Is that it? You think that's why your battery won't mate with your launcher? Doug <playing Bill's straight man on the web for over three years now...> I wrote: > From the Centuri page, there were apparently 6V > batteries in that larger size as well. Here's what I found after Googling for a while: It's an ANSI or NEDA 918, also known as an IEC 4R25-2 (The -2 is very important.) Vendor in the UK has them: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Free_UK_Delivery/6V_Heavy_Duty_Lantern_Battery_31493/6V_ Heavy_Duty_Lantern_Battery_31493.htm http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31493&TabID=1&C=SEO&U=StaticPages&d oy=search&MenuName=6V%20HEAVY%20DUTY%20LANTERN%20BATTERY HTH. Doug I wrote: > Didn't you say the other day (perhaps on another forum) that you had one > of these but the terminals didn't line up with the battery you had? <snip> > I'm wondering if maybe they were manufactured with the terminals in > slightly different... Here, I found the mechanical drawings on the web. http://home.flash.net/~samily/stuff/732.pdf (12V) http://home.flash.net/~samily/stuff/ZB66.pdf (6V) About 10mm (.4") of difference in the terminal spacing, but the batteries are otherwise very close dimensionally. Doug Looks like that's what I'm up against. The 6V dimensions look to be perfect. I dug the launcher and battery out last night, but I haven't had time to look it over except to notice that it's an Eveready battery. I'll take some pics and post them at YORF later this week. > Looks like that's what I'm up against. The 6V dimensions look to be > perfect. I dug the launcher and battery out last night, but I haven't > had time to look it over except to notice that it's an Eveready > battery. I'll take some pics and post them at YORF later this week. Hi, Bill, Here's another source, this one in the States. Bill Richardson sent it to me: > They make a 6 volt in that form also > Check out http://www.cheapbatteries.com/lantern.htm > Scroll down to Energizer Alkaline 6V screw top Double Size #EV521 It looks to be just right. Doug I got 6v batteries for my five Powr-Pads from Batteries Plus. I had to paint them red and white to look right but they are the exact dimensions for the launcher. The Powr-Pads were a gift from the wife. Bless her. Chuck W Sharc, NAR Section 613 www.flysharc.org Sharc, the section where two out of three certification flights always work just fine! |
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