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I recently ordered a Lionel PWC 3413 Rocket Launching Car to expand my "space" consist (missile car, Minuteman car etc). It arrived today and I tested it out. The launch mechanism works well, but I can't figure out how to get the capsule to disengage and the parachute to come out. No matter how much I shorten the string, the "inertia" (as described in the directions) is not sufficient to separate the capsule and pull the chute out. For those of you that own this car, what's the trick to deploy the chute? It seems to me that the friction of the rolled up chute prevents it from coming out. 

 

-Roger

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Jeff has got it. It takes a little experimentation but once you get the chute inserted correctly it should work fine.

 

Another tip on this car. Never keep the launching mechanism in the "locked" position for long periods of time, i.e., when not using the car. It could wear out -- if that's the right term -- the spring. 

Last edited by johnstrains

I just had my first hint of success with this and I want to run a couple of things by you guys.  First off......as with my modern version of the 175 rocket launcher.....I stretched the launch spring. In that case, I did it to get the rocket to just miss the ceiling tiles. This one, I stretched to increase the "inertia. Measured original length was 5 inches . After stretching it.....5.5 inches. So it goes higher and stronger. Secondly, I changed the way I folded it. Picture the parachute open above the capsule suspended by it's guy lines. I was folding it from that position and then inverting it parallel to the guy lines to enable it to fit into the rocket tube. This last time was a different fold. Again picture the capsule suspended by the open canopy above. Picture another capsule landing on the top of the chute and collapsing it downward into the guy lines. I did that with my finger and then folded it tight. Does that description make sense or should I photograph it?  Which way do you folks collapse and fold it?   Also.....the length of the string makes a big difference. Using the whole length of the string reduces the force at the top of it's climb. What length do you guys use?

 

Roger

I have some results of my efforts on this. The first thing I would suggest is anyone who owns this car should stretch the spring. This increases the momentum of the rocket (as well as the height it can reach. Secondly, it's important to experiment with the length of the red string. Too long and it allows the rocket to reach near the maximum of it's potential altitude, which results in it being less likely to pull the chute out. Too short and you don't get much glide time out of the capsule. I experimented with putting some pieces of lead solder wire inside the capsule to increase it's weight. This makes it come out of the rocket real well, but dramatically reduces it's glide/float time (so I removed it). But best of all, I think, is the little mod I put in to attach the string to the platform. Attaching it to the rails runs the risk of breaking them off. I tried attaching it to the support pieces under the rocket on the flatcar. It worked, but also yanks the rocket sideways. So.....in the photos below, you can see that I put a loop of string around the underside of the platform (around the "tube" that the screw passes through) and then up and out next to the plunger base. I attached a jewelry clip to the bottom of the red string which then easily attaches to the black loop. Good to go.    See what you think.

 

Roger

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