Estes Big Daddy fix from a 2013 build..

[86mustang408w]

First flight failed back in 2013. Love this rocket have 2 more to build including one that's gonna be 29mm. So this is a test run to try it out. Just got it back a few days ago so its needs some TLC and upgrades. The shock cords are trash from all the builds 10 years ago. They all need to be replaced one way or another. Anyways, I finally have time to mess with the nosecone/chute section now. Looked around and this idea is best one I saw others do. Wanted to use a coupler in case the shoulder wasn't long enough to prevent drag separation. But it has enough to fit down in the body tube. Running for hardware now, but updates will happen!!

 

[86mustang408w]

Picked up some hardware for this and some other projects, now epoxy..

 

[techrat]

Cutting the nosecone seems to be essential for proper Big Daddy flights. As you can tell from my avatar, Big Daddy is king of the hill for me, my Big Daddy has more flights on it than any other rocket I own. I built it super tough from the outset and it hasn't failed me yet. Of course, that toughness comes at a price, it won't leave the pad on anything less than an E12, and I generally fly composite motors on this bad boy. I'm curious how you're going to thread in a new shock cord into that screw eye, I would have thought you'd tie kevlar to the screw eye BEFORE you put it into the body tube, but to each their own.

 

[Hobie1dog]

I'm curious how you're going to thread in a new shock cord into that screw eye, I would have thought you'd tie kevlar to the screw eye BEFORE you put it into the body tube, but to each their own.

He's going to use those long forceps to do that part with.

 

[86mustang408w]

Cutting the nosecone seems to be essential for proper Big Daddy flights. As you can tell from my avatar, Big Daddy is king of the hill for me, my Big Daddy has more flights on it than any other rocket I own. I built it super tough from the outset and it hasn't failed me yet. Of course, that toughness comes at a price, it won't leave the pad on anything less than an E12, and I generally fly composite motors on this bad boy. I'm curious how you're going to thread in a new shock cord into that screw eye, I would have thought you'd tie kevlar to the screw eye BEFORE you put it into the body tube, but to each their own.

I didn't have everything assembled with epoxybat all. Just did that after tightened the eyelets and using locktite. This is now. After I knotted the kevlar cord at each end with a buntline.

 

[86mustang408w]

I got some hardwarebdeom Coles, tightened it with locktite. Then mixed 30 min Bob Smith epoxy after tacking the bulkhead in place with thin CA. Left a little extra on the plywood to protect from ejection charges. I built this 10 years ago. Many had not even thought of the nosecone trick at that time I knew of, even posted a thread on here...So thats where I'm at, flights after the chute repair maybe Sunday. Also need to make more parachute protectors from the nomex I bought off ebay.

 

[86mustang408w]

He's going to use those long forceps to do that part with.

Nothing was epoxied until last night about 12am, when I tied both ends of the 550 lb test kevlar to each one. I gave myself 4 feet for the shock cord but maybe should have went longer. But if need be I can make a longer cord. Mocked all of it up about 4 times, with the thin CA to hold it in place until I got the epoxy on it...

 

[86mustang408w]

So I did some Mods to the Big Daddy, and wanted to test the ejection event to see if it worked. It does!! I have 2 more to build so this one will be for working out the bugs, so this one from 2013 is a test rocket now. I have a very small launch area, and wasn't risking losing it. A Cherokee-E on a B6-4 was almost lost, it went a few hundred feet away. So I started with the smallest engine I had, and was very aware of the risks. If I didn't feel this was 100% safe, I WOULD HAVE NEVER LAUNCHED IT. But did, and got 2 lawn darts, bc I didn't use a bigger motor but that was my choice. It took very little damage and is still flyable. First video has a choice "S" word in a B4-4, which I apologize for. Second video is the C6-5, was almost perfect but its all I had and the ejection was just too long at seconds. But it ejected right b4 the ground and did a little damage. I cut a pc of nomex I bought to make chute protectors. I just cut a pc and used it, it would have been retrieved. I need to sit and make some more of those the correct way.This is what rocketry for me is about, its testing your ideas more than OpenRocket. I didn't sit down and mess with that today. I'm old school, and this is how I learn. I could have picked the perfect motor using OpenRocket and get all the weights(which I have a digital scale now), but I didnt. And these are not great rockets from the start bc of ejection issues. But this will work the bugs out. AND have no issue flying it on a D motor at my area. No houses were close, and one person was direct behind me fully aware of what could happen. And the ground was super soft due to rain, so its why I picked today. So, next time its getting a D. Be kind, this is for fun...And have a few more motor choices next time..

