PM Small Endeavour

[geodehunter]

I have the small Endeavour kit that I am putting together. Is it necessary to install the piston. Just wondering if it would be better with or without it. If you have built/owned an Endeavour did you use it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA

[rstaff3]

I have the small Endeavour kit that I am putting together. Is it necessary to install the piston. Just wondering if it would be better with or without it. If you have built/owned an Endeavour did you use it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA

Plenty of people don't like the pistons and will say to leave it out. My PM Small Endeavour is the only kit I've built with one and so far (knocking on wood), it has worked fine in its ~25 flights. That being said, I had to sand the heck out of the piston. The only downside is that during the winter months, the contraction of the body exceeds the piston and it is too snug. I guess I could sand it more, but have decided there are plenty of flight opportunities between March and November.

[dixontj93060]

I loved my Small Endeavor. Loved is the operable word as it suffered from a Aerotech motor CATO at NSL'06. This was my second and last PML quantum tube rocket. After having trouble with the first one (on an X-Calibur), I did not install the piston in this build.

[Gary Byrum]

Now you all have me wondering if I should install the piston in the MR 1 I'm about to dive into. Hmmmmmmm.

[bradycros]

I loved my Small Endeavor. Loved is the operable word as it suffered from a Aerotech motor CATO at NSL'06. This was my second and last PML quantum tube rocket. After having trouble with the first one (on an X-Calibur), I did not install the piston in this build.

How did you measure, mark off and mask the black portion of the nose cone of the rocket pictured?

[Scott Evil]

The phenolic pistons and PML Quantum Tube change sizes a little differently due to being unlike materials and get loose or tight fitting pending temperature.

What I do is sand the piston (a lot!) and make sure it slides well at all temp extremes ( sitting hot in the sun or sitting my chest freezer).

At this point pistons have worked very well for me but have noticed some substantial chipping of the raw phenolic due to landing and shear pin events. Maybe a light internal glassing would help them survive longer.

[dixontj93060]

How did you measure, mark off and mask the black portion of the nose cone of the rocket pictured?

I have done this on a number of rockets. Use an index card and roll it up in a cylinder of desired diameter. Place over end of nosecone and view from top. Make sure the tip is centered so you will get a mask that is perpendicular to nosecone length. Use 3M fine line or equivalent masking tape (1/16" width works well). Apply fine line tape at bottom of card stock. Remove card stock. Do another mask of flexible vinyl tape below the fine line tape (electrical tape will work). Then mask rest of nosecone and then shoot the tip color.

[bradycros]

I have done this on a number of rockets. Use an index card and roll it up in a cylinder of desired diameter. Place over end of nosecone and view from top. Make sure the tip is centered so you will get a mask that is perpendicular to nosecone length. Use 3M fine line or equivalent masking tape (1/16" width works well). Apply fine line tape at bottom of card stock. Remove card stock. Do another mask of flexible vinyl tape below the fine line tape (electrical tape will work). Then mask rest of nosecone and then shoot the tip color.

Your technique sounds good to me! I'll try it out. Thank you for the reply.

[geodehunter]

Thanks for the reply's guy's. I am going to leave it out. It's one thing that can't go wrong if it's not in there.