rc dude
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2012
- Messages
- 434
- Reaction score
- 34
Hello everybody.
This afternoon I picked up my Madcow Tomach from Bay Area Rocketry, so I figured I would start a build thread. (Although most of it will probably be me asking questions on how to do certain things). I will start this of by saying that this rocket will be a few firsts for me; first fiberglass rocket, first high power rocket, first dual deploy rocket, and if all goes right, my L1/L2 rocket.
My goal for this build is to have it done by April, so I can launch it at Snow Ranch before it shuts down for the season. I am planning on getting my L1 then, and then hopefully making it to Mudroc for my L2. For my L1, I am planning on using something like the I600 in the 38/720 case. (Go big or go home!) I know most people suggest a small H for the cert flight, but I figure if I use a small H, I will just want to launch it again right away on an I, so why not do it all at once. (I will have a tracker). For my L2, I am planning on a CTI L935, which sims to around 20k-22k feet.:eyepop: (Like I said above, go big or go home!).
Now that i have my goals stated, I will move onto my plans/questions.
1- Motor retention - I bought an Aeropack 54mm minimum diameter retainer, and I am planning on using three bolts through the body tube to hold it in place, instead of epoxy. I like the idea of being able to remove it if I need to. I have seen other builds do it this way, and it has worked for the. I am also thinking about porting the retainer, like the 38mm ones are. This will allow me to use motor ejection backup with the use of the Aerotech RAS system. Has anybody ported one before? (I tried searching)
2- Fins - I plan on using Aeropoxy es6209 for the the root edges, and then do the fillets with Proline 4500, since it it rated to higher temperatures. Does this sound good? I was also thinking of coating the leading edges of the fins in Proline, for both heat protection and looks. I thought about doing tip to tip, nut decided against it as most people say it is unnecessary on a 54mm minimum diameter rocket. If it would help, I have no problem trying it as long as I can find somebody close to help me.
3- Shear pins - I am planning on using three 2-56 nylon screws, since I have read that any less can cause binding.
4- Electronics - I am planning on using my Eggtimer TRS in this rocket for dual deploy. I am also looking into the Doghouse Rocketry charge wells with integrated terminals. Altimeter sled will be a 3d printed 54mm sled from Landru, along with a Mobius mount I will make removable.
5- Recovery - I plan on doing drogueless dual deploy. Is this good, or should I use a small drogue/streamer? For a main I plan on using my homemade 48" hemispherical chute, which should be plenty for a nice soft landing. I am going to use the tubular nylon that came with the kit to start, but plan on upgrading to a OneBadHawk tubular kevlar harness in the future.
6- Launching - I am planning on making a launch tower for this rocket using bicycle wheels as the base, like others have done. What would be a good height for the tower? I was planning on eight feet, because transporting it is no issue.
Now that I have the main questions out of the way, here are some random ones in no random order.
What is the best way to square the ends of the fiberglass tube? A table saw, hand file, something else?
Anybody have a name suggestion?
Anybody think I'm crazy?
Am I missing anything?
If you have gotten this far, I appreciate it. I am looking forward to having fun building and flying this rocket, am I am sure I this thread will get lots of more questions from me.
Cheers,
Kyle Rodrigues
(And since a build thread is worthless without pictures, here is one of my rocket after I washed the parts this evening, and also one of a CTI 54mm 6GXL case next to my size 12 shoe. It's huge!)
This afternoon I picked up my Madcow Tomach from Bay Area Rocketry, so I figured I would start a build thread. (Although most of it will probably be me asking questions on how to do certain things). I will start this of by saying that this rocket will be a few firsts for me; first fiberglass rocket, first high power rocket, first dual deploy rocket, and if all goes right, my L1/L2 rocket.
My goal for this build is to have it done by April, so I can launch it at Snow Ranch before it shuts down for the season. I am planning on getting my L1 then, and then hopefully making it to Mudroc for my L2. For my L1, I am planning on using something like the I600 in the 38/720 case. (Go big or go home!) I know most people suggest a small H for the cert flight, but I figure if I use a small H, I will just want to launch it again right away on an I, so why not do it all at once. (I will have a tracker). For my L2, I am planning on a CTI L935, which sims to around 20k-22k feet.:eyepop: (Like I said above, go big or go home!).
Now that i have my goals stated, I will move onto my plans/questions.
1- Motor retention - I bought an Aeropack 54mm minimum diameter retainer, and I am planning on using three bolts through the body tube to hold it in place, instead of epoxy. I like the idea of being able to remove it if I need to. I have seen other builds do it this way, and it has worked for the. I am also thinking about porting the retainer, like the 38mm ones are. This will allow me to use motor ejection backup with the use of the Aerotech RAS system. Has anybody ported one before? (I tried searching)
2- Fins - I plan on using Aeropoxy es6209 for the the root edges, and then do the fillets with Proline 4500, since it it rated to higher temperatures. Does this sound good? I was also thinking of coating the leading edges of the fins in Proline, for both heat protection and looks. I thought about doing tip to tip, nut decided against it as most people say it is unnecessary on a 54mm minimum diameter rocket. If it would help, I have no problem trying it as long as I can find somebody close to help me.
3- Shear pins - I am planning on using three 2-56 nylon screws, since I have read that any less can cause binding.
4- Electronics - I am planning on using my Eggtimer TRS in this rocket for dual deploy. I am also looking into the Doghouse Rocketry charge wells with integrated terminals. Altimeter sled will be a 3d printed 54mm sled from Landru, along with a Mobius mount I will make removable.
5- Recovery - I plan on doing drogueless dual deploy. Is this good, or should I use a small drogue/streamer? For a main I plan on using my homemade 48" hemispherical chute, which should be plenty for a nice soft landing. I am going to use the tubular nylon that came with the kit to start, but plan on upgrading to a OneBadHawk tubular kevlar harness in the future.
6- Launching - I am planning on making a launch tower for this rocket using bicycle wheels as the base, like others have done. What would be a good height for the tower? I was planning on eight feet, because transporting it is no issue.
Now that I have the main questions out of the way, here are some random ones in no random order.
What is the best way to square the ends of the fiberglass tube? A table saw, hand file, something else?
Anybody have a name suggestion?
Anybody think I'm crazy?
Am I missing anything?
If you have gotten this far, I appreciate it. I am looking forward to having fun building and flying this rocket, am I am sure I this thread will get lots of more questions from me.
Cheers,
Kyle Rodrigues
(And since a build thread is worthless without pictures, here is one of my rocket after I washed the parts this evening, and also one of a CTI 54mm 6GXL case next to my size 12 shoe. It's huge!)
Last edited: