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Kit Specifications:
Skill Level 3: Average Skills Needed.
Length: 53” (134 cm)
Diameter: 4” (101.6 mm)
Weight (without motor): 27oz (766 gm)
Recovery Method: 36 inch Nylon parachute
ORDER This Kit NOW! Just click on the "Own It Today" button below.
Mercury Engineering
Integrator Rocket Kit
P/N: 07255
Price: $63.50
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This kit is no longer available
through Apogee Components.
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Note: There is a $2.00 freight surcharge due to the large size of the shipping carton, and the additional cost of postage. Additional shipping fees may apply for international orders.
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Recommended Motors:
Mercury Engineering Integrator Rocket
Estimated Altitude Predictions (generated using RockSim)
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Motor Used
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Comments
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Altidude - feet (meters)
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Motor Type
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First Flight
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304 feet (93 m)
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Single Use
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3 E9-6
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-
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539 feet (164 m)
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Single Use
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Composite cluster
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895 feet (273 m)
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Reloadable
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Composite cluster
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907 feet (276 m)
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Single Use
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Composite cluster
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1207 feet (368 m)
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Single Use
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See the video below for help in selecting rocket motors. Rocket motors are sold separately from the kit. If you are unsure which one to pick, start with the one recommended for the First Flight, and then another for a more impressive launch. Most motors listed in this chart are available through Apogee Components. For other motors that are not listed here, download the RockSim file to see if it will work in this rocket kit. See also Technical Publication #28 for guidance on selecting appropriate rocket engines other than those listed in this chart. If you don't already have Technincal Publication #28, give us a call, and we'll be happy to let you download it free (you have to ask though). |
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Integrator Cluster Rocket
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The Integrator rocket kit from Mercury Engineering is an advanced rocket designed to satisfy that craving for more power and bigger size without necessarily having to graduate to larger, more expensive composite motors and reload casings. This kit is transitional. It introduces the builder to some advanced high-power materials and techniques, but retains some things you already know about, like balsa fins. The Integrator name stems from this idea, and we don't know of any other rocket on the market that is more successful at implementing this transitional goal.
This idea follows through in the motor selection. Fly it first using Estes black powder motors when budget, limited altitude and smaller range recovery area drive your decision-making process. Then when you want to try high power and have found a larger range, graduate to composite motors.
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The design is classic. In fact, lots of our walk-in customers ask, "Is that an upscale Alpha?" before they see the decal. In our display area, people often gravitate to the Integrator, because it's HUGE, it's sleek, and it's stunningly beautiful. When they pick it up (and they always do), they exclaim "Wow... this is light!"
When you show up at the next launch with the Integrator, everyone will want to pick it up and check out the motor size. Then, when the countdown begins, they'll all stop prepping their rockets to turn around and watch you fly this rocket. They'll cheer when the huge parachute opens with a thump. Simply put, this is one of the coolest rockets ever.
At right is a liftoff photo of the Integrator on a 3-motor cluster of E15-4s. Now that's an impressive flight!
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The beautiful Mercury Engineering Integrator rocket kit was designed to be a HUGE rocket that is easy to assemble. There are a lot of laser-cut parts for precision mating between parts, and the thick wall tubes are stout enough to withstand big rocket engines and hard landings. Your kit also has:
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- HUGE blow-molded plastic nose cone. The nose cone is bigger by itself that a lot of rockets. That's a full-sized rattle can lying next to the nose cone! Even though it's big, it's still amazingly light.
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- Thick-wall cardboard tubes: They don't look thick because the tube is so large in diameter. But trust me, these tubes are meant to take a beating and survive some very rough landings. That means your rocket will last and last and last.
- Fin alignment lines are pre-marked on the tube. That saves you time, since you don't have to mark the fin position yourself. On big diameter tubes like this, it is actually quite tricky too. This insures your fins will be aligned straight so you get a nice lift-off
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- 36-inch Diameter Rip-Stop Nylon Cloth Parachute. A kit this big, you have to have a cloth chute for the extra durability; and you get one! You could almost jump out of a perfectly good airplane with this chute.
Elastic Shock Cord. This rocket uses the traditional elastic shock cord to attach the body tube to the nose cone. This simple, classic system works fine for this kit.
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- Balsa wood fins. Balsa is very lightweight, so these fins help keep the tail-end of the rocket light. Keeping the back end light helps insure the rocket is stable when launched. The through-the-body fin mounting system provides extra strength and rigidity, and can result in years of perfect launches.
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- Thick Card-Stock Centering Rings: Designed to take a pounding from high thrust rocket engines, but still lightweight. This keeps the rocket light allowing it to fly on D and E motors. And check this out: the 3-motor cluster centering rings are cut laser-perfect (imagine that), which makes assembling the cluster a breeze.
- Laser-Cut Rings and Fins: The precision cut of the laser makes the parts the perfect size and shape. This translates into a kit that goes together a lot faster and with less effort on your part. It's easier to get perfect alignment the first time because the fin edges are perfectly square.
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- Solid Steel Recovery System Mount. This beefy solid steel eyebolt, nut and washer assembly holds everything together. It is engineered for years of hard use.
- Water-Slide Decal. The great retro-looking full color decals give a level of finish that forces people to gaze in wonder.
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- D and E engine cluster. This is a "full meal deal", with metal motor clips, spacers for D motors and engine blocks. It allows quicker prep in the field so you can be flying instead of prepping. This gives you great midpower altitude capabilities with readily available and inexpensive black powder motors.
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What Makes This a Skill Level 4 Rocket?
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This Mercury Engineering Integrator rocket uses traditional construction techniques you are familiar with from building smaller model rockets. It can be assembled using wood glue, and goes together in a straightforward manner.
However, there are four things that push it into the skill level 4 category. First, it is a bigger rocket that uses heavy wall tubes. While the tubes don't make the rocket any harder to assemble, it does require extra safety precautions when flown. Patience and acquired flying skills to know when NOT to fly are just as important as quality construction techniques.
Second, you will need to use epoxy to glue some of the components together. Epoxy can be messy and can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Always use caution when working with epoxy resins.
Third, the integrator is large and heavy enough to require FAA notification before launching. Most NAR clubs do this as a normal part of their regularly scheduled lanches, but please confirm notification with the Range Safety Officer before you launch this rocket. If you want to launch this kit by yourself from a farm or park, we'd be glad to walk you through the notification process. It's easy.
Fourth, getting multiple cluster motors to ignite all at once can be a challenge, especially if they're composite motors. The composite motors listed in the chart above are easier to light than some others, so choose wisely. The composite igniters draw a lot of current, so make sure you have good quality igniters like the First Fire Jr. Also, make sure you have a fully-charged car battery to fire the igniters.
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Tools needed to assemble this rocket kit:
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Masking Tape
- Hobby Knife
- Wood Glue or 5-Minute Epoxy
- Fix-It Epoxy Clay To Make Fin Fillets.
To Launch This Rocket Kit, You'll Also Need:
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Mercury Engineering
Integrator rocket kit:
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Q. What launch pad should I use to launch the Mercury Engineering Integrator rocket Kit?
- A. We recommend the Estes Porta-Pad "E"® launch pad. Click Here for more information. This pad will hold this huge rocket stable, even when a stiff breeze is blowing.
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Q. How easy is it to hook up and launch a cluster rocket?
- A. It is pretty simple. The only thing special you need is a clip whip to hook up both igniters at the same time.
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Q. I need help selecting motors. What should I do?
- A. Watch this YouTube video.
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To see how the Mercury Engineering Integrator rocket looks and performs with each motor configuration, download the FREE RockSim design file (click here).
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What is a RockSim Design file? The RockSim software gives you a lot of information about the flight characteristics of this rocket: how high, how fast, where it will land, how will it react to wind, etc. The "design file" is intended to save you time. All the parameters (size, shape, weight, fin design, etc.) of this rocket have already been entered into the RockSim program, and saved as an electronic database file. You can just open it up in your copy of RockSim and start loading different rocket motors to run launch simulations. It's fun and educational to see the rocket zoom skyward, even before you built it. For more information about RockSim and to download a FREE 30-day demo version, click here. Windows and Macintosh versions are both available.
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What is expected when you launch your model rocket?
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Are you new to rocketry? Do you think you know what happens when you launch your rocket? Now you can learn about the events that occur as your rocket is launched into the air. So when you launch your rocket, you'll be prepared and you'll be able to show off your knowledge to observers watching your rocket. This article also gives you links to other references that will give you even more background information about rocketry, so you can become a true rocket scientist and expert.
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"My package arrived very fast and in great shape. You guys have excellent shipping and even better commmunication with your customers. It is always nice to know the status of one's order as it progresses through recieving to shipping. It makes web ordering much nicer." -- Chris Vandeca
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This page last updated on: 09/11/09
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Shipping and Handling Fees:
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To estimate the shipping charges, please see our shipping information page. This page also explains how items are shipped, as well as offering you additional shipping options.
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