Darkstar Ultimate

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egp

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I’ve been working on a Wildman Darkstar Ultimate for a few months and am almost ready for shakedown launch next weekend.

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Assembling L850W and M1500G motors.
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All that’s left is ground testing of deployment charges.
 
Looks great. One of my favorite rockets! View attachment 343115

I was trying to figure out what the different colour camo looking bit was on the nosecone was, where you’re posing with the rocket.

Then I realised it was shadow, because the nose cone is in a different time zone to the fin can... [emoji12]
 
Preparing for ground testing. Chutes, nomex and harnesses all laid out prior to packing.

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Ground testing with 4 grams of blackpowder for both sections. Sufficient for main parachute and nosecone ejection, but needs to be increased for drogue and booster section. Will go to 5 and 6 grams with ground testing.

Main parachute and nosecone ejection. [video]https://youtu.be/kZAndQohplI[/video]

Drogue parachute and booster separation. [video]https://youtu.be/QJczTEXoHQc[/video]
 
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For what it’s worth. I use 6 grams as primary and 7 as back up. Both top and bottom. Over 15 successful deployments
 
I also use 50’ of Kevlar in the booster and 40’ on the main.
 
Griffin, I agree. 6 grams is much better. I’ll go with 7 in the backup, too.

[video]https://youtu.be/UkBRDh2kvvA[/video]
 
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Good idea. I used to use 5/6 and I was watching an on board video and saw the primary charge fail to separate the booster. It needed the 6gram back up.
 
I am seriously looking at the Darkstar Ultimate for my level 3. I really like the design.

Thanks for the pictures and other information.

Steve
 
I am seriously looking at the Darkstar Ultimate for my level 3. I really like the design.

Thanks for the pictures and other information.

Steve

I hope to fly next weekend at the 2-day launch of the New River Valley Rocketry club in Blacksburg. I’ll post some pictures and video.
 
I hope to fly next weekend at the 2-day launch of the New River Valley Rocketry club in Blacksburg. I’ll post some pictures and video.

Thanks,

I cant wait to see how she flies.

Steve
 
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I used 7 and 8 based on past conversations with Griffin, must have forgotten it was supposed to be 6 & 7, I’ve tested 6 as well with fine results. Listen to Griffin, he is the dark star master. FYI the rocket in picture is an Ultimate dark star just different fins.

Good luck with the flight!
 
“Master” LOL!! I guess my point really is 6g should be the starting point and minimum for that rocket.
 
Love your paint job

Thanks! However, I am surprised how fragile the satin black rustoleum is. The amount of hanger rash just from moving a 12-foot rocket from the basement, to the garage, to the yard, to the basement, etc. has been frustrating. Since its going to get dinged up, even with a nice smooth landing, I kind of gave up on keeping it pristine! :)
 
Looks really good, egp. Have a great flight.

Thanks! Here's hoping it is a smooth launch, with successful recovery (and not in the New River or on the Radford Arsenal)! Here's the google map of our launch field at the Kentland Experimental Aerial Systems Lab

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kentland+experimental+aviation+systems+laboratory/@37.1989686,-80.5713217,3796m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x99f7ca59af41ec2f!2sKentland+Farm!8m2!3d37.1997546!4d-80.5644081!3m4!1s0x884de922dc71a4c3:0x4bc4c6942d4b4ce6!8m2!3d37.1971253!4d-80.57825
:
 
Thanks! Here's hoping it is a smooth launch, with successful recovery (and not in the New River or on the Radford Arsenal)! Here's the google map of our launch field at the Kentland Experimental Aerial Systems Lab

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kentland+experimental+aviation+systems+laboratory/@37.1989686,-80.5713217,3796m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x99f7ca59af41ec2f!2sKentland+Farm!8m2!3d37.1997546!4d-80.5644081!3m4!1s0x884de922dc71a4c3:0x4bc4c6942d4b4ce6!8m2!3d37.1971253!4d-80.57825
:

Yeah, that would be a pretty bad water landing. :y:
 
Nice looking bird.
Hope to hear good things about the shakeout flight.

yes , 5 to 8 gr (altitude varies)
and
yes to long kevlar shock cords :), save my ass a few times....
 
Thanks! Here's hoping it is a smooth launch, with successful recovery (and not in the New River or on the Radford Arsenal)! Here's the google map of our launch field at the Kentland Experimental Aerial Systems Lab

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kentland+experimental+aviation+systems+laboratory/@37.1989686,-80.5713217,3796m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x99f7ca59af41ec2f!2sKentland+Farm!8m2!3d37.1997546!4d-80.5644081!3m4!1s0x884de922dc71a4c3:0x4bc4c6942d4b4ce6!8m2!3d37.1971253!4d-80.57825
:

Heheh...I know that area.
Except we weren't flying rockets, we were jumping out of airplanes in Dublin back in the day.......and hoping not to end up in "that area" if we opened high.
....is this a private launch site, or is it VAST?
 
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Successful launch and recovery on an AeroTech M1500G. Level 3 certification successful, and TAPs signed off on the paperwork!! Yeah, baby!

[video]https://youtu.be/zA5cUeGMIxE[/video]

[video]https://youtu.be/vR3UpzNDKYs[/video]
 
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Great job egp! Congrats on your L3 - all possibilities are now open!
 
How high did it go

6000 ft. Not high, but it was a small M which was good for our field. Landing was quite close to the New River, so any more altitude probably would have resulted in a splash down!

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Some good in-focus photos of my L3 launch and recovery. Even with all the planning and checklists, I still made a mistake and attached the drogue harness backwards! And, the nomex fouled the drogue, which was probably lucky since anymore hangtime would have put the landing in the New River.

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