BryRocket
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2017
- Messages
- 516
- Reaction score
- 175
I am somewhat new to HPR and building of rockets but I've had good guidance thus far. The first thing I was told was to build from scratch, so, that's where we are. I've built a couple scratch DD fiberglass rockets and then decided to tackle carbon fiber layup and tube rolling, active stabilization or multi stage rockets. I am super into the carbon thing, and it will happen, but I just couldn't commit to that now. So, multi stage it is.
My goal is to do this build in 4 stages and document it here as to obtain some feedback from others wiser and more experienced than myself. Jim Jarvis has been more than gracious and helpful since I got into this hobby so I hope I can give him a break and solicit some advice elsewhere, although since I am part of his local club, I will still get his opinion as we move along. I plan to make this rocket fly as a single stage first, and then build the booster for the 2 stage testing and subsequent flight.
1. Build the single stage booster (future sustainer).
2. Build the electronics bay (I plan to use a Raven for main/drogue/sustainer ignition, StratologgerCF for back up, some mobius camera and then the new featherweight tracker in the nose).
3. Finish the single stage rocket off.
4. Build the booster.
So, I already broke my initial plan and built the booster section and I will document that here. Hoping for some feedback going forward.
I started by using just an upscaled version of my 3" build that I made a few months back. It was built around a 38mm motor (I know, I know) and it's pretty much maxed at ~5400'. Here it is:
From here, I just used OpenRocket to make it bigger and then cleaned up some of the dimensions. The new rocket was built around the 75mm CTI 4G case. I order all my fiberglass stuff from Tim at Wildman and he cuts and bevels my fins.
To start I worked on the layout of the first booster section that will ultimately turn into a sustainer. I started with laying out how I wanted my rail guides and centering rings. The aft centering was to be spaced 4" fwd from the tail end of the rocket to allow the use of an interstage coupler.
I like to brace my rail buttons in some way so I have previously placed them to where I can stack a couple centering rings right under them. This has worked so far, but there may be a better way to do it. For this to work I had to place the aft rail button a bit more fwd than I would have liked. I'm thinking now I could have done some conformal glue-on ones (and will have to for MD rockets). For the conduit or tubing for the ignition wires, I used straight brake line ($6) and drilled holes in the CRs for that to pass.
Once I had the brake line and fwd CR epoxied, I made sure it would slide inline with my rail button.
Then nicked up the CR and epoxied it into the airframe and used the aft CR for support, unattached.
Here is the aft end after.
My goal is to do this build in 4 stages and document it here as to obtain some feedback from others wiser and more experienced than myself. Jim Jarvis has been more than gracious and helpful since I got into this hobby so I hope I can give him a break and solicit some advice elsewhere, although since I am part of his local club, I will still get his opinion as we move along. I plan to make this rocket fly as a single stage first, and then build the booster for the 2 stage testing and subsequent flight.
1. Build the single stage booster (future sustainer).
2. Build the electronics bay (I plan to use a Raven for main/drogue/sustainer ignition, StratologgerCF for back up, some mobius camera and then the new featherweight tracker in the nose).
3. Finish the single stage rocket off.
4. Build the booster.
So, I already broke my initial plan and built the booster section and I will document that here. Hoping for some feedback going forward.
I started by using just an upscaled version of my 3" build that I made a few months back. It was built around a 38mm motor (I know, I know) and it's pretty much maxed at ~5400'. Here it is:
From here, I just used OpenRocket to make it bigger and then cleaned up some of the dimensions. The new rocket was built around the 75mm CTI 4G case. I order all my fiberglass stuff from Tim at Wildman and he cuts and bevels my fins.
To start I worked on the layout of the first booster section that will ultimately turn into a sustainer. I started with laying out how I wanted my rail guides and centering rings. The aft centering was to be spaced 4" fwd from the tail end of the rocket to allow the use of an interstage coupler.
I like to brace my rail buttons in some way so I have previously placed them to where I can stack a couple centering rings right under them. This has worked so far, but there may be a better way to do it. For this to work I had to place the aft rail button a bit more fwd than I would have liked. I'm thinking now I could have done some conformal glue-on ones (and will have to for MD rockets). For the conduit or tubing for the ignition wires, I used straight brake line ($6) and drilled holes in the CRs for that to pass.
Once I had the brake line and fwd CR epoxied, I made sure it would slide inline with my rail button.
Then nicked up the CR and epoxied it into the airframe and used the aft CR for support, unattached.
Here is the aft end after.