Download the Instruction Sheet
The EggTosser is our lightest weight egg lofting rocket. It is designed specifically for NAR's egglofting event.
Because it is lighter weight and more aerodynamic than other egg lofting rockets like the Courier, the EggTosser flies higher with the same rocket engines and hangs in the air for a longer duration time. This is what you need to win contests.
From the designer, Tim Van Milligan:
"I know this is not the cheapest egglofting rocket compared to other ones like the Courier. But I've been flying competition rockets since 1986, and the EggTosser is the result of all my years of experience - both success and failure. I wanted something that I would be proud to fly myself and that gives me a good chance of winning. Because winning is a lot more fun than losing."
Because it is lightweight, the EggTosser is a versatile model and can be used in both egglofting altitude and duration events.
The rocket is designed specifically for an 18mm diameter rocket motor like the standard A, B, and C size you'll find commonly available. In addition, you can use composite D size engines like the D16. And... if you leave the motor mount out when you build the kit, the rocket can take 24mm diameter motors. That means it can be used in D, E, and F egglofting events too! You might want to get two kits, so you can build one with an 18mm diameter motor mount and one for 24mm motors.
This rocket was literally designed around the egg, which is the payload that has to be carried into the air for the egglofting event. In 2016 Tim created the clear egg capsule for his own personal use. He wanted a lighter weight capsule than the vacuum-formed egg capsule that Apogee has been selling since 1995. The improved capsule has several refinements. First, it is a true elliptical shape, where the old capsule was not. The advantage is that the air flows over the front of the rocket a bit more uniform, which helps lower the drag.
We put the design through a computational Fluid Dynamic airflow simulation, and we liked what we saw. The air flowing past the nose cone remained nice and uniform and wasn't turbulent when it reached the fins. That is a good sign that the shape is good enough that the fin size can be reduced and still keep the rocket flying a straight trajectory.
The second refinement to the egg capsule was the material that it was made from. We wanted to make it lighter weight, so we started with a thinner sheet of plastic to make it from. But polystyrene can be brittle, so we chose PETG plastic. This is the same material that soda pop bottles are made from. And you know from your experience that you can drop pop bottles on a hard surface and they just don't break. So making the new nose cone from PETG plastic greatly increases the durability of the nose cone as well.
The plastic is also see-through, which means you can see the condition of the egg inside of the capsule when you pick it up after launch. If you see egg yolk, you'll know right away before you trudge back to the "returns table" and open up the capsule in front of the judges. It is really embarrassing to walk a mile back to the range head after retrieving your egg, only to find out that it was cracked. If you've experienced this like most competitors, you know what we're talking about. It's better to know early the condition of the egg.
You're probably wondering what that weird looking egg is about in the picture here. That is the "simulated egg." This comes with the kit too. This is provided because the capsule needs an egg on the inside so that it can be properly assembled. So if you want to fly the rocket without a real egg (just because it is an awesome kit that has so many cool innovations), you'll need something inside to center up the capsule pieces. You'll also need it for when you put the rocket on your display stand to keep the pieces together.
To make sure the egg is well protected, we included soft-foam cushioning that conforms both to the inside of the capsule and to the outside of the egg. We believe this will give you the best protection of the egg for the space allowed in the capsule. The cushioning makes it easy to place and remove the egg from the capsule. Just open it up, and the egg easily rolls out into the palm of your hand. And if an accident does happen and the egg gets cracked, the foam is easily washable with just soap and water. Rinse it off, let it dry out, and its ready for its next launch.
The rest of the rocket was designed around the capsule. I chose a 24mm diameter tube for the airframe because it has plenty of room for an 18" parachute. I've seen too many people try to use an 18mm diameter tube for egglofting and suffer the disaster of the chute getting stuck in the tube and never deploying. Then the rocket streamlines into the ground and the egg always goes splat. While an 18mm diameter tube would fly higher because it is lighter weight, getting a big chute to eject out of one is a major challenge. Here we are going for reliability and ease of use.
