EMRR's Model Rocket Review: Ellis Mountain Rocket Works

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REV 2.4 - Mon Aug 16 13:08:16 2010

Ellis
Ellis SU J228

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(Contributed - by Dick Stafford

- 04/25/05)

Brief:
The Ellis Mountain J228 38mm single use motor provides a total impulse of 1104 N-S (72% J), giving a burn-time of 4.8 seconds. It is about 22 inches long including the turned-aluminum forward closure.

Ellis Mountain J228 Single Use motor

Construction:
None required, unless you consider adding a masking tape thrust ring as "construction".

Flight:
I flew the motor in a beta test 18" saucer and it gave some ride. No igniter was provided so I supplied a large Magnelite home dipped igniter. Ignition started with some flame spewing out of the nozzle then the motor immediately roared to life. I wouldn't consider it hard to light or all that slow to pressurize. That Magnelite is good stuff. It sputtered a bit at burn out. Way cool flight!

PROs: Long burn, fire, smoke, and noise.

CONs: Cost ($75)

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
This is a perfect motor for BIG saucers and should have enough thrust for many 'real' rockets also. I deducted a point in the overall rating due to its cost.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

GUEST's OPINION:
08/08 - "While this motor was decertified for excessive CATO's I have spoken with many many many people who say that these CATO's were not seen when the manufacturer's recommendations on the placement of the igniter was followed. The igniter is only supposed to be place halfway up the motor - NOT at the top - which is different from almost every other motor commonly used." (B.S.)

GUEST's OPINION:
10/05 - "Well, one flight does not a reliable motor make. This one worked, but evidently they have been decertified due to excessive CATOs." (D.S.)

GUEST's OPINION:
05/05 - "When I wrote this review, I was mentally comparing this motor to 38mm reloads in the 7xx N-S range. These run around $50 bucks or so, so the $75 seemed high. Now that I've looked harder, it appears that this is not a bad price for 1100 N-S. Shouldn't have deducted that point." (D.S.)