At Saturday's launch, I discovered an interesting problem with my FG 4 rocket. It lives in the basement, which stays at about 70 degrees F. On Saturday, outside temperature at launch time was in the 90s.
I assembled my rocket, but when I tried to insert the shear pins, the holes were off center. They were actually too shallow, so there was no way I could get them into the NC unless I redrilled. So apparently the expansion of the FG due to heat caused my holes to become misaligned.
I had three choices: 1) fly without pins; 2) go bug AMW to use their electricity to redrill (and lose an hour of flying time); 3) not launch it at all.
Now, because it was hot and the FG expanded, that also meant that the NC was very snug in the payload tube, and I could not easily pull it off.
So, which of the above options do you think I chose? You're right. I launched it without shear pins. And would you believe ... the main came out at apogee? No, really! Who'da thunk it?
So it drifted about 3400', and everyone thought for sure it was in the trees. Fortunately it drifted so far that it came down in a wheat field. I had to drive a mile and a half to get to it, but I did recover it, and did not get shot at by any farmers.
Your job is now to tease me, taunt me, shame me, and humiliate me so that I don't ever do this again. Please?
The picture below shows the recovery path.
I assembled my rocket, but when I tried to insert the shear pins, the holes were off center. They were actually too shallow, so there was no way I could get them into the NC unless I redrilled. So apparently the expansion of the FG due to heat caused my holes to become misaligned.
I had three choices: 1) fly without pins; 2) go bug AMW to use their electricity to redrill (and lose an hour of flying time); 3) not launch it at all.
Now, because it was hot and the FG expanded, that also meant that the NC was very snug in the payload tube, and I could not easily pull it off.
So, which of the above options do you think I chose? You're right. I launched it without shear pins. And would you believe ... the main came out at apogee? No, really! Who'da thunk it?
So it drifted about 3400', and everyone thought for sure it was in the trees. Fortunately it drifted so far that it came down in a wheat field. I had to drive a mile and a half to get to it, but I did recover it, and did not get shot at by any farmers.
Your job is now to tease me, taunt me, shame me, and humiliate me so that I don't ever do this again. Please?
The picture below shows the recovery path.