RockSim Virtual Rocket Contest #2 CONTEST - IS OVER! Contests:   All   Previous   Next

Essence's Model Rocketry Reviews (EMRR) is happy to introduce a second "virtual" rocket contest. We are excited as this has been a never-before-done "virtual" rocket activity and we see no limits. So this time, with our wonderful sponsors, we are off to stage 2 of our "virtual" program.... or should I say 2-Stage "Virtual" Rocket Contest.

So, grab your copy of RockSim (or the Demo version) and build a rocket that meets the requirements below and we will have a virtual "flying" contest on July 21, 2003.

Contest Requirements:

• RockSim Owners: Entry must be (1) RKT file
• RockSim DEMO Entries: Entry must include the following:
  • All the information from the Parts List
  • A drawing of your fins
  • Thickness of your fins (material is in Parts List)
  • Location of your fins with reference to the rear of the rocket in inches
• Name your Rocket
• Contestants may only have (1) entry
• Contestants must be on EMRR's Announcement List to be eligible
• 1% Bonus will be gained on each contest flight if you build, fly and produce pictures of the rocket:
  • (1) Picture of the rocket static
  • (1) Picture of the rocket launching or descending
• Entries must be received by 7/20/2003.
• Contest will take place from 7/21 - 7/27.

CLICK HERE FOR Q A

CLICK HERE FOR Fine Print

RockSim Rocket Design Requirements:

• Specifics
  • You must choose your motors for Contest #1 and #3
  • You must select your rod angle for 3 different wind conditions (Drag Race):
    • 1) 0 mph
    • 2) 5 mph
    • 3) 10 mph
• Booster
  • Choose:
    • 3 motor - 1x 18mm + 2x 13mm
    • - OR -
    • 5 motor - 1x 18mm + 4x 13mm
  • Length between 6" and 12"
  • Diameter - a standard tube size (selected from RockSim Database)
  • Fins - must have at least 7 points in custom design (include leading a trailing edges)
  • Fins can not be any thinner than 1/8" of an inch
• Sustainer
  • 18mm motor, single, ignited from center 18mm motor
  • Length between 12" and 36"
  • Diameter must be selected from the RockSim Database and must be... choose:
    • at least 1/2x diameter of the booster (ex. Booster is 2.16" then sustainer must be less than 1.08" and in the database)
    • -OR-
    • at least 2x diameter of the booster (ex. Booster is 0.976" then sustainer must be less than 1.95" and in the database)
  • Fins - must have at least 9 points in custom design (include leading a trailing edges)
  • Fins can not be any thinner than 1/16" of an inch
  • Allowed but not to exceed 1 ounce Mass Object may be used in Nose Cone clearly named
• Materials must be standard weights that are in the Rocksim database
• Materials must be standard thicknesses that are in the Rocksim database
• Must include realistic recovery and launch lugs (motor hook is optional)
• NO CP Overrides
• NO Mass Overrides
• NO additional Mass Objects for adjusting weight and CP
  • Allowed Mass Objects are realisticly sized/weight shock cord, eye-screws, etc.
• Must have at least 1 caliber of stability (RockSim Based)
  • 3 motor booster - loaded with Estes C6 and Estes A10 motors
  • 5 motor booster - loaded with Estes C6 and Estes 1/2A3 motors
• Select the rocket part colors that your would like to see posted

• Allowable Motors:
  • Estes Motor File for RockSIM <here>:
  • Booster 18mm - C6-0 or B6-0
  • Booster 13mm - 1/4A3-0; 1/2A3-0; A3-0; A10-0
  • Sustainer 18mm - 1/2A6-2; A8-3,5; B4-2,4; B6-2,4,6; C6-3,5,7

Contest Events:

• Your rocket will be flown in (4) "contest" conditions events and will accumulate a total score:
  1. 1/2 Miler: your rocket will fly in RockSim "default" conditions with a standard Estes motor combination (your choice). The objective is to be closest to 1/2 mile without going over (2640). - See Results
  2. Max Altitude: your rocket will fly with a "contest mass override", RockSim "default" conditions, and with a "contest" motor combination. The placement score will be the Altitude (ft). - See Results
  3. Low and Slow: your rocket will fly in RockSim "default" conditions with a standard Estes motor combination (your choice). The booster must not go over 200 feet and the sustainer must not go more than 500 feet/sec. The placement score will be based on lowest booster (feet) and the slowest velocity (f/s). - See Results
  4. Drag Race: your rocket will compete in a double-eliminate drag race in "contest conditions", with a "contest" motor combination. 3 points are up for grab for each flight. 1st) Fastest to clear launch rail (sec) with 36" rod, 2nd Longest time to landing (sec), and 3rd Lowest Range (closest to pad in feet). (note required input for rod angle - above) - See Results

* NOTE: All "contest" settings and entries will not be disclosed until all entries are in!

PRIZE TABLE:

	Tony Huet's Legal Fund Raising - LDRS 21 DVD
	Caveman's Redmax
	Two Kits of your choice of design.
	One $20 Gift Certificate for something of your choice!
	One complete "Eye in the Sky" exotic Digital Camera Rocket
	Set of Advanced Information Reports: #1 - Motor Installation #4 - Ace Fugue Shroud Method #5 - Boosted Dart Theory #6 - Motor Selection and Performance Optimization #7 - Ground Support Equipment #8 - Stability #10 - Advanced Construction Techniques

Let the Games Begin!

NAME OF ENTRANT	NAME OF ROCKET	FILE	Final STANDING!
#11 - Chan Stevens	The Fat Flash		1
Length = 19.71" B L/W = 7.46"/1.75" S L/W = 12.25"/0.736" Weight = 1.926 oz Fin Pts B/S = 7/9 N Weight = 0.334 oz
EMRR Comments: Chan submitted this highly refined design. His efforts paid off in just the first 3 events. He really used various motors for his 1/2 mile attempt and was within 3" of exactly 1/2 mile!

#10 - Bob Cox	Wrath of Zeus		2
Length = 23.75" B L/W = 9.75"/1.637" S L/W = 14"/0.736" Weight = 1.879 oz Fin Pts B/S = 9/10 N Weight = 0.0 oz
EMRR Comments: Zoing! My eyes bugged out when I first saw this one! Then they did again when I saw the performance numbers! Wouldn't ya'll like to see this one built! A Sport Rocketry design article!

#12 - Mike Mangieri	Blue Needle		3
Length = 26.188" B L/W = 11.438"/2.217" S L/W = 14.75"/0.736" Weight = 2.625 oz Fin Pts B/S = 7/11 N Weight = 0.1 oz
EMRR Comments: This one should be named, the Needle in the Haystack! It was lost, although submitted on time for the contest. I have added it back in with only one day to go in the contest!

#1 - Evan Schmidt	Jagger		4
Length = 29.25" B L/W = 11.25"/2.217" S L/W = 18"/0.736" Weight = 2.296 oz Fin Pts B/S = 7/15 N Weight = 0.71 oz
EMRR Comments: Well, I was nervous until this first entry came in to the new contest. Are the rules too complicated? Have I took it over the edge from being fun? Apparently not. The looks of this first entry also impressed me and made me look forward to the next.

#2 - Frank Ross	Double Digital		1% Bonus (1)(2) 5
Length = 21.475" B L/W = 7"/2.217" S L/W = 14.475"/0.976" Weight = 2.585 oz Fin Pts B/S = 24/23 N Weight = 0.875 oz
EMRR Comments: This is our 2nd contest and Frank's second time to compete. He seems to have "style" in design and wouldn't ya know it... he builds these designs too!

#9 - Bruce Levison	RockSimmer241		6
Length = 25.7" B L/W = 6"/1.875" S L/W = 19.7"/0.736" Weight = 2.939 oz Fin Pts B/S = 7/9 N Weight = 1.0 oz
EMRR Comments: This is another one that just has nice looks (to me). You could expect to see this one build, kitted and sold. It is so clean.

