Starting out on my MPR fleet

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GalantVR41062

Celebrate Recovery
TRF Supporter
Joined
Oct 24, 2017
Messages
485
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Location
Plymouth MN
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Here is the start of my MPR fleet. The 3 on the right are my L1 potential rockets, SLS Arcas with extended 9" motor tube 13.5oz, Estes Pro Series 2 Argent kit "Spaceball One" 29mm mmt 24oz, and a Aerotech Barracuda kit 29mm mmt 15oz.

From the left I have my Estes Comanche 3, scratch built "Recon 1 1/2" 24mm mmt 5.2oz weight, scratch built "Lowtech" 24mm mmt 4.8oz bt55, scratch built "Lowtech 2" 24mm mmt bt60 6.2oz, scratch built "Lowtech 3" a rocket dedicated to my Mom Pattie, 29mm mmt bt60 6.8oz payload bay, scratch built "Galileo 24", 24mm mmt bt60.

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Lowtech and Recon 1 1/2 nice park fliers on D12 motors or screamers on a F44W-8.


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I made it up to my first HPR Launch this summer and man that was cool. I launched and recovered all 3 rockets on the bench. Lowtech 2 was on a Aerotech 24mm F32T-8. Micropeak altimeter showed 2092' flight.

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On my SLS Arcas I built it with the intent to fly it on a small H some day. I used a longer 29mm mmt, screw on retainer, added threw the wall fins to the mmt, epoxy for almost everything and it ended up weighing 13.5oz and I plan to fly it on a estes G40w-7 next.

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I built a 12v launch box with 100' or wire and used an old estes lauch controller just modified to use a covered toggle, the stock key, and a momentary switch for ignition.

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I have also built 2 MPR pads, the one on the left is 3/4" PVC and has a old PC fan mounted on it to show when there is power at the ignitor and can use a 1/8" 3/16" or 1/4" rods, I found a 1/4" stainless steel rod that is working good. And the one on the right is my all aluminum rail pad, 96" 1010 rail, full tilt for loading and turn buckle for leveling. I have a different wiring set that plugs into the launch box and it has a 12v light to show when there is power at the ignitor.

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I also picked up the 2 wheel had dolly and made a wood rack to go onto it, and the launch box and small pad and rods all fit on the hand dolly for easy transport out to the launch site.

And I now have a Jolly Logic 3 altimeter along with my Micropeak altimeter, and a Jolly Logic Chute release. My main goals are to fly rockets safely, learn what I can and teach my Daughter Liana along the way. I have my L1 motor on hand and am praying for clear weather this Saturday in North Branch MN, I will be there with MN Tripoli. Then after my L1 I plan to get my L2 next year sometime, I also what to fly a rocket over 6000' and have one go supersonic. I am also building a Madcow Super DX3 38mm mmt for my big L1 motors and L2 attempt on a small J.

I am also huge into cars, I have a 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR4, its a streetable race car, weights 2500lbs and makes over 1000awhp.

~John
 
Welcome aboard Galant ! Really nice set of photos here, my favorite is your rat-rodded launch controller. :) Good luck with your L1 flight. About time for ice fishin' up your way, ain't it ?
 
Looks like you have plenty of room for recovery out there. Have you begun to look into to dual deployment options like deployment altimeters or a Chute Release? Less recovery time means more flights!
 
Yes winter is on the way, and I plan to do a few lake launches weather permitting.

And yes I am working on my L2 rocket a Madcow Super Dx3 all setup for dual deploy, I plan to start a build thread in the hpr section soon.

I like the launch controller also, makes me think if COD4 gaming days.

I do have a jolly logic chute release, I have used it a few times and it's a life saver for windy days.

That is the Blaine Sports Center, it Is a huge gathering of soccer fields, but there is a pond and a stream to deal.with, winds going north/south are easier to deal with and it's almost 2500'x2500'. I also fly at Gleason fields with the little one as it's closer to home.

~John
 
I do have a revised Lowtech 1 1/2 in the works, bass wood fins and better construction processes. I lost my Lowtech rocket a few weeks ago, it was a economax f44w8 and I saw the delay smoke and event but I think the body tube came apart from the ejection charge, sim showed ~2000' and I looked for a while but did not find anything.
 
