dpower
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- Joined
- Jan 18, 2009
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I've been doing Q-Jet clustering for a few months now, 2, 3, 4 at a time of the same motor, and sometimes mixing with BP motors. Today is the first time I clustered 7, in a Semroc Hydra VII. Just for kicks, I mixed B4 and B6 motors to see if the slightly different thrust curves would present any issues, as the B4 gets up to pressure faster than the B6. So it flew on 4xB4 motors + 3 B6 motors, using the stock starters. All 7 lit nearly instantaneously with a 12v relay system, and it got up to 700-800' in a hurry, roughly the equivalent of an E34. I've had this model since 2006, usually fly it twice a year, so estimate it's burned nearly 300 18mm motors.
I also flew a Green Bay Packer themed Deuces Wild on a pair of Q-Jet B6-4s. It seemed to get off the pad a bit more slowly than a BP cluster of B6 motors, but I have no data to support that, other than my calibrated eyeballs. The twin smoke trails weren't as visible as I'm used to, so I'll stick with FJ propellant, or BP motors in the future.
These Q-Jets are fun, and cluster very well - while I'm not enamored with the thrust curve of the B motors (can we have a B8 or B10, please?), I'll continue to fly the C12/C18/D16/D20. I expect the D22/E26 motors will cluster equally well, and would be well suited to my upscale Hydra VII (7x24mm). A cluster of 7x D12 motors doesn't get it off the rail as quick as I'd like, so I usually add 1 or 2 CTI E31 motors. With the D22/E26, that shouldn't be necessary - and they're far less costly than the CTI E22/E31.
Nice work, Aerotech!
I also flew a Green Bay Packer themed Deuces Wild on a pair of Q-Jet B6-4s. It seemed to get off the pad a bit more slowly than a BP cluster of B6 motors, but I have no data to support that, other than my calibrated eyeballs. The twin smoke trails weren't as visible as I'm used to, so I'll stick with FJ propellant, or BP motors in the future.
These Q-Jets are fun, and cluster very well - while I'm not enamored with the thrust curve of the B motors (can we have a B8 or B10, please?), I'll continue to fly the C12/C18/D16/D20. I expect the D22/E26 motors will cluster equally well, and would be well suited to my upscale Hydra VII (7x24mm). A cluster of 7x D12 motors doesn't get it off the rail as quick as I'd like, so I usually add 1 or 2 CTI E31 motors. With the D22/E26, that shouldn't be necessary - and they're far less costly than the CTI E22/E31.
Nice work, Aerotech!