From: jsvrc@rc.rit.edu (J A Stephen Viggiano)
Subject: Re: Competition Kits Question
Keywords: QCR and Apogee
Organization: RIT Research Corp
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 20:01:47 GMT

In article <1992Aug28.052740.9264@ennews.eas.asu.edu> elder@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Greg Elder) writes:
>I've decided to have a go at model rocketry competition and am
>looking at ordering some kits from Qualified Competition Rockets (QCR) and/or
>Apogee Components (streamer/parachute duration and boost glide kits).
>Does any one have an experience and or advice concerning kits from
>either of these companies?

I took second place at NYSPACE '92 regional a couple months ago with a QCR
A-R/G. (I got beat by Jeff Vincent by a measly second, and I actually did have
the best _single_ flight time.) I bought the kit from my section's president,
so I've never dealt with them directly. But it's Ken Brown's venture, he's
involved with NOVAAR (I think it is), is a real nice guy, and a great
competitor. So I imagine QCR's easy to deal with.

My overall impression of the kit is this: Ken has placed the emphasis on
turning in a qualified flight. This is the best way, IMHO, to learn competition
(coming from someone who is learning competition). Therefore, he has
eliminated as many of the things which don't contribute to this goal as
possible, like fancy packaging (kits come wrapped up in a half mil baggie),
etc. I feel that Ken's approach is very good for complicated events like
B/G and R/G; reliability is often the key in placing in complicated events.
I'm going to buy a few helicopter kits from him next.

Apogee also offers competition kits, but not as comprehensive a line as QCR.
It's run by Ed Lacroix, who is also an extremely nice individual. I've spoken
with him on the telephone a few times, and he'll talk as long as you like,
about almost anything having to do with rocketry. Ed's approach is very
different from Ken's, not that one or the other is overall better. Apogee
components are often of higher quality than those from Estes (again, IMHO),
and are often cheaper, to boot. (Minor point: I think Ed's nose cones are
shaped a little funny, but, as I mentioned, this is a minor point. I'm more
concerned about them being a _little_ heavy for duration flying.) Apogee
offers a blow-molded egg capsule, and several kits built around it, using
a very long shroud in the so-called "two minute egg" configuration.

Apogee also offers PD, SD, and Super-Roc kits. The individual components are
available, but the instructions are so well written and so clear that it's
worthwhile getting at least one kit of each type even if you prefer to
build from a collection of parts, as I do. BTW, the Apogee kits come with
fiberglass fins, and their tubes are phenolic-impregnated ("Blackshaft" is
their Apogee designation; we sometimes affectionately refer to them as
"Crackshaft" because they can be brittle), so they're great for Super-Roc.

In addition to the kits and parts, Apogee also offers special competition
engines. Last time I spoke with Ed (a few months ago; things may have changed)
he said he was low on 1/4As, but he had plenty of As. These are 13mm mini
engines; Apogee's As come with 2 and 6 second delays. They also offer
composite competition engines (a 13mm B and a 18mm C) that are smaller,
lighter, and higher in impulse than the blackpowder products. They are
also more expensive (about eight bucks a shot).

Good luck!!!!

John Viggiano, jsvrc@rc.rit.edu
NAR 25615