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- Jan 18, 2009
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My next big project - and for me this is really big - is to build Sheri's Hot Rocket's 1/48 scale Saturn V.
Although Sheri flew hers on two G motors, I think I'll aim for a little bigger motor. The rocket, built per the instructions, weighs almost 10 pounds. Mine will probably weigh a pound or two more. So my plan is to put in a 54 or 38mm motor mount. For a first flight, an I200 motor looks like a reasonable choice. It's initial and average thrust are similar to the 2 G motors Sheri used, but the thrust duration is longer. I haven't run it through RockSim yet, but I'd guess it would fly 800 to 1000 feet on the I motor.
Since it's an almost $400 rocket kit and I'll be adding at least $200 worth of parachutes, paint, and other things (including my time!), I'm going to install an altimeter to eject the 'chutes at apogee and use the motor's ejection as a back up. It seems a wise investment.
I think I'll also add four 24mm (or 29mm) motor mounts around the center one. That way I could also ignite four D motors for effect. I'm not sure if they'd really add much but I like the idea of having five motors.
Sheri used three 60" 'chutes. I'm afraid of the two 'chutes for the bottom getting tangled, so I'll probably just use one larger 'chute for it.
I haven't actually received the kit yet, so I'm not sure everything I've suggested is doable or reasonable. But I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions.
-- Roger
Although Sheri flew hers on two G motors, I think I'll aim for a little bigger motor. The rocket, built per the instructions, weighs almost 10 pounds. Mine will probably weigh a pound or two more. So my plan is to put in a 54 or 38mm motor mount. For a first flight, an I200 motor looks like a reasonable choice. It's initial and average thrust are similar to the 2 G motors Sheri used, but the thrust duration is longer. I haven't run it through RockSim yet, but I'd guess it would fly 800 to 1000 feet on the I motor.
Since it's an almost $400 rocket kit and I'll be adding at least $200 worth of parachutes, paint, and other things (including my time!), I'm going to install an altimeter to eject the 'chutes at apogee and use the motor's ejection as a back up. It seems a wise investment.
I think I'll also add four 24mm (or 29mm) motor mounts around the center one. That way I could also ignite four D motors for effect. I'm not sure if they'd really add much but I like the idea of having five motors.
Sheri used three 60" 'chutes. I'm afraid of the two 'chutes for the bottom getting tangled, so I'll probably just use one larger 'chute for it.
I haven't actually received the kit yet, so I'm not sure everything I've suggested is doable or reasonable. But I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions.
-- Roger