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IMG_20180217_125404149_TOP.jpg Screenshot_20180218-191750.png Screenshot_20180810-235118.png I will update with a video on my mpr over the year but a few details on my rocketry journey.

SLS Arcas, performed great on the G40w7 on the frozen lake this winter. straight boost and good recovery.
I also flew my Aerotech Barracuda 2" 15oz, and PS2 Argent 2.5" 24oz, on this motor and the boat tail Arcas out flew them by a bit.
Arcas: 2364'
Argent: 1397'
Barracuda: 1976'
 
Love the VR4... you don't see them that often on the road anymore. Great sleeper car.
 
Well last week I flew a few rockets with the aerotech reloadable hardware. A 24/40 24/60 and 29 40/120.

The blue Gallo 24 went up on a D15T to 700'.

The purple Lowtech 3 rocket on a F22 FJ to 1560'.

And the black Lowtech 1 1/2 on a F35w to 2280'.

The air was a little thick I was seeing a 10-12% reduction in altitude. I have some ground video also.

~John
 

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I flew my Lowtech 2 last Saturday on a f39T-9 on a windy day, even with the chute release @200' I have not found it :(. This was the 13th flight for this rocket and thrust curve sims to 1850'. I heard the rocket whistle, not loud but I finally heard one of my rockets do it.

Also I am working on Lowtech 1 1/2, I picked up the MW T3 tracker and have been getting things setup for it. I am doing a sled in the nose cone, it will have a MW rrc2+, t3 tracker and the lipo battery, I think a twist and tape of wires threw the vent hole to arm them as I don't think I have room for a switch, we will see.

I am going to set up as a two stage flight, I will try black powder direct stagging first then us the PET2 event timer for more advanced stagging.

I am going to use the rrc2+ for apogee and then have a ematch burn a line holding the chute at lower altitude. My JLCR does not fit inside the BT55 air frame with the chute on it :(.

I think based on my other direct stagging rockets and what this one does on single motor flights I could see 6000+' on a Aerotech G80 to Aerotech F35w, or su F32T.

I think the booster will have a small chute either rear eject with the motor delay or out the top somehow.

~John
 

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Great project. I see you're going smaller to experiment with staging.
Maybe a scheme like that will finally let me fly my Magician on an E
 
Working on getting my MPR fleet back up and running after a few went MIA and one ice pick (lawn dart on the frozen lake).

The 2 smaller ones are custom scratch builds in my on going Lowtech series of rockets.

Lowtech 4 the bt55 body tube, thin bass wood fins, a different fin design, lowtech 3 had more of a dx3 shape fin but this is derived from the max Q aerospace fins.
I have installed a 29mm mmt and will friction and external tape the motor in. It will have room in the small payload tube for a MW T3 tracker and RRC2+ altimeter, along with a micro peak altimeter and I will use the USB flash reader for flight data. I am debating on laying fiber glass on the airframe and fins to make this a HPR, it should go 4500'-4800' and stay sub Sonic on a SU G40w motor. Build weight I hope is 5.5-7.5oz pending what's on board.

Lowtech 5 is a Bt60 body tube with a 29mm mmt and thread on retainer. This will have room in the payload for the GPS, altimeter, my ARTS2 if I want to see motor data, and be 2 stage capable as I will build a booster and use a MW PETS event timer for staging and separation. I will be fiber glassing the air frame and try it on a H then I someday. Weight I don't know yet, lowtech 3 was 7oz so we will see how much weight the fiber glass adds.

And the 4" MC Torrent will be the biggest MPR that I have built, with light weight in mind. 38mm mmt thread on retainer and build weight less then 44oz w/o motor. This will be setup with 1010 rail buttons and break in the middle and use a JLCR on the 45" thin TFR chute. I wanted the big chute for the look on decent. I think on a AT G67, Loki G66 or similar MPR motor it should go 750-850' and be a nice park flier. And at the HPR launch Liana can see it go up on a H motor. This will be her biggest rocket. With how I am building it I don't see why it could not go up on a I or small J, but that's what my MC SDX3 is for. I also have a eBay coupler I built that can have a MW RRC2+ or rrc3 and full dual deploy for more advanced HPR flights.

~John
 

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