 

[86mustang408w]

Gonna sed it on a D12-3 this weekend, flight video will be loaded!!

 

[86mustang408w]

Sat down and made a chute protector. And added a quicklink to the mix, I have a better swivel but this one will be fine..Hopefully video this weekend weather permitting..

 

[Hobie1dog]

I cut off the slanted section on both of my NC's and will get a bulkhead plate today from my vendor. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[86mustang408w]

Here's the Big Daddy on a D12-3, and another with the JL chute release..

 

[86mustang408w]

I cut off the slanted section on both of my NC's and will get a bulkhead plate today from my vendor. Thanks for the pictures.

You are very welcome, have 2 more to builds with one being a 29mm, that's going to be a fun build hopefully in a few weeks...

 

[86mustang408w]

I cut off the slanted section on both of my NC's and will get a bulkhead plate today from my vendor. Thanks for the pictures.

How did you make out? I made my bulkhead at 2.5", with the eyelet, and epoxy its almost the perfect nosecone weight for it so thats a plus. Just curious!!

 

[Hobie1dog]

How did you make out? I made my bulkhead at 2.5", with the eyelet, and epoxy its almost the perfect nosecone weight for it so thats a plus. Just curious!!

I haven't started on the rocket yet

 

[86mustang408w]

I haven't started on the rocket yet

Ok, I'm not quite at mine yet either, just curious! Thank you!

 

[Chris in Idaho]

The B6-4 and C6-5 flights are hilarious. The thing is going so slow at burnout you probably don't actually need any delay. I'd love to see it with a B6-0 or C6-0, it'd almost be a back yard flier!

 

[86mustang408w]

The B6-4 and C6-5 flights are hilarious. The thing is going so slow at burnout you probably don't actually need any delay. I'd love to see it with a B6-0 or C6-0, it'd almost be a back yard flier!

Was thinking the same! It was really to test the ejection event and thought about making a test jig and doing it on the ground, but wheres the fun it that, but I was safe about it. It went up in the same spot with a D12-3 nicely then. But was super worried about losing it!.... But found out it had a orange 24mm spacer in it, while working on it Saturday at the SPAAR meet here in PA. But here's that video, along with some others on my YouTube channel. But E motors are next. And I'm finally going to get to build that 29mm one.

 

[Bill S]

My wife and I are in the process of gearing up to build her Big Daddy, and after seeing the issues some people had at the SPAAR launch, she told me to go ahead and modify the nosecone. At least yours went well.

 

[86mustang408w]

My wife and I are in the process of gearing up to build her Big Daddy, and after seeing the issues some people had at the SPAAR launch, she told me to go ahead and modify the nosecone. At least yours went well.

Haha. They are hit an miss! One right after mine, did a bad nosedive. Ill post a link later!! Where you there?!

 

[Bill S]

I was there. I think you were the guy I gave the Pedialite to? Your DerRedMax photos made me think it was you.

She had previously told me to not to bother with modifying the nosecone. I told her she was rolling the dice, but she was okay with not modding it. After the launch though, its please modify it for me.

 

[Pinetree]

At our last launch I flew my Big Daddy on an EnerJet E20-7 White Lightning.

Very loud and lots of smoke.. highly recommended.

 

[86mustang408w]

I was there. I think you were the guy I gave the Pedialite to? Your DerRedMax photos made me think it was you.

She had previously told me to not to bother with modifying the nosecone. I told her she was rolling the dice, but she was okay with not modding it. After the launch though, its please modify it for me.

Yes!!!! Thank you! Launched my Leviathan right after you left, lol...



And did you see this?

 

[86mustang408w]

At our last launch I flew my Big Daddy on an EnerJet E20-7 White Lightning.

Very loud and lots of smoke.. highly recommended.

I have one im doing in 29mm soon. But working on my Booster section for SBB. Here's my BDaddy on a D12-3, my orange spacer fell out too, so its good for bigger motors. Have 2 more to build yet...

 

[86mustang408w]

I picked up some motors for this, and my new 29mm build. Should be interesting. Starting out with a small motor. Then I'll go up depending on how it responds...