The parachute chosen for this rocket is a bright orange. In the past, I've used white colored chutes, but they blend in and camouflage easily in the environment. Unfortunately, there is a lot of white plastic trash that blows around, and you can't tell from a mile away if that is your rocket or just another wind-swept plastic bag. The orange chute is much more visible and easier to see. At 18" in diameter, the chute is a good compromise for both duration events and altitude events. For altitude events, you can cut a spill hole into the canopy of the chute so it descends a little quicker and doesn't drift as far.
For the fins, we selected an elliptical planform shape. These are smaller and lighter, plus they have very low induced drag. Make sure you sand a good airfoil into them to achieve maximum altitude from the rocket.
Of course, we cut the fins and the slots on the tube with our laser cutter. It is more expensive, but the precision makes for a better flying rocket. And the slots on the tube make sure the fins are equally spaced around the tube and aligned perfectly with the centerline of the tube. This assures a straight flight, which maximizes the altitude achieved.
While you get one with the kit, the egg capsule is also available separately if you'd like to design your own rocket around it. Click here to get an extra one. The two halves are taped together for flight. We recommend clear packaging tape because it is hard to tear and has very good adhesive.
There are four ways you can launch the EggTosser rocket kit. The first is with traditional low power launch pad which requires the use of launch lugs. The launch lugs and necessary stand-offs are provided with the rocket kit. You have the option of putting them on or leaving them off when you assemble this kit. If all you plan to do with the rocket is to launch just for fun, then putting on the lugs will be more convenient for you when you go to launch the model.
For competition flights, you'll probably want to leave the launch lugs off the rocket so that you can reduce the drag and allow the rocket to fly higher and faster. Typically, competitors will use a launch tower (like the one we sell here) to launch rockets that don't have launch lugs. This rocket will fly well out of a launch tower.
Unfortunately, most people don't have a competition launch tower. But they do have access to a launch rail because every rocket club has them available for launching high-power rockets. With a launch rail, you can use the "Fly-Away Rail Guides" that are included with the rocket kit (you can purchase extra fly-away rail guides here). This is the first rocket kit produced that comes with this unique invention. See the video below for how they are used.
There is another advantage to using a high power launch rail. That is the length of the rail. The longer the launch rail, the more time the rocket has to build up speed. The faster the rocket leaves the launcher, the straighter it will fly because it will punch through wind without weathercocking too much. Since egglofter rockets are carrying a heavier egg, they typically take off slower and weathercock more. Therefore, using the rail launcher really helps your rocket to fly straighter, which means it will go higher because it doesn't turn as much in a breeze.
The final method is to use a piston launcher to kick the rocket into the air with a higher velocity. This will get you the highest altitude with the EggTosser rocket kit. With the heavy egg on board, we recommend that you use the piston launcher in combination with the fly-away guides and the rail launcher. This will give you a higher lift-off speed and the consistency of a straight launch that you experience by using a long launch rail. Just load the rocket up on the launch rail, and put the piston under the rocket engine.
Here at Apogee, we think this product is an "average level" of challenge to build, and we label it a Skill Level 3 in construction difficulty. The core of the rocket is relatively simple to put together and you probably won't even think twice about it because it has laser-cut parts and a beautifully slotted tube. The tube is even pre-marked for the location where the optional launch lug stand-offs are glued on.
The new and different aspect of this rocket is flying it. Putting the egg in the two-part shells really requires an extra set of hands. One person needs to hold the capsule together, and the other person winds the tape carefully over the location where the edges come together. Try to get the tape as smooth as possible in order to minimize the drag and to keep the weight down.
The fly-away rail guides are also unique, and probably something you've never used before. Some things to remember are that they have to be positioned so the bottom edge is just touching the leading edge of the fin. The reason is that sometimes the rocket can slide through the fly-away rail guides quickly. If they are not touching the fins, they soon will be when the rocket takes off. Essentially, they'll slam into the front of the fins, and could damage or break off a fin. Based on experience, if they start out against the fins, they work without any damage to the fins.
The other thing to remember is that the fingers of the fly-away rail guides have to slide easily through the channel on the aluminum launch rail. If it is tight, you'll lose a lot of altitude. Don't worry, as this design for the fly-away rail guides has been sized so the fit should be perfect. But always check it before launch to make sure the rocket will slide up the rail easily.
Make sure to paint the fly-away rail guides a bright color. Since they are small and made of wood, when they fall off the rocket they look very similar to twigs and other debris laying around the launch pad. If they are painted, they are much easier to find after the launch. Generally, they land withing a 50-foot radius of the launch pad. If you have an extra friend with you on launch day, instruct them to follow the fly-away rail guides instead of the rocket.
This rocket also flies very high, so make sure you bring a friend with you to help you track it in the sky. "An extra set of eyes" never hurts. And don't forget to add a scoop of the Burst of Orange Tracking Powder to the rocket to help you spot it in the sky. It really helps.
<== Click on the image to the left to automatically start the RockSim Launch Visualizer. There is no software to download -- try it right now for FREE!
The RockSim Launch Visualizer is an interactive 3D environment where you can test fly this rocket kit. Here are some things you can try right now:
- Pick any rocket motor and a ejection delay (from 1/4A to a D-size engine)
- Change the launch angle
- View the rocket and the trajectory from any perspective
- See how high it flies, and how far it travels from the launch pad
- Get a perspective on how fast the rocket flies
- Share your launch simulations with your friends
If you create a Launch Visualizer account, you can do even more things:
- Use larger rocket motors (up to a G-size)
- Pick any launch site on the earth
- Adjust wind speed and direction
- Upload your own RockSim files to test in the Launch Visualizer
For help with the features of the RockSim Launch Visualizer, click here.
Want to put the launch visualizer widget on your website? Contact us for details.
Because the EggTosser comes from Apogee Components, you expect it to have high quality. And this kit lives up to that expectation.
When you tear open the bag, you'll find these parts inside:
Premium Quality Body Tubes - The tubes are thin-wall to reduce weight, but are plenty strong for this model. The surface is slick and smooth, which makes marking lines on them easy. Painting is also a breeze since the spirals are tight and require little filling.
We laser-cut the slots for the through-the-wall fins, as well as etched on the tube the location where to glue the launch lugs (if you decide to add them). This saves you time and gives you the certainty that you assembled the kit correctly.
See-Through Plastic Nose Cone - The smooth plastic nose cone requires no finishing. Its true elliptical shape is very efficient for high-speed rocket flights. And since it is see-through, you can tell immediately after the flight whether or not the egg was cracked.
The parts of the egg capsule are vacuum formed. This process leaves a shell that is completely smooth, without a seam line. That makes it more aerodynamic than a blow-molded cone.
To make sure the edge is perfectly flat, we trim the two shells of the nose cone on our laser-cutter. It cuts the plastic with a nice sharp edge. It is more expensive this way, but the quality is superb.
The shoulder on the bottom portion of the egg capsule in molded as one continuous piece. Because the capsule doesn't have the shoulder glued on as a separate piece, the entire egg capsule is stronger and the shoulder is perfectly aligned with the centerline of the rocket. It is also more aerodynamic too.
The nose is made from PETG plastic - which is the same plastic that soda pop bottle are made from. We chose this material because it is very durable - have you ever cracked a pop-bottle? No, right? It is practically indestructible. Because it is so tough, we used thinner plastic to mold the egg capsule, which decreased the weight compared to the polystyrene egg capsule we sell.
Foam Egg Protectors - We specially developed these light-weight sponge-foam egg protectors to fit snuggly into this egg capsule. By matching the curvature of the inside of the capsule and outside of the egg, the delicate payload is snugly protected. We think this is the best way to protect the egg inside the rocket. The foam is 2lb/ft3 density, so it is really lightweight. Plus it is completely washable, just in case your egg payload does crack. Just wash it with soap and water and let it dry. It will then be ready for the next flight of the rocket.
Laser-cut balsa wood fins - Balsa wood is very lightweight and can be airfoiled by sanding to reduce the drag forces on the kit. This makes the rocket zoom higher and faster into the sky. Having the fins laser-cut means that each fin is pre-cut to size with the precision of a machine. There are no crunched edges. They also have tabs on the root edge of the fin to go into the slots on the body tube. This assures that the fins are straight - so your rocket flies nice and steady every time it is launched.
The planform shape is elliptical, which saves weight and has low induced drag.
Also included on the balsa fin sheet are the launch lug stand-offs. You have the option of putting them on the rocket or leaving them off for a lower-drag flight.
