Estes Mercury Redstone "D" Motor

Big Chuck launching the Estes Mercury Redstone, Liberty Bell 7 rocket. Engine mount was modified by me to accept a "D" engine.This flight was powered by a "D"12-3 engine. This was the first flight, and all went well.
More flights to come!

[@packersprik]

The Mercury Redstone rockets are the COOLEST rockets ever built. Great job building your replica of it Charles.

[@loydhenderson6945]

Awesome running catch.

[@sbrackets]

Thanks Stephen, That Estes Executioner is one sweeeeeet rocket!! I still have mine and is in great shape.

[@24kGoldenRocket]

Nice video...FWIW...I'd have used a D12-5 as the unmodified model uses a C6-3. A 5 second delay is optimal for your modification using the D Engine. You are doubling the Impulse, from C6 to D12, and you are achieving a higher altitude as a result. But your recovery deployment is happening too early, during the coast phase of the ascent, and that early deployment is retarding the achievement of attaining the highest altitude....which defeats the purpose of powering that model with a D engine in the first place. Ideally the recovery deployment happens at the instant that the rocket peaks at apogee and is traveling at zero velocity. When the rocket is ascending, and, if the recovery deployment happens too early, then you stand the risk of the shock cord zippering the skin. Likewise when it is descending and if the recovery deployment happens too late, as the rocket has picked up velocity while accelerating toward terra firma, then you also stand the risk of the shock cord zippering the skin. When doubling the impulse you also need to consider increasing the recovery deployment delay time...unless you are modifying an extremely and notoriously under powered model like the Estes Kit #1284 Space Shuttle to fly using a D12-3 instead of the C6-3. Yes there are exceptions. But the Estes Mercury Redstone is not one of them.

[@givemetoast]

Good catch Chucky!

[@ATINKERER]

I remember seeing the real mercury redstone go up when I was a kid.

[@ChironZore]

Awesome operation!

[@theredstonehive]

Screw the countdown

[@stevehammond9156]

I built the Estes Redstone 40 years ago. I though the more powerful engine you could put in it was around a C6-5. Of course that was before the D series came out.

[@ckobo84]

They had D engines 40 years ago.

[@jdavis783]

Lol. He was like countdown?YEEET! Then touchdown by c.morgan! Sweet rocket Estes is making them again so I'm gonna get one.

[@stuartyoung4182]

I had to convert mine to D-power - I grew tired of the low-altitude, nail-biting flights on Cs. It's a recommended conversion, IMHO. Congratulations on yours!

[@gregwaters944]

Nice Catch

[@WilfredAshleyMcIsaac]

Really good launch of the Redstone, Very Cool.

[@orange70383]

Best lookin rocket ever.

[@redstone51]

Please make your next launch the WRESAT Redstone please!!! Woomera, Australia would appreciate it.

[@bigdeal7043]

I have one.......flies nice

[@stevesrocketryworkshop3763]

I like the paint job on the executioner rocket. I am currently in the process of replacing mine

[@johnbyck3451]

Nice camera work on the recovery! Did you have an altimeter on board with that D engine? Just wondering.

[@nzhou2011]

Nice countdown.lol

[@skipstalforce]

Do I remember correctly that the old mercury redstone from the 70s was smaller?

[@sheepmasterrace]

Uh, I want to buy this. What parts do I need besides the kit itself? Also, do I need to paint it

[@furyiiiplate]

GLues, razor knife, ruler.Etc ..launch pad and yes, paint.

[@journeyquest1]

Now i know what happened to my camera tripod.