A blast from the past -An ARC Black Widow Build Thead

[Sandy H.]

I built a Black Widow in 1989. This when Tom Blazanin was running it. Still have it in flyable condition although I haven't flown it since early 1990. Cat for scale
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Tom, you are the man. You build and fly cool rockets, for sure, but your comment 'Cat for scale' is now part of my life. Cat for scale. Amazing. You don't know what that means to me, but now I'm going to use it forever.

Thank you.

Sandy.

 

[Ez2cDave]

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/dynacom-kit-instructions-more.150618

Dave F.

 

[JackC]

Oh my God! I just spent three and a half hours sanding epoxy that somehow dripped into the top of the motor mount tube when I epoxied the 6.5 inch extension of the sustainer. Now the long motors will fit but it is a tight fit. So, just in case I have a hard time removing a motor in the field, I will use set screws to fasten the anti-zipper coupler to the sustainer to allow me to reach the top of the motor and push it out (hmm…somehow that last clause kind of sounds a little dirty)

 

[JackC]

In a few days I will have an OpenRocket file so you can clone the rocket. I will do a stock version (60 inches long) and my dual deployment modification (80 inches long)

An interesting feature of this rocket is that the three fin slots are 11" long and .125” wide. So, the fin tab is 11" but the root chord is 11.55 inches.

 

[jd2cylman]

Tom, you are the man. You build and fly cool rockets, for sure, but your comment 'Cat for scale' is now part of my life. Cat for scale. Amazing. You don't know what that means to me, but now I'm going to use it forever.

Thank you.

Sandy.

What you don’t know is that Tom raises miniature cats. That rocket is really only 18mm diameter…

 

[JackC]

The fin can is finished!

The anti-zipper coupler is fastened to the airframe by four set screws repurposed from the original kit (they had been used to hold the electronic bay inside the original upper airframe) and four #4-40 nuts on the inside of the coupler as seen in the photos below. I recommend using JB Weld to epoxy the nuts in place.

The fiberglass bulkhead at the top of the coupler is fastened to the tube by West System epoxy. The eyebolt is stainless steel to protect against black powder.

Finally, we have a picture of the fins with the fillets. They look great thanks to the tips I learned on this forum.

Now, onto the upper half of the rocket!

 

[JackC]

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/dynacom-kit-instructions-more.150618

Dave F.

Yeah, the instructions came with the kit but they aren’t much to write home about. There are no illustrations to help with construction; it just has a lot of text passages. If you’ve constructed any fiberglass rockets in the past, you really don’t need the instructions.

 

[JackC]

Today, mostly finish work and a dry fitting. The first photo shows the E-bay on the right and the nosecone shoulder on the left. I modified two coupler centering rings, glued them together with epoxy then installed them into the shoulder. Prior to installation, I JB Welded two #4-40 nuts to allow me to screw a bulkplate to the assembly. I can unscrew the bulkplate from the shoulder, insert my radio tracker then screw the bulkplate back in place.

The second photo is more of the same along with the nosecone.

Then, while I was waiting for the epoxy in the shoulder and the bay to cure, I did a lot of sanding to ensure the coupler tubes fit properly inside the airframe tubes. After 30 minutes or so, the fit is on the money. The last photo shows the proud beauty. For the paint scheme, I am thinking about basing it on Natasha Romanoff’s winter suit from the Black Widow movie.

The final touches left to do are gluing the shoulder into the nosecone, installing the altimeter on its sled and drilling the holes for the plastic rivets and access to the screw switch in the E-bay.

 

[Steve Shannon]

Really nice, Jack. I thought I might have seller’s regret but you’ve done such a nice job and I did nothing with it for all the years I had it. I’m just delighted.

 

[JackC]

Really nice, Jack. I thought I might have seller’s regret but you’ve done such a nice job and I did nothing with it for all the years I had it. I’m just delighted.

Thanks, Steve! I hope our baby makes us proud when she takes to the sky! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to build this blast from the past!

 

[JackC]

Construction is complete! The rocket has an Additive Aerospace altimeter sled. A hole in both the airframe and coupler tube allow access to the screw switch.

In the third photo we see the forward bulkplate for the altimeter bay. The fourth shows the plastic rivets used to join the main chute and drogue bays before she flies. The following photo shows the Acme rail guides installed.

Finally, the last photos show the completed rocket after all vent, sampling and shear pin holes have been drilled.

 

[AlexBruccoleri]

This is great! I was not aware this pre-dated Dynacom. Beautiful rocket and craftsmanship!

 

[JackC]

This is great! I was not aware this pre-dated Dynacom. Beautiful rocket and craftsmanship!

Thank you, Alex! That is very kind of you to say that. I appreciate your kindness!

 

[Enocelot]

You are correct! The shipping label on the box states 12/30/88. I was in my first year of law school at that time! Man, is that old!

I was in the Fulda Gap helping gaurd the East/ West German border.....how's that for dating this rocket!?

 

[Enocelot]

Cool thread. Waiting for launch video!

 

[JackC]

I built a Black Widow in 1989. This when Tom Blazanin was running it. Still have it in flyable condition although I haven't flown it since early 1990. Cat for scale
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RJ, I think it would add a lot to this thread if you could provide some history and the names of the geniuses at ARC/Dynacom/Air-X. For instance, I didn't know about Tom. It might be good to get it down in one place. Thanks!

 

[JackC]

Well, I packed everything into the rocket and it weighs 7 pounds w/o motor. However, my usual go to chute, the Sky Angle parachute, doesn't fit inside the 2.6 inch tube. So, I ordered one of the lightweight and supposedly easier to pack Fruity Chute Ultralight 48s. I hope that will do the job!

 

[JackC]

I still have one of the motors I used to fly it on. An early version of Warp-9. 54 mm OD, 5" long. Clear flame, no smoke. It is a PITA to prep but will take up to a Vulcan K420SS.
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Hey, where’s the cat for scale?

 

[Rocketjunkie]

Hey, where’s the cat for scale?

See post #16.

 

[JackC]

See post #16.

Yeah, but I missed seeing the ubiquitous “cat for scale” in #20, too.

Also, can you provide us a summary of the history of ARC/Dynacom/Air-X? Thanks!

 

[JackC]

Well, I packed everything into the rocket and it weighs 7 pounds w/o motor. However, my usual go to chute, the Sky Angle parachute, doesn't fit inside the 2.6 inch tube. So, I ordered one of the lightweight and supposedly easier to pack Fruity Chute Ultralight 48s. I hope that will do the job!

The Ultralight 48 fits like a charm. I had to roll it tight but that should work. It’s definitely takes up less space than a Sky Angle 44” chute. Of course, the tape will be removed before the flight!

 

[JackC]

I painted the bottom half of the rocket with black on the fin can and white above can. I left the beveled fin edges alone. They remind me of the feathers of an arrow shaft in homage to Natasha’s best buddy, Hawkeye. The mainly white airframe is a shoutout to her Widow’s snow suit. I’m now waiting for two “Black Widow” stickers from Stickershock before I clear coat the rocket.

 

[JackC]

Painting is done! The stickers are also on the rocket. They are from [email protected].

I am now in the middle of applying clear coat to the rocket.

 

[JackC]

The Widow is a GO for launch during OROC’s NXRS scheduled from June 9th - 12th. I think I will start her off on a Cesaroni 54mm 3 grain and work my way up!

 

[JackC]

Lift off of the Black Widow at Brothers, Oregon NXRS on June 9, 2022.