Cut-to-Size Plastic Parachute - This colorful chute is great for smaller rockets. It has cut lines for 12", 15" and 18" sizes, as well as a spill hole in the middle. Made from High-Density PolyEthylene (HDPE) plastic. Comes with thick cotton string for the shroud lines, and tear-resistant hole reinforcement rings.
Color-coded centering Rings make assembly easy. You don't need to know technical names of the individual parts. You just grab the one that is the right color.
Spring steel engine retainer clip allows you to swap out engines between flights in just milliseconds. It is really that fast! You have the option to leave the hook off when you build the kit. This lowers the weight of the rocket and allows it to zoom higher into the sky.
Standard-size 1/8 inch Launch Lug - Works great on a low power launch system. Be sure to add one to your shopping cart when ordering this rocket.
The model also comes with High-Strength Kevlar® Shock Cord. Kevlar is six times stronger than steel and is also heat resistant. It can easily withstand the high heat of ejection, ensuring the rocket descends as a single piece. This makes for a very durable rocket that can be launched again and again.
The Orthodontic Rubber Bands are for the Fly-Away Launch Guide, which lets you build the rocket without the launch lugs. There are extra rubber bands in case you lose one. If you need more, you can get them here.
Innovative Fly-Away Rail Guides - In 2010, we invented the fly-away rail guides as a way of launching super-roc style competition rockets. See the reports Tim wrote about them here. They work just as great on egg-lofters because the eggs make the model heavier and it takes longer to build up speed when launched. Launching them off a launch rail, the rocket flies straighter and higher.
These rail guides are made from laser-cut plywood. They are easy to assemble with just wood glue. They feature an innovative hook system that prevents the rubber band from flying off and getting lost.
This is the first kit to specifically use the fly-away rail guides. It is a little more expensive, but if you are flying in competition, you need every extra edge you can get in order to win. The fly-away rail guides have been proven to work and to help your rocket fly higher and straighter.
Because this is such a beautiful model, and has so many technical innovations, we think you'll want to show it off. So we included a Display Stand and Simulated Egg. These are laser-cut out of cardstock, so all the jigsaw-like pieces go together quickly and accurately in just a few minutes.
This is another one of those things people will ask you about when they see the assembled egg. They'll want to know what it is used for. You can tell them the story how the egg is needed to center up the two halves of the nose capsule. Without an egg in the capsule, it is nearly impossible for the nose to be assembled. So the simulated egg is used for display when you want to show off the completed model, or if you just want to fly the rocket without an egg inside of it. 
Pre-cut, colorful pressure-sensitive decals - This is a big reason why it is so easy to make this rocket awesome-looking. It is just a matter of applying the sticker-like decals. Since they are pre-cut for you, you'll save a lot of time applying the decals to the rocket.
Easy to follow instructions - We spend a considerable amount of time illustrating our instruction sheets to make them easy to follow. The reason is that your experience building this rocket should be as enjoyable as possible. And you'll be impressed by how much information the instructions contain. Not only will you learn about this rocket, but the information can be used in all of your other rocketry projects too.
If you have lost your instructions, you can download them here in pdf format.
Use the chart below to help determine which motor to use for this kit.
