An introduction to myself

[tagerton]

Hi Rocketry Forum!
I am a mechanical engineering student at Colorado School of Mines. I was very into model rocketry from a young age and was in the NASA Houston Rocket Club and NAR Level 1 certified. I am now finally getting back into it after a 7+ year hiatus. I've ordered a Mariah 38 rocket and plan on building it this summer.

I'm VP of a club on campus, 'Blaster Hackers' (building random electronics and physics projects), and I want to get some more people involved in rocketry. I think the best way to do that is lead by example! I am thinking about building my own altimeter, gps tracker, and launch tower with their help, but I don't really have much experience with rocketry electronics.

I realize now that I should probably join a local rocket club around the Denver area that can provide FAA clearance and launch capabilities. Any local Colorado folks out there that can give me some guidance?
Look forward getting back into the rocketry community!.
-Ted

 

[Zeus-cat]

Welcome tagerton,

You might want to start off with something a little tamer than the Mariah 38. I have one in my build queue and she looks like a Ferrari. It’s a great rocket, but probably a bit much for trying to get people involved who have never flown a rocket before. You will need a dual deploy altimeter, a 38mm motor case and a tracker. That is a lot of stuff for a hobby for the average college student. If you can afford it that's great, but when I was in college I didn't have that kind of money to spend on hobbies. A few LPR and HPR rockets would be more in line with what your fellow students could likely afford. Good luck and welcome.

P.S. There is a build thread on the Mariah 38 that was recently sytarted on the forums. You might want to check it out.

 

[AfterBurners]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Slickwilly]

Welcome from 3D Rocketry!

 

[tagerton]

Yeah, I realize that the Mariah is a pretty serious build. I have looked at the build thread and it looks great. I think I should be up to it. I also have a very nicely paying job this summer to help me out.

To me the only real new thing to it is the electronically activated recovery system. Although a little research indicates that I can still use the old style ejection charges.

I still have an Aerotech 29mm casing and a 2 grain pro 38 casing back home that I can use. I plan on starting out launching with the smaller engines.
I am a bit unsure of what epoxy I will end up using. I went to the hardware store today and it looks like the west systems epoxy starts at about $80. I don't want to pay as much as I did for the kit for just epoxy. The Aeropoxy seems like a good choice, but again the quantity and price seems a bit over kill for just this build. JB weld is a good option, but I don't think it takes to fiberglasssing very well. Most of the stuff in the two tubes seems weaker than I'd like. Thoughts?

 

[hornet driver]

Welcome aboard, Your a lucky fellow , most of the lab animals are feeding right now ! You'll meet some good folk here.---H

 

[Jiffycoil]

Welcome aboard. There are some amazing folks here. I know there are several folks here that developed and now market rocket electronics. I found the TeleMetrum which is a recording dual-deploy altimeter for high power model rocketry with integrated GPS and telemetry link. The thing I like about it is the devices entire schematic, bill of goods, and software are open sourced for all to use . Goggle it and you'll get what you need. I'm currently finishing up my build and will post build info at some point. As Eric Foster of Badd Azz rocketry said at my Level 1 certification launch Saturday " he doesnt even have level 1 and he's building a load cell stand and amplifier for testing propellant ". Oh well I love this hobby.

 

[Barracuda]

Welcome to the forum tagerton this place is a boat load of knowledge as you will soon see!

 

[Aksrockets]

A good,cheap laminating epoxy is the US composites line.
Welcome aboard!


Alex

 

[tagerton]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone. The TeleMetrum is exactly what I want. I'll look in to building one my self. I would like to take adavantage of some of the nice tools my school supplies for free such as a 3d printer, laser cutter, CNC Mill, and a circuit board printer. I think the circuit board printer could be especially useful for making my own flight electronics.


Alex, is the US composites laminating epoxy just primarily for glassing? (As it would imply)
-Ted

 

[lawndartman]

OK, here we go... First, Colorado is full of great clubs, great fliers. With the rocket you wish to build, I would point you to 3 clubs. First, NCR Northern Colorado Rocketry. Second SCORE, they fly at the Rockety Ranch. It is down in Pueblo. Third is Tripoli Colorado, they fly up (8800ft) in Hartsel. All 3 clubs have wonderful sites and are full of great fliers. Log on to NCR and you can get info on all 3 clubs, dates and places. I hope to see you at a launch soon. PM me if you need more info or help! Welcome!

 

[tagerton]

Thanks lawndartman, I think I may join the NCR and Tripoli. Pueblo is a little bit further than I would like to drive however. There is also a local Denver club CRASH that has launches very close to me. I may go this weekend just to see some flights.

