Help me pick a kit.

**cdondanville** · 9th March 2012, 04:28 PM

Alright, I want to crowd source my kit selection. I am looking for a kit to use as a workhorse to fly my EX motors. As such it will see a lot of flights and potentially some rough flights. Here are my criteria:

38mm MMT (good size to work EX motors.)
All Fiberglass construction. (to handle wear and tear.)
Dual deploy (capable) to keep it in the field.

Right now the lead contender I have found is the Mad Cow ARCAS with the Mad Cow DD bay. I really like this rocket and I like the Mad Cow kits in general, but I am not crazy about the paper bay. Is there another kit that meets all my requirements or is there an all fiberglass bay that I could use in place of the paper one from Mad Cow?

**RocketManDan** · 9th March 2012, 04:32 PM

Wildman sells fiberglass kits. Check his website

**jpummil** · 9th March 2012, 04:33 PM

Wildman Darkstar Jr

http://www.wildmanrocketry.com/Produ...x?product=2900

**cdondanville** · 9th March 2012, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by jpummil

Wildman Darkstar Jr

http://www.wildmanrocketry.com/Produ...x?product=2900

Wow that one is perfect. I didn't remember it being dual deploy! Perfect. It tool a whole 4 minutes to get this reply. What took so long?

**jpummil** · 9th March 2012, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by cdondanville

Wow that one is perfect. I didn't remember it being dual deploy! Perfect. It tool a whole 4 minutes to get this reply. What took so long?

I'm a very slow typist

Check with Tim on availability as he's still catching up from the Black Saturday flood of orders, but I'd certainly recommend the Darkstar series. Of course, I'm a sucker for split fin rockets

**RocketManDan** · 9th March 2012, 04:51 PM

For basic rocket I like his Drago kit...pretty cool!!

**jpummil** · 9th March 2012, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by RocketManDan

For basic rocket I like his Drago kit...pretty cool!!

I'd love to have a Blackhawk 29 DD

**troj** · 9th March 2012, 05:00 PM

If you like the Mad Cow Arcas, send Mike an email and ask him if he can swap in a fiberglass coupler in place of the cardboard one. My guess is it won't be a problem.

-Kevin

**jpummil** · 9th March 2012, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by troj

If you like the Mad Cow Arcas, send Mike an email and ask him if he can swap in a fiberglass coupler in place of the cardboard one. My guess is it won't be a problem.

-Kevin

Certainly didn't mean to take anything away from MadCow...just built a slick little Striker which I'm anxious to fly. And...my L1 was with a Little John 4"

**Aksrockets** · 9th March 2012, 05:30 PM

Off the top of my head....
Preformance rocketry
G3
patriot
Nike smoke
mongoose 38 (do it)

intimidator
isqy tomahawk
little dog DD
gizmo

madcow rocketry
patriot
arcas
Nike smoke

wildman
darkstar
blackhawk 38
wildman jr DD

Rocketry warehouse
formula 75
pumpkin

scratch build

Alex

**GaryT** · 9th March 2012, 05:35 PM

Yeah I'm Biased but this is my choice..

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=30418

CTI I242WH - 4090'

**jpummil** · 9th March 2012, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by GaryT

Yeah I'm Biased but this is my choice..

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=30418

CTI I242WH - 4090'

Design by Gary T....manufactured in the dark shadows of the Wildman Skunk Works

**troj** · 9th March 2012, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by jpummil

Certainly didn't mean to take anything away from MadCow...just built a slick little Striker which I'm anxious to fly. And...my L1 was with a Little John 4"

You didn't; you presented options, and options are a good thing, in my book.

-Kevin

**New Ocean** · 9th March 2012, 07:12 PM

Giant Leap thunderbolt 38.

**jpummil** · 9th March 2012, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by New Ocean

Giant Leap thunderbolt 38.

I've actually got one of those 90% finished! I need to assemble Adrian's little 38mm AV bay and stick the Raven in it and let her go!

**New Ocean** · 10th March 2012, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by jpummil

I've actually got one of those 90% finished! I need to assemble Adrian's little 38mm AV bay and stick the Raven in it and let her go!

It is simple, capable, versatile, and really rugged. It is not cheap in fiberglass, but I count it as my best rocket right now. It will go on any 38mm motor, or as little as a solid G.

**tsai** · 10th March 2012, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by cdondanville

Right now the lead contender I have found is the Mad Cow ARCAS with the Mad Cow DD bay. I really like this rocket and I like the Mad Cow kits in general, but I am not crazy about the paper bay. Is there another kit that meets all my requirements or is there an all fiberglass bay that I could use in place of the paper one from Mad Cow?

Ummm... the Madcow Arcas already comes with a FG coupler and is dual-deploy capable. All you need are bulkheads for the coupler, some misc HW (allthread, nuts, and bolts), and a sled to mount electronices on.

Cheers,
- Ken

**mjhall** · 10th March 2012, 02:38 AM

I did my L-1 with the Madcow ARCAS 29mm version. Flys real sweet and it is built like a tank! I later converted it to dual-deploy. Always thought it should be a 38mm platform.You can't go wrong with it.

**cdondanville** · 16th March 2012, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by tsai

Ummm... the Madcow Arcas already comes with a FG coupler and is dual-deploy capable. All you need are bulkheads for the coupler, some misc HW (allthread, nuts, and bolts), and a sled to mount electronices on.

Cheers,
- Ken

This occurred to me last weekend. I could just take about an inch off of one of the airframe sections for a switch ring and build the guts and the bulkheads for the bay in the included coupler. Duh.

**UPscaler** · 16th March 2012, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by cdondanville

This occurred to me last weekend. I could just take about an inch off of one of the airframe sections for a switch ring and build the guts and the bulkheads for the bay in the included coupler. Duh.

A switch ring isn't really necessary, you can simply use rivets to hold the coupler in the upper section of airframe, and drill a hole half way between each airframe sedction for your switch wire...

unless you plan on actually using switches, in which case, you'll probably need the switch ring

Braden

**GaryT** · 16th March 2012, 06:38 PM

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=33617

**cdondanville** · 17th March 2012, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by UPscaler

A switch ring isn't really necessary, you can simply use rivets to hold the coupler in the upper section of airframe, and drill a hole half way between each airframe sedction for your switch wire...

unless you plan on actually using switches, in which case, you'll probably need the switch ring

Braden

I could use a switch (I like the 110/220 rotary selectors) mounted directly into the coupler. Then cut a semi circle out of each airframe section. Great idea!

**DRAGON64** · 18th March 2012, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by cdondanville

I could use a switch (I like the 110/220 rotary selectors) mounted directly into the coupler. Then cut a semi circle out of each airframe section. Great idea!

That is exactly what I did on my L3 rocket... The cuts could have been cleaner, but the concept still works.

**cdondanville** · 18th March 2012, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by DRAGON64

That is exactly what I did on my L3 rocket... The cuts could have been cleaner, but the concept still works.

Very nice. Where did you get the "Coke machine" locks/keys?

**DRAGON64** · 18th March 2012, 08:18 PM

Actually, as our company de-commisioned the old Gateway 2000 computers out of inventory, I robbed the keylock-outs from them:

http://www.dragonworksrocketry.com/h...l-switch-lock/

**cdondanville** · 15th June 2012, 01:13 PM

I went with the mad cow arcas. =D

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