So, I'm planning to try the three-stager at Balls again this year. This will be the fourth try. In 2014, the 2nd stage didn't light due to tilt (which was a good thing). In 2015, I made 132,000 feet, and in 2017, the 2nd stage didn't light due to an altimeter bug (which was also a good thing). Rumor has it that the replacement N5800 for the first stage will be in my hands next weekend (yet another good thing).
Actually, I say "launch the three-stager again", but in reality, the third stage and the top of the first stage is the only original equipment. The current model has the spin can on the first stage and a vertical stabilization system that I have increasing confidence in. The second stage was new for last years flight.
Over the winter, I have upgraded lots of little things from last year. One area of focus has been the "keys" that hold the various sections in alignment. When controlling roll, turning of the sections relative to each other isn't a good thing, so all of the keys have been upgraded.
Since there was no launch today, and since it isn't horribly hot yet, I made this the "put the rocket on the rail" day. The idea is to test fit everything, make sure the fins clear the obstructions and make sure I have all of the little pad pieces accounted for. My rail is sort of an I-beam design. Normally, I have to assemble the whole thing at the launch. This year, I expect to have a longer trailer to take out my equipment, so the rail only needs to be broken into two parts and an extra rail section. So, today was about 80% of the rail assembly for the flight.
One other change I have made is to add an alignment guide for helping to load the booster on the rail. Alignment is real important given the PML rail guides that I use, and keeping the "index pointer" just above the guide board makes loading the rocket easy. I did this for a 6x4 two stage flight in 2016, and it worked very well.
Additional pics include two sets of "keys" (between the stabilization spool and the 2nd stage and between the 2nd and 3rd stages), and the whole rocket loaded.
Jim