Also in terms of the Mariah, what is the general consensus about using JB weld for everything? I have a large amount of that laying around. I am also thinking about not glassing the fins. I think for max altitude, the increased drag and weight could be a detriment. My understanding is that with good fillets, the fins should be fine, even at Mach+. The only time glass may be very helpful is on rough landings.
-Ted

 

[Aksrockets]

Also in terms of the Mariah, what is the general consensus about using JB weld for everything? I have a large amount of that laying around. I am also thinking about not glassing the fins. I think for max altitude, the increased drag and weight could be a detriment. My understanding is that with good fillets, the fins should be fine, even at Mach+. The only time glass may be very helpful is on rough landings.
-Ted

Yep. With good fillets you should be fine. I wouldnt use JB weld for everything though. It IS heat resistant but it isnt nearly as strong as other epoxies. Click on my blog in my signature and read the first article about adhesives. Good luck! Make sure to do a build thread so that we can further help you.

Alex

Edit: Oh yeah, the US composites is for laminating fiberglass

 

[tagerton]

Yep. With good fillets you should be fine. I wouldnt use JB weld for everything though. It IS heat resistant but it isnt nearly as strong as other epoxies. Click on my blog in my signature and read the first article about adhesives. Good luck! Make sure to do a build thread so that we can further help you.

Alex



Edit: Oh yeah, the US composites is for laminating fiberglass

Ok great. Your blog is very nice. Thanks for the link.
It sounds like I need to find some good structural epoxy. JB weld would probably work better than most hardware store epoxy, but not as well as a good high strength epoxy. I wouldn't mind paying for nice epoxy if I could get less than a quart. Do you know anywhere I could order a small(ish) amount of epoxy that I could attach the fins with and fillet them? My understanding is (although I haven't looked at the kit yet) that the main structural bond I need to worry about is fin attachment, which shouldn't take a huge amount.

Also what is the consensus on Epoxy pastes for filleting (or other things). https://www.grainger.com/Grainger/P... Cements-_-4AUW2&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=4AUW2

 

[jsargevt]

I wouldn't mind paying for nice epoxy if I could get less than a quart.

You can get a pint of West 4500 for $39 bucks at Wildman's. https://www.wildmanrocketry.com/ProductDetail.aspx?product=2876

From all accounts other than the sticky-gooiness it is a GREAT high temp for min diameter and makes smooooooth fillets. However, have not used myself but I am sure that others will agree.

 

[Aksrockets]

JB weld would probably work better than most hardware store epoxy

Actually, JB weld will have a lower tensile strength (around 2000psi) then a common shop 5 minute epoxy of around 2500 psi.

Ive used epoxy pastes, they make okay fillets, no runs or sags but are difficult to work with and weak. A normal epoxy is the way to go.

Alex

 

[tagerton]

Actually, JB weld will have a lower tensile strength (around 2000psi) then a common shop 5 minute epoxy of around 2500 psi.

Ive used epoxy pastes, they make okay fillets, no runs or sags but are difficult to work with and weak. A normal epoxy is the way to go.

Alex

Yeah I went ahead and added a quart of structural Aeropoxy to my order. I think it should be good. It's really not THAT expensive, especially compared to the the West System's epoxy I saw at the hardware store yesterday. Should I be using any fillers for the fillets?
-Ted

 

[new2hpr]

Welcome! I'll be the second to recommend you join us at NCR https://www.ncrocketry.org
A very friendly, very active (when no fire bans!) club. Website forums are fairly active year-round.

We fly MMX to O with 25k waiver and 95,000 acres of NO TREES! Hard to beat without driving to Blackrock.

-Ken

 

[tagerton]

Welcome! I'll be the second to recommend you join us at NCR https://www.ncrocketry.org
A very friendly, very active (when no fire bans!) club. Website forums are fairly active year-round.

We fly MMX to O with 25k waiver and 95,000 acres of NO TREES! Hard to beat without driving to Blackrock.

-Ken

Great! I just submitted my registration on the website. Are there usually people selling motors at the launches?
Thanks,
-Ted

 

[lawndartman]

MotoJOE (Joe Hinton) is our motor guy. Sells at most all of the Colorado 'big three' club launches. He is the Pres. of NCR. Handles Aero and CTI, cases and hardware. Some cool Loki stuff can be had from another member. If you are new, he is your man. Lots of great vendors at NCR, motors, kits and parts. Good crew, welcome!

 

[jd2cylman]

Every time I see the title to this thread I'm reminded of Dr Evil: Allow myself to introduce.......Myself.
Or am I the only nut in the can?

Adrian
Oh, welcome to the forum!

 

[tagerton]

Every time I see the title to this thread I'm reminded of Dr Evil: Allow myself to introduce.......Myself.
Or am I the only nut in the can?

Adrian
Oh, welcome to the forum!

I guess I may have watched those movies one to many times... Now off to my secret underground lair.


Lawndartman: Thanks for the info on the motors. I'm glad I can avoid the hazmat charges.

P.S. has anyone been to the Tripoli launches in Harstel? How significant is the 8800' elevation to the final AGL of the rockets?

 

[Fred22]

Welcome to the forum. As you can see they are a great bunch and if you need any help from the administration team just send us PM smoke signal or flare.
Cheers
Fred

 

[Albert Kii]

I am also new to this forum and I hope that it would be helpful for me to be in this forum and I can enhance my knowledge.
Please make me suggestions that from where I get started ? Thank you.

 

[Getmore]

Welcome to the forum Ted and Albert.