Estimated Altitude Predictions generated using RockSim
| Motor | Manuf & Type/ Casing | Color | Comment | Alt. | Delay* | Price | Buy Now! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B4-2 #05748 |
Estes Single Use |
-- |
155 ft (47 m) |
See Motor |
$13.47 3 pack |
||
D16-6 #05704 |
Quest Single Use |
Fast Black Jack |
Recommend a 48" launch rod or longer |
815 ft (248 m) |
See Motor |
$18.54 2 pack |
|
C5-3 #05734 |
Estes Single Use |
-- |
375 ft (114 m) |
See Motor |
$14.60 3 pack |
||
C18-4W #05706 |
Quest Single Use |
White Lightning |
583 ft (178 m) |
See Motor |
$16.07 2 pack |
||
D20-6W #05710 |
Quest Single Use |
White Lightning |
899 ft (274 m) |
See Motor |
$18.54 2 pack |
||
D13W-7 #51111 |
AeroTech 18/20 |
White Lightning |
Reload - requires casing (sold separately) Restricted: 18+ |
1306 ft (398 m) |
6 sec |
$29.95 3 pack |
|
D24T-7 #51114 |
AeroTech 18/20 |
Blue Thunder |
Reload - requires casing (sold separately) Restricted: 18+ |
1220 ft (372 m) |
6 sec |
$29.95 3 pack |
|
|
If you are purchasing an age- or certification-restricted motor, please email or fax us a copy of your ID, or NAR or TRA membership card as soon as possible so we can get your order shipped promptly. We will keep note of your status on file, so you only have to do this once. If you are not certified, please see our information page for additional details on membership and high power certification. YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD TO PURCHASE RELOAD KITS. 18+ - You must be at least 18yrs of age to purchase ths motor. Rocket motors are sold separately from the kit. For more help in selecting rocket motors, see our video tutorial. If you're unsure, start with the "First Flight" recommendation or the one with the lowest altitude, then go up from there. For other motors that are not tested or not listed here, download the EggTosser RockSim file and load it 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. | |||||||
To see how the EggTosser looks and performs with each motor configuration, download the FREE RockSim design file.
This file can be opened with the FREE demo version of RockSim. Both Windows and Macintosh versions are available.
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.
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
Masking Tape
Hobby Knife - Hobby with #11 Blade
Adhesives - CA Glue (super glue), thick viscosity
- Adhesives - Wood Glue or White Glue
- Long Dowel To Spread Glue Inside The Body Tube
Sanding Block (or Sanding Tee)
- Paper Towels
- Finishing Supplies like sanding sealer, paint and sandpaper (200 and 400 grit).
- Recovery Wadding - Disposable | Reusable
- Rocket Motors - See the motor selection tab.
Launch Pad & Controller - See FAQs tab for recommended choices.
Sanding Burrs for sanding and finishing small areas.
- Clear Packing Tape
There are eight standard events in the NAR’s National Rocketry Championship. This means you can compete with just a few standard rockets. The events are:
- 1/4A-to-A engine Parachute Duration
- 1/4A-to-A engine Streamer Duration
- 1/4A-to-A engine Helicopter Duration
- 1/4A-to-A engine Boost Glider Duration
- B-to-C engine Egg Lofting Duration
- 1/2A-to-B engine Altitude
- A-to-B engine Payload Altitude
- B-to-C engine Egg Lofting Altitude
Apogee Components has a competitive model that can be used for each of these events:
- 1/4A-to-A engine Parachute Duration - Use the Blue Streak with an 18” Mylar parachute
- 1/4A-to-A engine Streamer Duration - Use the Blue Streak with an 4” X 56” long Mylar Streamer
- 1/4A-to-A engine Helicopter Duration - Use the Mini-Copter
- 1/4A-to-A engine Boost Glider Duration - Use the Mini-Condor Boost Glider
- B-to-C engine Egg Lofting Duration - Use the Egg Tosser with a 30-inch diameter Mylar parachute
- 1/2A-to-B engine Altitude - Use the Spek
- A-to-B engine Payload Altitude - Use the Midge or Payload Altitude Rocket (single stage) if it is a windy day.
- B-to-C engine Egg Lofting Altitude - Use the Egg Tosser
Using these recommendations, you’ll do more than just achieve a qualified flight… We think you’ll be standing on the winners podium!
We recommend the Estes Launch System. This smaller rocket flies just fine off this inexpensive launch pad, and the controller can easily ignite motors up through D size.
Yes. But you have to remove the engine hook and the thrust ring from the kit. If the kit hasn't been constructed yet, that part is easy to do -- just skip the steps that tell you to install the engine hook and the engine block. If you've already built the rocket, then you'll have to do more invasive sugery. Watch Advanced Construction Video #311 that shows the process.
At the top of this page, where the kit dimensions are, you'll find the location of the CP. This is the important number you should be looking at for stability. You want the CG location to be in front of the CP by about one tube-diameter. A greater distance between the CG and CP is OK. For more information on rocket stability, please click here.
Watch this YouTube video - How to Select Model Rocket Engines
We encourage you to learn the proper motor selection technique. Please watch our YouTube video that will walk you step-by-step through the process
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