15 days have clipped by and I just wanted to do a public status check. Please respond to this note with something as simple as, "I'm in and progressing". If you'd like to expand on that, please do. Perhaps what you are working on.
I'm concerned that Descon12 is too complicated to get the full mission point, but want to encourage all to focus on getting at least some of the mission point if they can't get it all (that's what I will be doing)...
oh, yes.... I'm in and progressing on ... something, but I am going for MicroMaxx + Cluster for 0.4 mission points.
I guess progressing is a word.. I received "The Kit" from FlisKits, quickly and with exceptional service, now I stare at it occasionally..wondering... Having no experience with MM motors, I do have a question or two.
What would be the best way to light a cluster of these tiny things? Flash or electrically with the supplied ignitors?
Does anyone know what a ballpark weight is that each motor would be capable of lifting?
My first thought was to tape an F straight to the bag, and light her up, I am not a fan of Science Fiction typically, so this should be an challenge for me.
Not in yet but thinking about it. My hang up is that I have yet to figure out how to cluster the 8-10 or so micromaxx motors that will be necessary to get my model airborne. Can anybody help out here. I suppose I could extract the igniters from their plastic casings and then parallel wire them to the controller.
As for comedy sci-fi ships ... not many of them come to mind (Wallace and Gromit). How about a "fantasy" comedy sci-fi ship?
That probably won't work well. I fly MM-powered Mosquitos and Quarks without benefit of the MM launcher, and have used several ignitiion schemes using a standard 1/8" rod and launcher.
After splitting the MM ignitor apart, they can be affixed to a clothespin clipped to the rod, but they're prone to shorting.
My latest and best technique is to sort thru my stash and use the sharpest, pointiest Estes ignitors, again taped to a clothespin. But this won't be suitable for clusters, either.
I'm thinking bare nichrome wire is the best way to go, in conjunction with some sort of specialized, homemade ignitor plug. What's needed is a short length of plastic or wood that will insert into the MM nozzle, but that has a notch on its forward end to allow the nichrome to rest on it. This should help prevent shorting and ensure the nichrome is fast against the fuel.
I suppose, if you have some non-conductive pyrogen, dipping them might be a big help. Getting them all lit at the same time would probably be much easier with some pyrogen.
The nozzles seem too small for flash pan, but if you could insert fuses into each nozzle, then flash pan might work.
DOH! I left out a couple of Saturday morning cartoon possibilities; there's the "Josie and the Pussycats" rocket (there's actually scale data of this in Jack Hagerty's 'Spaceship Handbook'!) and the Jetson's craft, as well.
Also, the Masculine/Feminine starships from the old Saturday Night Live skit, circa late 70's. I can't remember what they look like, except - well - there was a major 'snicker factor', for anyone who remembers this skit.
Bob, on the subject of sci-fi comedy ships, you mentioned the Muppet's "Pigs in Space" starship a while back. I looked for some images but couldn't find anything except bridge shots, and I'll be darned if I can remember if they ever showed the ship itself in the skits. What's your recollection?
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