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This primer presents, in one place, all the information you need to succeed in NAR model competition in this event.
TCC has provided a link to the official rules whenever we discuss a rule.
Your entry must:
* Comply with the NAR Model Rocket Safety Code: http://www.nar.org/NARmrsc.html USMRSC 2.2
* Be a model rocket as described by the United States Model Rocket Sporting Code. USMRSC 3.1-3.9
* Use NAR Contest Approved motors: http://www.nar.org/SandT/NARenglist.shtml USMRSC 4.1, 4.4
* NOT eject its motor casing(s) without a recovery system. USMRSC 9.2
* Have your NAR number or your name on the outside, large and clear enough that the contest officials can easily read it. Teams must use the Team number or name. USMRSC 9.4
* Have been constructed by yourself or by one or more members of your Team. You may not enter Ready-To-Fly rockets (no construction required) in NAR sanctioned competition. USMRSC 9.9
Know the rules
Your having a grasp of the bigger picture can increase your enjoyment of NAR competition. You can read the Pink Book Lite to see only the rules for competitors, not for Contest Directors or other contest officials. Read the full USMRSC (Pink Book) to see all the rules.
* Pink Book Lite: https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/USMRSCLight.html
* Full USMRSC: http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/
General Competition Tips:
TCC NAR Competition Strategy and Tactics
Contest Etiquette by Kevin Paul Wickart, NAR 59720, cr 1998, the author
Beginning Competition -- The RSVP Principle by Kevin Paul Wickart, NAR 59720, cr 1998, the author
Guide to NAR Contest Rocketry Information for Beginners by Jeff Vincent, NAR 27910, Northeast Regional Contest Chair
· The main rules are 9, 16, 50, and 52.
http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/9_Entries.html
http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/16_Judging.html
http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/50_SC.html
http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/52_SUSC.html
The purpose of this competition is to produce an accurate flying replica of a real rocket vehicle, and an accurate working replica of its actual launching complex; both of which exhibit maximum craftsmanship in construction, finish, and performance. USMRSC 52.1
* The model you choose to replicate must meet four main criteria:
1. Is an accurate scale model of an existing or historical guided missile, rocket vehicle, or space vehicle with its launching complex. USMRSC 52.1
2. Your entry, its flight and its launching complex must comply with USMRSC 50 and will be judged by that rule. USMRSC 52.3
3. Is not a scale model of an amateur rocket or missile, unless the prototype is of obvious historical significance. USMRSC 50.2
4. Must not be built from a plastic model kit that was not intended to fly, such as a PMC entry. USMRSC 50.4
5. Has a launching complex which will be used to actually launch the model rocket. The launching complex must comply with USMRSC 5.4, 5.5, and 5.6. The actual model rocket launching system shall be built as an integral part of the scale launching complex. The complex will be judged with the model. USMRSC 52.1
* Space Systems entries will be judged and awarded scale points in accordance with Scale Competition (SC). USMRSC 50.
