TOPIC: latest news on motor availability -

Hi Guys - having used all my stock of rapiers could you advise of new motor availability. I was aware that rapiers have ceased manufacture and hoping to see some alternatives to fill the gap but so far have seen nothing. Reason I'm asking is this will probably determine which model I build during the winter . I do have stocks of original Jetex motors and pellets but have been saving these as last option. Alternatively does anyone we know have stocks of rapiers that they would consider selling ( not looking for large qty just enough to make a new build viable )..
On the Jetex front I'm also looking for a used paa loader ( got new one but prefer a secondhand one for a model called the Scorcher ) . I suppose if all else fails then its micro EDF .... any news welcome -thanks guys TB

Hi Tony, what you have written is substantially correct, I understand that Dr Z still has a few left but as Neil was flying back from his last visit over there he could not bring them back. Dr won't post them so we need someone to hand carry some back by car or train.
Roger may help out for a flight or two at Old Warden but that's about it now, return to Jetex or micro EDF is the order of the day sadly. We have had a very good run though and must be grateful to Dr Z and Neil for bringing them in and providing us with so much fun over the last twenty odd years. Everything changes of course. Good luck with the Scorcher, that looks fun, keep us posted with any build and flying pics. Howard

Hi Guys,
Howard is essentially correct about the Rapier situation. Dr Z has stock left over ( hundreds rather than thousands) but the problem is bringing 'em back alive. Collecting them from Prague entails a long rail (or, cheaper) coach trip.

Plans for a 'Rapier L-2' replacement through a couple of German contacts have so far not borne fruit, but one lives in hope

On a happier note, Jetex motors and pellets (if not so much fuse) is still 'out there' and I've had fun this year finding out that Sebel pellets are still pretty potent .
I have a couple of PAA Loaders, Tony, with tins of pellets, gauzes and washers that can be yours for an agreed sum. Just let me know !

Thanks all for response ,appreciated . I agree that we have been fortunate having Dr Z on hand for so may years -- still sad though when a finally reliable and consistent product to power our models becomes unavailable . I really hope that an alternative is found , in the meantime we shall see. Roger appreciate the offer on Paa loader ,, based on this I am going to hopefully start on the Scorcher build . The model is designed by Stan Chilton and was published in the March 1976 edition of Flying Models. I will use my current Paa loader for setting up model ,, will talk with you ref agreed sum later .. At some point I am going to build another Vindscreen Viper to replace the model I lost at Old Warden (got several Scorpions and adequate fuels for this one ) ,, loved that model and the noise of the scorpion -- TB

Note added by Roger:

Here's the Scorcher (not sure I've got the right one, though, note the augmenter tube) so we know what Tony is building for his PAA Loader.





This looks to be a pretty potent model. My own PAA Loaders consistently give a much higher thrust and shorter duration then spec (not sure what is going on here) so I look forward to seeing this one climb vertically into the wide blue yonder.

Hi guys,

The good news: all being well, I will be receiving a consignment of 300 (or so) genuine Rapier L-2 motors soon.

I will make these available in small batches to flyers after I have checked them over, tested them and sorted them into batches. I aim to provide them in proper boxes with printed specs and instructions.

So you can build that new Rapier model for the coming season with some confidence that you will have the means to propel it!
I hope to have news of other motors soon, so watch this space.

I have now sorted through the batch of 300 or so L-2 motors that the estimable Terry Kidd collected from Dr Zigmund earlier this year. They were labelled "19 sec, "20 sec", "22 sec" and "L-2 LT 26 sec". I would guess, that, as in the past, these labels are Dr Z's best (theoretical?) estimations, so it is always worth putting a couple on the test rig and see what happens.

This I have now done with these, with the following results:



Note that the '+ -' refers to the standard deviation of the actual thrust data; the range of thrusts over the burn duration was greater than these figures might suggest. As usual there was an initial high 'pulse' of thrust before it settled down (and one would launch the model!).
The first thing to say is that all these motors are usable: the L-2 LT, which would be just perfect for a light profile model and the '19 sec' motor will be very happy in a built up scale job. We have quite a lot of these so they will be my 'default' choice on the flying field and to share. As can be seen, that the more thrust, the less duration, so these results kinda make sense. All motors lit well.

This is encouraging, so I'm now ready to box up batches of motors pass on these to happy flyers. All boxes will be labelled with the motor spec and my confidence that what you see on the box is what is inside!



Prices will be £15 for a box of 10, £25 for a box of 20. I estimate p & p will be about £3.50 within the UK.

So, as they say, "Hurry Hurry while stocks last".

When these stocks are finished, we are now in the happy position of being able to fly with the TSP motors (see the separate thread on these new motors).