#3 - Dick Stafford	2SQRT Minus 1 * Note: Dick used his Virtual Contest #1 Rocket as his Sustainer - COOL!		7 (tied)
Length = 22.850" B L/W = 8.5"/2.217" S L/W = 14.35"/0.736" Weight = 7.344 oz Fin Pts B/S = 11/18 N Weight = 0.0 oz
EMRR Comments: Well, at one point I mentioned that the second, 2-stage contest would get bonus points for using the first contests rocket as the sustainer for this contest. Dick took that to heart! Sorry, no bonus points, but very innovative.

#8 - Clive Davis	Radventure		7 (tied)
Length = 28.5" B L/W = 7.75"/2.217" S L/W = 20.75"/0.736" Weight = 1.717 oz Fin Pts B/S = 8/15 N Weight = 0.847 oz
EMRR Comments: I found this to be a very interesting interpretation of the booster length. Had to re-read the rules several times! It complies. The other interesting point on this rocket.... the ONLY one with the 3-motor booster configuration!

#4 - Jim Myers	Ballistic Surplus		9
DEMO ENTRY Length = 43.857" B L/W = 8.157"/1.637" S L/W = 35.7"/0.736" Weight = 2.296 oz Fin Pts B/S = 9/11 N Weight = 0.375 oz
EMRR Comments: Jim gave us our first "outside" boosters and by far the longest rocket in the bunch. Sleek design, almost made me establish a 48" rod standard for the drag race.

#5 - Doug Gardei	Rocketry Defender		10
Length = 36.022" B L/W = 6.322"/2.217" S L/W = 29.7"/0.736" Weight = 1.628 oz Fin Pts B/S = 15/11 N Weight = 0.0 oz
EMRR Comments: Ah, yes, Doug's. He was the first one to get busy on this "fin points" aspect. And just look at those fins!

#6 - Jeff Davenport	Flaming Sparrow		11
Length = 31.335" B L/W = 10.5"/1.637" S L/W = 20.835"/0.736" Weight = 2.259 oz Fin Pts B/S = 7/9 N Weight = 0.50 oz
EMRR Comments: Jeff also came in with some "point" filled fins and outside boosters. Jeff's sustainer to booster looks very interesting!

#7 - Herb Estus	Slow Mover		12
DEMO ENTRY Length = 27.653" B L/W = 9.25"/2.6" S L/W = 18.403"/1.3" Weight = 6.387 oz Fin Pts B/S = 7/10 N Weight = 0.35 oz
EMRR Comments: Herb may be building too many Astron Spaceman rockets because he came in with the widest load of all. It has an interesting look and would draw peoples' attention at a launch. Now before you knock it, it is the first (of two) 3-motor boosters and it is the Lowest and the Slowest flier of the bunch!

EVENT #1 -1/2 Miler: your rocket will fly in RockSim "default" conditions (6.04 or 7.01) with a standard Estes motor combination (your choice). The objective is to be closest to 1/2 mile without going over (2640).

• Comments: I found the submissions to be straightforward and most stuck with the 4xA10, C6, C6-7 combo, however, Chan varied his motors to get the 1/2 mile.

EVENT #2 - Max Altitude: your rocket will fly with a "contest mass override", RockSim "default" conditions (6.04 or 7.01), and with a "contest" motor combination. The placement score will be the Altitude (ft).

• Comments: For the 5-motor boosters, the contest motors were 4xB7 (Apogee), D21(AT) + D3-15 (Apogee). For the 3-motor boosters, the contest motors were 2xC6 (Apogee), D21 (AT)+ D3-15 (Apogee). Each section of the rocket was set to 2.0 ounces with the empty CG's entered into the Mass Override.

EVENT #3 -Low and Slow: your rocket will fly in RockSim "default" conditions (6.04 or 7.01) with a standard Estes motor combination (your choice). The booster must not go over 200 feet and the sustainer must not go more than 500 feet/sec. The placement score will be based on lowest booster (feet) and the slowest velocity (f/s).

• Comments: In my test cases, this seemed to be harder than it was. But this contest really defined some of the capabilities of the other contests by forcing a slow or heavy booster and not letting that sustainer take off too fast. I really expected to draw more 3-cluster boosters for this contest.

EVENT #4 - Drag Race: your rocket will compete in a double-eliminate drag race in "contest conditions", with a "contest" motor combination. 3 points are up for grab for each flight. 1st) Fastest to clear launch rail (sec) with 36" rod, 2nd Longest time to landing (sec), and 3rd Lowest Range (closest to pad in feet). (note required input for rod angle - above)

• Comments: For the 5-motor boosters, the contest motors were 4x1/4A, A8 + A8-3 or 5. For the 3-motor boosters, the contest motors were 2x1/2A, A8 + A8-3 or 5. Wind was set to 10 mph and the entrant's launch angle was used.
• Talk about a couple of close races... and this is what adds the chance to the Drag Race. Dick Stafford (#3) verses Chan Stevens (#11) first heat: Dick was slower off the pad (that big heavy booster!), but Dick stayed in the air for ~4 more seconds, however Chan landed 3.3 feet closer to the pad! Then Dick's second heat verses Frank Ross (#2). Dick slower off the pad, stayed in the air 11 seconds longer, but Frank had the overall best range... 5 feet. Closest to Pad!

EMRR Comments: I thought about changing the Drag Race format to 3 races with all entries flying at once (virtually). Rather than changing it for this contest, I am going to simply run it in parallel to show the entries the results. If this was used the top 1 through 3 (overall) performers did not change. It is less dramatic than the double-elimination, but is better at ensuring the performance is ranked accurately.

QA

• How does this Bonus thing work?
  • The 1% bonus improves your virtual flights by 1%. For example if you fly to 1540 feet, you will be recorded at 1555 feet. Yes, not much, but we suspect some very close competition and it is geared toward a "virtual" rocket contest, but we wanted to award some that actually built the rocket.
• If we submit a design and it doesn't qualify for some reason, are we allowed to rework the design and resubmit or even submit a new design?
  • Yes, either, both...we will review them and let you know.
• How are Contest Points scored?
  • Each of the first 3 events have a "placement score" described. That placement score will then be reversed ranked by the total number of entries. This will give the maximum number of points to the winner in the event. For example, if there are (4) entries and in contest #3 (minimum altitude) and entry #1 gets 800 feet, #2 810 feet, #3 750 feet and #4 950 feet. Then the scores will be 4 points for #3, 3 points for #1, 2 points for #2 and 1 point for #4.
• You say materials must be those listed in RockSim ... can I build/design any part using those materials?
  • Yes, you may, except the body tubes which must come from the database. Other parts: this does not imply that you have to take the part from the database.
• I'm a little confused about the rules for the the diameter of the sustainer section...
  • Yep, I really lost people on this one. The idea is that the tube is selected from the database, so in my example above I chose two tubes, 1 for the booster and 1 that was at least 1/2x the diameter of the booster tube (meaning 1/2 or smaller). For the other one I chose two tubes, 1 for the booster and 1 that was at least 2x the diameter of the booster tube (meaning 2x or larger).
• Do you have to use "real" motor combos. For instance, Rocksim will let you use a 1/2A6-0 18 mm booster engine for the low and slow, even though no engine was ever produced. Do you have to limit the 18 mm booster engines to C6-0 and B6-0?
  • Yes, for the cases that you choose the motors, they must be "real" available motors. EXCEPTION: see below, all 13mm in booster will be set to 0 delay.
• I just went to the 2003 Estes catalog and found there were *no* -0 mini motors. When you select a motor with a delay in the booster, my sim goes nuts and assumes ejection occurs in the booster. So, can we use A10-0 or 1/4A3-0 in the booster anyways? Pretty much have to. In the real world delayed 13mm motors could be used and eject from the rocket.
  • Yes. This is now a requirement.
• On the "Low and Slow", I know how to find the sustainer velocity, but how do you determine the booster altitude vs the total?
  • You must use the plotted graph to find it. Zoom to where the thrust goes to zero from the booster and starts for the sustainer. Mark your Altitude
• How does this Drag Race, Double-Elimination thingy work?
  • See Here

The winners agree to write a kit review using the format guidelines included in EMRR's site. Previous winners are eligible for future Rocket Give-Away. EMRR assumes no responsibility for the kit once it leaves our location. EMRR is not liable for any damages or injury caused by the assembly or use of the kit.