Arcon-Hi

[MicroFlyer]

This is my latest experiment: the Arcon-Hi.

I've recently been working in Corel draw with cardstock rockets, and had decent success cardstocking BT-5 downscales. So, I thought I would try going even smaller.

The body tube is a wrap that fits over BT 2.5 (both sustainer and booster) Fins are printed on plain copy paper and glued to a single layer of cereal box cardboard. Nose cone is a sharpened dowel, paint by Sharpie. Launch lug is a Q-tip shaft. Kevlar thread shock cord and a used engine was sawed to make the engine block. Finished weight is .12 ounces (less engines).

The 1000 dollar question is weather or not it will be stable. If it is, I'll have to find a place to host the PDF file. Three sets of plans fit on one 8.5x11 sheet!

[chadrog]

Very cool Andy, I'll be sure to set up a pad for it Saturday!

[Slickwilly]

Very nice work!!

[Micromeister]

Super Kewl model!

Best way to check stablility before launching is to load it up with motors and give is a swing test.

I've found 8 to 10 feet of two strand 13lb kevlar thread makes an outstanding Swing test thread. Greatly Helps to keep whatever line used as light and thin as practical. I try to place the lariet loop around the loaded CG then adjust slightly to give about 5° nose down hang as a safety margin. Test both configurations individually 2-stage and sustainer alone. If Noseweight is needed I'm sure adding a bit of clay to the NC shoulder could be arranged

Very nice looking job.

[MicroFlyer]

Thanks for the comments! Time for good news bad news. The good news is that I test flew the sustainer successfully today after work. A little wobble under boost, but I expected that since the fins were slightly warped. Estimated altitude was 125'-150'!

Bad news is that the 1''x12'' mylar steamer worked way too well and the rocket ended up in a rocket eating tree. The rocket is so light it just hung in the sky. Glad I put three of these on one sheet; I just have to fold up another one to try a two-stage flight.

[Micromeister]

Oh Man that a shame:
Good to know you have extra. Yeah I've made the same mistake on Ultra light weight micro models they do tend to float away on the slightest breeze or thermal.

Might want to try some 1/2" White Plumbers Teflon Tape as the streamer. Being Flameproof it doubles as your Wadding. Talc baby powder the heck out of both sides before fold/rolling. Simply tie with and overhand knot into a butterfly knot or overhand loop in the Shockline.
Works like a dream and they usually outlast the model they are installed in

If you want some color McMaster-Carr sells PTFE military grade (about double the thickness) Teflon tapes in lots of widths in muted Yellow, Green, Orange & Red.

[Chugosh]

Thanks for giving a source for the tape. I tried the thin stuff from home depot, and it works, but not as well as I wish.