Are we there yet build thread

[denverdoc]

i suppose you could go w/o recovery as the strapons would likely tumble, but why. it wouldn't require much space for a gee switch activated timer,e match, aa battery and 15 feet of mylar streamer. i reckon you could easily get the battery and timer in the strap-on nose cones, just run an ec below the streamer and you'd be good to go. added benefit--much easier to find!
john s

 

[jraice]

The main reason is that it would allow for EX motors... yes a timer could be used (no room in nose cone, it is solid) but two timers is not cheap, and I dont see a huge benifet. I am sure if I get two adults or young adults each watching one booster... and I could get the younger family members into it ($5 to each kid per booster they find). They will be coming off right at burnout, and even with L impulse in a light rocket, I dont think they will be very high up. I am also going to look into using a pull pin style beeper that activates at booster seperation. Do you guys feel that that may cause a problem (booster gets attached by the beeper)? This thing is going to be moving like a bat out of hell and they air is going to rip those boosters off so I dont think there will be any trouble getting the beepers to come loose. I would really like to have no electronics in the boosters... if both had a timer that would mean the flight would have 3 timers and an alt in three seperate tubes. That is a lot of arming work on the pad. I will probably be painting them with a very bright color that will stand out in the farm land. Any suggestions for paint colors and/or techinques to find them. The cost of the boosters and nose cones is very low, but the 5 or 6 grain 38mm casings would be a serious loss if they got lost.

 

[denverdoc]

suit yourself, couple of timers to do it right would cost 10 bucks,
js

 

[jraice]

Were can I get two $10 timers? If they were that cheap I may consider it... I have a large amount of 9/16" TN, and some one time use (easily burns... but is very bright) plastic streamer material. If you can show me where I can get two timers for $10, I would go for it.

 

[Stymye]

like this?

 

[denverdoc]

well that was an amusing link, but i had more in mind something like this;
https://www.hobbytron.com/vmk111.html

these are 10 bucks but look around;i have seen them on ebay for 5 or 6, or build your own for less if you have a solder gun and will travel thru cyberspace,
john s

 

[jraice]

I like the little $10 unit... but I would really like the simplicity of a tumble recovery. Well I will look into it somemore... Just finished my final check up on the filllets (did all 4 with milled fiber, thickened epoxy at the same time) and they are almost cured, I used rubbing alchohal to smooth them out with gloves on of course and they look nice. I will take a picture of the fin section after sanding and painting of the fins (need to sand the CF area). I also JB welded the aeropack retainer on. Next construction step is to CF the inside of the alt bay coupler and then I am going to cover the entire airframe with PML finishing epoxy and power sand it with ultra fine sand paper. This will give it a much smoother and nicer finish. My next order is the finishing epoxy and some 38mm tubing for the boosters. Booster hardware will be coming soon, and after I am almost finished I will be purchasing a chute from "anchor parachutes" to bring the main section down when it is deployed at 700' AGL.

 

[jraice]

When wetted my CF tubing looks amazing. But after about a minute it dry's and is very dull. I have heard urathane helps, so I went to the local hardware store. They had regular brush on, wipe on and spray on. I liked the idea of wipe on, but I found some spar urathane (supposed to be a little more heavy duty and thicker, used on boats I believe) but was only available in spray. The first coat is on the top tube of the rocket, I plan on doing 3 coats, sanding, then doing a few more coats and seeing how it looks. If it looks great, then well great, if it doesnt I will sand and do some more. I have decided to not use the PML finishing epoxy as stated above, because I am using the polyurethane. Also, because some epoxy from the fillets got onto the tubing inbetween the fins (cant sand becasue fins are in the way) I have decided to leave the 2.5"s of tubing below the fins, and the CF tubing above them natural CF color. The fins and airframe inbetween will be painted.

 

[jraice]

The urethane on the tubing looks great. I plan on possibly getting a coat or two of silver paint on the fins and airframe in-between. I am going for a CF rocket with a metalic fin can... look. I also sprayed some urethane on the bass wood nose cone and it has a very nice shine. I will post a picture of the completed main rocket within a few weeks (vacation in a week...) and then will have a picture of the entire rocket with strap on boosters installed after that.

 

[ben]

Jraice if you can solder you can make this....
https://www.thefintels.com/aer/protected/timer.htm
I am looking in to it seein gI have 3 555 timers looks good BTW

thanx, Ben

 

[jraice]

This thing looks amazing. Up close (holding the rocket and looking) you can see a few imperfections but if you stand back 3-4' it looks amazing! The wooden nose cone reflects light better then some metals, the CF shines like the hood of a CF car hood and the fin can area is amazing with the metallic silver paint! I will try to post a picture tomorrow...