Level 3 Build - Rocketry Warehouse Terminator

EeebeeE said:

I was thinking I could use one burner on my gas grill (It's a 3-burner). Set it low and put them on the grill and the temp should hit 200 or so. Then it would smell like barbecue.

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that'd do it. I ghetto smoke ribs like that sometimes when I'm lazy.

DizWolf said:

yes

I'm actually a fan of blast caps and MAC's charge wells-

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Know anywhere to get blast caps anymore? Looks like he is out of business. :-(

neond7 said:

Know anywhere to get blast caps anymore? Looks like he is out of business. :-(

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Web site works fine this morning. I think that if our favorite vendor of canvas phenolic went under, it wouldn't have been quietly.

https://shop.macperformancerocketry...products/aluminum-deployment-charge-canisters

Eeeeee,
Looking closely at your test videos, it appears the aluminum nc tip is not aligned, starting after the continuity ignition (the 2nd test altogether). I wonder if this may have led to premature escaping of gases and thus failed separation until a larger than normal amount of BP was used

Could also be the camera angle, but would certainly look into it

d11rok said:

Eeeeee,
Looking closely at your test videos, it appears the aluminum nc tip is not aligned, starting after the continuity ignition (the 2nd test altogether). I wonder if this may have led to premature escaping of gases and thus failed separation until a larger than normal amount of BP was used

Could also be the camera angle, but would certainly look into it

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The tip was knocked loose after the 1st test. However at the time, the bulkhead was sealed, so it would not have allowed any gasses to escape so I continued testing. I fixed it after 4 tests. If you look at the next day's tests you will see that the NC was re-aligned.

I had to drill a 1" hole and using 2 12" extenders, took the screw out, added a split lock nut and a 1" dia. fender washer. After several attempts and a few choice words (my language can get pretty colorful with challenges like this), I managed to get it reattached. It's much better now.

Painting came out well even if I do say so myself. Hunter Green and White...the colors of my alma mater, Ohio University. Next come decals which I will print over the next couple days, and apply sometime late next week.

Looks very nice. I was going to just leave mine the colored tube but maybe I will paint it.

I opted for the natural color of tube because I wanted to paint it.

EeebeeE said:

Painting came out well even if I do say so myself. Hunter Green and White...the colors of my alma mater, Ohio University. Next come decals which I will print over the next couple days, and apply sometime late next week.

View attachment 290804

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Looks sharp!!

Applied decals today. Weather sucked to take pictures outside and this rocket needs room for photos. but here are some up close and personal shots. I printed the decals myself and have learned that if you want 6-8 of the same image for fins or other duplications, always print one or two extra. I needed them both today. Saves a lot of aggravation.

blast a coat of clear coat down on those decals. It will help keep them on the rocket
I lost a few on my last flight :\

Doing that today. I like to wait at least 24 hours after applying decals to clear coat the rocket. If I do it well enough with the waterslide, you can barely feel the edges of the decal. After I'm done I hit it very lightly with 5,000 grit sandpaper then put a coat of NuFinish car polish on it. It should glisten. I know a few other people who can paint a lot better than me, but I'm not bad with a rattle can.

Finished.

Added 3 coats of clear. Wet-sanded with 5,000 grit paper. I wire up the AV Bay this evening and get it all together. Came out pretty well I think. Go Bobcats! A couple final photos and the final revised Open Rocket file. Now I wait for Memorial Day Weekend. Trying to figure out how many video cameras I can attach.

View attachment RW Terminator 050916.ork

Nice work!

soopirV said:

Nice work!

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Thanks...but will it fly?...and recover?

EeebeeE said:

Thanks...but will it fly?...and recover?

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Aww, you know the saying around this hobby- when it works, it's awesome...when it DOESN'T work it's REALLY awesome! That said, best of luck on the L3, that's not a time when you want any failure, no matter how spectacular it may be!

We'll see in a week.

SUCCESS!
The rocket flew beautifully. All charges fired, all chutes deployed. A special thanks to Riley Keller who took these photos. and a huge thank you to Robert DeHate at AMW ProX, who was an excellent L3CC. I am now a Level 3 amateur rocket scientist. Be afraid...Be...very..afraid

Video will be coming shortly.

Awesome...congratulations, never had a doubt.

Congrats!!!!

Great job on your L-3. What motor did you use??

Congrats!!!

Beautiful launch pics, congrats on your success!!

I'll state it again... I really love that Terminator design. I'm actually surprised I have not seen more of them fly (whether for Cert or not) given the superb pre-Black Friday pricing that was offered by RW.

Great job. Congratulations!

crossfire said:

Great job on your L-3. What motor did you use??

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Cesaroni M1101.

dixontj93060 said:

I'll state it again... I really love that Terminator design. I'm actually surprised I have not seen more of them fly (whether for Cert or not) given the superb pre-Black Friday pricing that was offered by RW.

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I hope Mad Cow keeps RW 5" tubes and rockets. They have a 5.5" airframe, though. I'd also hate to see this design go by the wayside to other Mad Cow split fin designs. It really is a cool rocket. The boat tail makes it look very streamlined and the 5:1 VK nose cone is sexy as well. It as a steal at $229 on Black Friday.

Congratulations Evan!
I truly wish I got to see it. We had planned on coming to NY-Power but could not make it. WELL DONE! This rocket may be my L3 as well. Do it again! BTW: what altitude did you get? did it land close?
Andrew K

Congratulations!

Nice job, beautiful pictures ! Congrats on the L3!!