Page 1 of 1

manufactured fins

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:58 pm
by Water Rocket Expert
I am building high altitude unreinforced 2 liter water rockets. I was wondering if I entered the unreinforced competition, if I could use anti gravity's ring fins. I probably could make my own, but then I still would like to know. The rules say you can't raid hobby shops for nose cones and fins, but it didn't say anything about purchasing online.

Can someone clarify?

Re: manufactured fins

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 6:38 pm
by WRA2
Water Rocket Expert wrote:I am building high altitude unreinforced 2 liter water rockets. I was wondering if I entered the unreinforced competition, if I could use anti gravity's ring fins. I probably could make my own, but then I still would like to know. The rules say you can't raid hobby shops for nose cones and fins, but it didn't say anything about purchasing online.

Can someone clarify?
No those fins or any other that are purchased as purposely manufactured "rocket fins" would not be allowed.

You have to make your own.

Re: manufactured fins

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:12 pm
by Water Rocket Expert
That you. I suppose for ring fins just part of a pet bottle with wood dowel struts or maybe something lighter.

Re: manufactured fins

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:06 pm
by Water Rocket Expert
So I guess Ken Schellenburg can use his own manufactured fins; right?

Re: manufactured fins

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:28 pm
by WRA2
Water Rocket Expert wrote:So I guess Ken Schellenburg can use his own manufactured fins; right?
If he has them made in a factory...no.

If he makes them personally...Yes.

Yes I know that the performance advantage would be negligible to use manufactured fins but the spirit of the rule is to encourage teams to design and build all their own parts rather than just buying them.

Re: manufactured fins

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:09 pm
by Water Rocket Expert
I'm sure you've seen the images of his facility. if he owns the facility can he use them because he made them?

Re: manufactured fins

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:12 pm
by WRA2
Water Rocket Expert wrote:I'm sure you've seen the images of his facility. if he owns the facility can he use them because he made them?
If he makes them himself, he could use them but if he has a subcontractor mold them for him then he could not use those.

You could use a "water rocket expert" nosecone but Anti gravity could not buy a "water rocket expert" nosecone from you nosecone and use it.

Re: manufactured fins

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 9:33 pm
by Water Rocket Expert
Understood. Remember, Water Rocket Expert is a username, not a team name.

Re: manufactured fins

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 10:30 pm
by U.S. Water Rockets1
Water Rocket Expert wrote:So I guess Ken Schellenburg can use his own manufactured fins; right?
Those fins are designed for his small nozzle rockets. They would most likely rip to pieces if you were going for a record and used a big nozzle such a flight would require.

Re: manufactured fins

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:23 am
by Water Rocket Expert
Actually my highest altitude single pop bottle rocket was using a reduced nozzle of 12mm. Can't be as small as his because of the camera.