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Why do you need something custom? A set of drill bits in 1/64 and/or metric will give you a really good idea of your nozzle size.

I am not aware of any tools that can properly simulate a rocket like this, but my experience is that saucers with extended forward sections like this are not stable.

Launch with care, and be sure...

There is quite a bit of misinformation in this thread:



Pyrodex is the brand name of the first black powder substitute. Many people use it as a generic term to apply to all black power...

My suggestion would be to use a larger, heavier rocket with the smallest motor recommended for it.

I fly MPR almost exclusively and there is not a great selection of tubes for MPR. There is no need for fiberglass, and just about all commercially-available paper tubes are either too flimsy or too...

Paint is a really interesting cost. When you are building a kit, the finish work represents a substantial percentage of the overall time required to build a rocket -- assuming you are going for a...

Of course, if you are willing to roll your own paper tubes, cut your own centering rings, and turn your own nose cone, your parts cost really is just a few bucks. There is absolutely no need for...

It is worth noting that pressure alone doesn't say too much. You need to know the volume of your storage tank and the volume of your launch tube for it to be at all meaningful. The diameter of the...

What do you drive that gets 50 mpg?

Several of us have been doing compressed air rockets for a while now. Check the archives for more details. My interest in compressed air rockets was driven primarily as a means to quickly and...

I'm really surprised there have not been more suggestions of the sub-compact + roof rack solution.

You can safely transport large HPR rockets this way by building a custom case for them with PVC...

I advise against the use of a 555 timer as well. It will get the job done, but it becomes very difficult to make it failsafe.

I *strongly* suggest going the microcontroller route. These days...

As others have said, a scale is essential for scratch-building. Weigh all of your raw materials and enter them into the OpenRocket/Rocksim parts database. As you build, weigh each assembly after...

I also fly homemade electronics. The key is to have reliable backup deployment until you have thoroughly tested your electronics. If you are flying LPR, using motor ejection is generally sufficient...

Kevlar does burn, and it also abrades much more than metal. If I happened to have some scraps that were stout enough, I wouldn't hesitate to use them for lpr/mpr, though.

My favorite low-and-slow is a 4x upscale Gyroc flown on E-F motors.

I am pretty sure that the addition/substitution of any homemade parts will result in an uncertified motor, and you'd only be able to launch it as a research motor.

Piano wire is generally a higher grade of steel, usually a hardened+tempered spring steel. It will be much less ductile than coat hanger wire, though quite a bit stronger. If you are looking to...

I've been doing the same thing with coat-hanger wire for years now. After inserting the "U" al the way through your bulkhead, bend the ends toward each other at sharp 90 degree angles with a pair of...

I regularly use 24 grit sandpaper to rough-shape styrofoam nose cone forms. I use it much less now that I have a hot wire cutter, though.

Just saw this, thought some of you might be interested:

http://makeprojects.com/Project/Convert-a-Used-Dishwasher-into-a-Spray-Paint-Booth/2444/#.UDuMwGiMDhN

Definitely second the simulator option. Realflight 6 is amazing. You can also get the DX5e transmitter bundled with a flight simulator (Phoenix i think), but I don't know how it compares with...

Note that "properly done" requires a square terminal, not a round lead wire.

I have been unable to solder the nichrome from Jacobs Rocketry as well. I have found that by wrapping it tightly around solid copper wire and then "crimping" with a pair of smooth pliers I get a...

Does NFPA (and by corollary NAR and Tripoli) really not allow 2024 and 7075 alloy motors?

When I first found TRF, I though that was what "Support and Recovery" was for...

If all you need is to read and print PDFs, don't bother with Adobe PDF reader. It is a bloated pile of crap with a seemingly endless supply of exploitable bugs that can compromise your system by...

In film, it is a rough call between Brazil and Clockwork Orange.

In literature, it would be A Canticle for Leibowitz or Cat's Cradle.

There are also two comics which provide some commentary on...

Green Monkey Aerospace seems to have disappeared without a trace some time back, likely because it is so difficult to produce 13/18/24mm motor casings. The first problem with motors smaller than...

This was one of my favorite TV shows when I was about ten years old...