My plan was to go for my L2 with a Wildman Darkstar Jr., back in May, at a UROC launch. But, it got rained out, and since I knew the forecast, I didn't get everything quite together.
So then I was going to do it in June. I even passed the written test at our contest launch (Pioneer 2015). But the forecast all week was showing rain for that Saturday, and I figured that the launch would be cancelled. I was wrong! The launch went off as planned. And me still lacking charge wells, and a couple of fillets shy of a finished rocket. For the record, I still have two more internal and four sets of external fillets to go, paint, and ground testing to do.
I was thinking it would be kinda cool to level up at NARAM, since I got my L1 at NARAM last year. HOWEVER, the ceiling is 6,500 AGL, and any J I put in the Darkstar Jr is going to go at least 7,000.
So, here's the dilemma: I can wait until the end of that week, and just do it at Hellfire XX - 10,000' AGL with call-in windows to 25,000'. Or, I could buy something else and get my L2 on something "low-and-slow" with the 54mm casing I picked up a few weeks back. Something like:
So, the true question: Do I just finish building the rocket(s) I already have, build my contest rockets, and spend all my $ on motors to burn at Hellfire, or do I buy something big, pour all of my money into that, and keep it more restrained? If I buy a new rocket, I think I'll probably need to skip the 38/1320 casing I was planning to buy, and some of the bigger reloads. And the reality is that I have several cool things in my HPR build pile that I would love to finish before NARAM.
I know which way I'm leaning, but hey, why not get some more feedback?
Other thoughts:
So then I was going to do it in June. I even passed the written test at our contest launch (Pioneer 2015). But the forecast all week was showing rain for that Saturday, and I figured that the launch would be cancelled. I was wrong! The launch went off as planned. And me still lacking charge wells, and a couple of fillets shy of a finished rocket. For the record, I still have two more internal and four sets of external fillets to go, paint, and ground testing to do.
I was thinking it would be kinda cool to level up at NARAM, since I got my L1 at NARAM last year. HOWEVER, the ceiling is 6,500 AGL, and any J I put in the Darkstar Jr is going to go at least 7,000.
So, here's the dilemma: I can wait until the end of that week, and just do it at Hellfire XX - 10,000' AGL with call-in windows to 25,000'. Or, I could buy something else and get my L2 on something "low-and-slow" with the 54mm casing I picked up a few weeks back. Something like:
- A Binder Designs Velociraptor. I hadn't realized how complete that kit is! Sims to 4,500' on a small J
- A Wildman Interceptor A.A.D. 98 Love the sale price, love the design, adding shock cords, a chute, etc is going to put this into the $400+ range. But maybe I could cert on a K...
- Upscale a 3D Rocketry FS2 to 4"/54mm. Waiting to hear back from Bill at 3D Rocketry about his thoughts. I like to ask permission before upscaling - it's just one of those things.
- Or any of the other cool kits/designs out there. Too. Darn. Many. Choices!!!
So, the true question: Do I just finish building the rocket(s) I already have, build my contest rockets, and spend all my $ on motors to burn at Hellfire, or do I buy something big, pour all of my money into that, and keep it more restrained? If I buy a new rocket, I think I'll probably need to skip the 38/1320 casing I was planning to buy, and some of the bigger reloads. And the reality is that I have several cool things in my HPR build pile that I would love to finish before NARAM.
I know which way I'm leaning, but hey, why not get some more feedback?
Other thoughts:
- Why do NARAM 57 and Hellfire XX have to overlap by two days? Launching at NARAM Thu AM, driving ~8 hrs, then getting up early on Fri to drive 4 more hrs to launch on Friday at Hellfire.
- Why don't my wife and kids want to spend 9 days in the desert/salt flats launching rockets in August? (This one is rhetorical, I guess)
- Why did my wife give me the OK to go by myself (this one still stumps me)?
- Will my 10 year old Scion hold all my junk, and make the 1,700 mile trip intact?
- What is the capital of Assyria?
