Right Coast Rocket

[jbuscaglia]

I also got to Katz's for some pastrami.

I hope you brought some back for the rest of us!

 

[AndyC]

Welcome to the right coast, and good luck with your build. You will get used to DD, and popping the main low, I often use 500' - only go to 700' for the L3 monsters.

Glad you had the patience for Katz - I go into NYC regularly, and honestly can't stomach the line that often wraps around the building (but the pastrami and corned beef, oh my!)...

 

[fineberg]

There was no line when I was at Katz's, actually I went twice over the holidays. I guess I got there when it was slow.

The problem with popping mains at 500 ft. is that I typically use 75-100 ft. of shock cord, and if the chute doesn't open instantly, that doesn't leave much room for error.

Sam

 

[KennB]

Sam,

I hope you've got some LPRs you can bring to our little launch in Acton this weekend.

Trees on one side of the field and wires across the street; a good chance to practice you "spot" recovery skills.

 

[Handeman]

There was no line when I was at Katz's, actually I went twice over the holidays. I guess I got there when it was slow.

The problem with popping mains at 500 ft. is that I typically use 75-100 ft. of shock cord, and if the chute doesn't open instantly, that doesn't leave much room for error.

Sam

Flying on the right coast, I pop the mains at 300 ft. On an 8' tall rocket, I use 12' of cord on the drogue and 15' on the main. It's only 10 lbs w/o the motor, but the short cords with an 18" drogue work very well.

 

[fineberg]

I'm planning to be there. I love the Acton launch site, its less than 2 miles from my house. That said, I almost hung a rocket in the power lines the last time I flew there.

Sam

 

[billspad]

I'm planning to be there. I love the Acton launch site, its less than 2 miles from my house. That said, I almost hung a rocket in the power lines the last time I flew there.

Sam

Speaking of power lines, Amesbury may not be the best place for a super long shock cord. A couple of years ago someone landed one on the power lines. I forget how many volts those lines are but it's enough that I wouldn't want to count a piece of wet Kevlar not conducting enough to do serious harm to someone grabbing it. He called the power company and removed it but they threatened to bill him for doing so. I don't believe they ever did which is a good thing because the NAR insurance has a high deductible and you'd be on the hook for the first $1000.

 

[pyrobob]

The pictures I have seen of MDRA and URRG have trees scary close, at least by what I am used to. Also at TCC and Black Rock you can drive fairly close to the rocket (right up to it on Black Rock), so no hiking a mile carrying a 30 pound rocket.

I am aware there are a few places with high waivers, however, none of them would handle the 28k flight I did in 2013 at Black Rock. I am hoping to do a minimum diameter M flight at URRG when I get a chance, with a smaller motor this time.

Sam
View attachment 249067View attachment 249068View attachment 249069

Interesting that the first photo shows almost a loop created by the rocket and recovery system. Almost as though there was no wind and it just kind of spiraled into place. How was the weather that day? Also, what motor was that??

 

[fineberg]

Yes, it definitely did corkscrew on the way down. I'm not sure why, but if you open the log file from my Big Red Bee GPS tracker (using google earth) you can clearly see it.

Sam

View attachment Tim 2 25k 8-3-13.kml

 

[fineberg]

Oh, I forgot to say it was an Aerotech M685, 6 grain 75mm moon burner

 

[fineberg]

Drilled holes in the fin roots to help bind with the foam, and attaching the fins



I forgot to take pictures when I attached the other 2 fins, but now I am ready for the foam....

 

[fineberg]

More progress. I foamed the fin can this weekend, using Giant Leap Mega Foam.
Before:

During:

Oops, that was a bit too much on the final pour:

All cleaned up and ready for the aft centering ring:

 

[taiwanluthiers]

There's trees everywhere in Texas, in the field I saw with the club there's a cluster of trees to a distance... I wish we could do a Texas Chainsaw Tree Massacre on them...

 

[watermelonman]

Is the Katz pastrami price now higher or lower than the average K motor?

 

[fineberg]

Fillets, West System + West 407:



Then I attached the rear bulk plate, note the innovative clamping technique

 

[fineberg]

I also painted the coupler and the inside of the body tubes with diluted epoxy, to toughen them up and make them more resistant to water and powder residue.

 

[fineberg]

Now that the weather is getting warmer I am starting to think about the tough question, what color? do I want a custom decal?