* You want to construct you model carefully, to the best of your ability because judges will award points based on the quality of your work and how closer your entry matches the appearance of the real guided missile, rocket vehicle, or space vehicle. USMRSC 50.1, 50.12.5
* The launch complex will be judged for scale points at the same time and in the same manner as the rocket/missile flying portion. USMRSC 52.4
* The launch complex elements that do not directly support or guide the rocket (e.g., umbilical towers or buildings) do not have to be modeled. Their inclusion would, however, contribute to the score. USMRSC 52.4
* You should model one particular serial-numbered prototype (or round), except in the case where the prototype is in such extensive mass production that no single individual vehicle can be singled out for scaling. However, the you must make every reasonable attempt to model a specific prototype, since any generalization may detract from his/her score. USMRSC 50.6
* The launch complex must be of the same as the prototype that was used to launch the serial-numbered prototype (or round) on which your entry is modeled. USMRSC 52.5
* You can use parts from commercial plastic kits on Scale models. However, you must point this out to the judges in you supporting documentation. USMRSC 50.4
* For maximum points, no one can catch the model as it descends. You may choose to catch the model or have someone else catch it as it descends (human intervention). If anybody catches the model as it descends instead of letting it hit the ground, the judges will award maximum damage points as a penalty. USMRSC 16.7
* If the ‘human intervention’ (see above) is accidental (in the opinion of the Range Safety Officer), you can choose to accept maximum damage points or do the flight over (unofficial flight). USMRSC 16.7
* You must supply data to substantiate your model’s adherence to scale in dimensions, color, and paint pattern. USMRSC 50.7, 50.12.1, 50.12.2
* If the prototype is staged, you can fly it single staged. That is, your model will have all the stages, but only the first stage will have a motor. USMRSC 50.8
* If you enter an upper stage by itself, you must provide documentation that the upper stage did, in fact, fly by itself. For instance the WAC Corporal is a popular single stage kit. However, the actual prototype never flew without the Tiny Tim booster and is thus not suitable for Scale Competition. USMRSC 50.8
* You must return your entry to the judges so they can award damage points. USMRSC 16.8, 50.13.2
* The Contest Director can require that you return your entry. USMRSC 9.10
* You can make two flights, but the judges will use only the best flight for scoring. USMRSC 10.1
There are three sections for scoring: Static Judging, Flight Operation, and Launch Complex. Your score will be the sum of the points from these sections. USMRSC 52.8
* In Static Judging, the judges award points using the scale data you provide. You will earn points for: scale data, accuracy of major dimensions, accuracy of color and markings, accuracy of details, and craftsmanship. Scoring will take into consideration the difficulty of building the model and adapting it for flight. USMRSC 53.12
* In Flight Operation, you will earn points for the operation of the launch complex, lack of damage to the complex, and realism. USMRSC 52.7.8
* In Launch Complex scoring, you will earn points for the accuracy and craftsmanship of your launch complex. USMRSC 52.7
* Contest or Safety Officials will disqualify your entry if it fails to make a safe and stable flight. USMRSC 54.5
* Build a commercial kit that was based on an existing or historical guided missile, rocket vehicle, or space vehicle.
* Aerospace Specialist Products has Saturn Press (Peter Always) kits: http://www.asp-rocketry.com/store/category.cfm?Category=182
* Apogee Components has some very nice Saturn kits and others: http://www.apogeerockets.com
* Use plans from Sport Rocketry (http://www.nar.org/SPR/index.html), NARTS (https://blastzone.com/nar/narts/store.asp?groupid=92400111757284) or other acknowledged sources.
George Gassaway’s Scale Competition tips:
http://tccnar.tripod.com/gassaway/GassawayNARAM50Scale.html
Good info on building and packing competition parachutes:
https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/BobKaplowNAR18LCompParachute.pdf
TCC NAR
Competition Bibliography
https://ojames3.tripod.com/tccnarcontesttips/TCCNARCompArticleBib.html
Yahoo group for discussing model rocket competition:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/contestRoc/
Yahoo group for discussing Scale Competition:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scaleroc
Use computer simulations to determine altitude and sink
rate for various rocket/motor/parachute combinations.
* Free altitude simulations:
wRASP - http://www.wrasp.com/
wRASP 32 - http://tccnar.tripod.com/sims/082_wRASP32_221.zip
* Free sink rate simulation:
http://www.onlinetesting.net/cgi-bin/descent3.3.cgi
US Spacemodeling (International Competition Tips):
http://www.spacemodeling.org/new/how_to/construction.html
US Spacemodeling Home Page (International Competition):
http://www.spacemodeling.org/new/home.html
George Gassaway’s NARAM Tips:
http://tccnar.tripod.com/tcctnp/
rmr Frequently Asked Questions – Part 9: Competition and
Records:
http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/rmrfaq.9.html
Back to TCC Competition Primers