RandyT0001
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- Joined
- Jun 27, 2009
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The other day I was reading the Rocketry News about Aerotech's new 29mm Special RMS hardware promo. After a little searching I found that Aerotech had a 38mm Special RMS hardware package a month or two earlier but I figured that they would be all scoped up by now. So I checked out some prices at various motor outlets and retailers for the 38/720 motor since it can fly small J's and I's. I was thinking that I could buy one of these 38mm spacer kits and a 720 motor and certify level 1 and level 2 off the same casing using spacers. I found that Performance Hobbies had the 720 motor on sale for about $75 then I started looking for the Spacer kit itself and miracle of miracles there is a listing for the 38/360 Special hardware package deal for about $60. "Buy both, buy both," I thought and I did. Great deal, for $135 plus shipping of $10 I can fly from G's to small J's with two motors and a spacer set. (I did forget to buy the 38mm plugged forward closure but I found that on sale at What's Up Hobbies.)
Now to find a rocket to fly. I looked at PML, LOC, Binder Design, etc. and none had the rocket kit/style for which I searched. "Hey you bought RocSim so why not use it and design what you want?" I thought to myself. I wanted a rocket that could handle dual deployment for J's and I's but lends itself to flying on G's and smaller H's for my local field by removing the forward payload and AV coupler. I wanted to scratch MC2's 10K waiver in Manchester when I did my level two certification in a few months so I started on the level two design then modified it to fly it on a small H locally (at MSRS) for my level one. The Zippo X is for level two and The Zippo is for level one flights.
I tried to allocate some mass for the epoxy I will use to build it but my estimates are probably half of what I'll end up using during the actual build. I intend to adjust the design in RocSim as I build it in order to simulate launches more accurately. Once I have the 38mm hardware and spacer kit in hand I can adjust for that in RocSim also. I have not decided on which altimeter I will buy but allocated about 2oz for it. The AV coupler will probably have more mass (probably twice more) than I allocated once it's actually built. The included launch sims are under 'ideal' conditions and I know that adjustments for that will have to be made on the field (especially for the Level two cert flight) but I will run a few sims using higher winds and thermals later for that flight.
So look them over. Tell me if I missed anything important or share a comment. I'm sure I'll be tweaking it a bit over the next couple of weeks or so.
Here is 'The Zippo' in RocSim 9.0.6f81 :
Now to find a rocket to fly. I looked at PML, LOC, Binder Design, etc. and none had the rocket kit/style for which I searched. "Hey you bought RocSim so why not use it and design what you want?" I thought to myself. I wanted a rocket that could handle dual deployment for J's and I's but lends itself to flying on G's and smaller H's for my local field by removing the forward payload and AV coupler. I wanted to scratch MC2's 10K waiver in Manchester when I did my level two certification in a few months so I started on the level two design then modified it to fly it on a small H locally (at MSRS) for my level one. The Zippo X is for level two and The Zippo is for level one flights.
I tried to allocate some mass for the epoxy I will use to build it but my estimates are probably half of what I'll end up using during the actual build. I intend to adjust the design in RocSim as I build it in order to simulate launches more accurately. Once I have the 38mm hardware and spacer kit in hand I can adjust for that in RocSim also. I have not decided on which altimeter I will buy but allocated about 2oz for it. The AV coupler will probably have more mass (probably twice more) than I allocated once it's actually built. The included launch sims are under 'ideal' conditions and I know that adjustments for that will have to be made on the field (especially for the Level two cert flight) but I will run a few sims using higher winds and thermals later for that flight.
So look them over. Tell me if I missed anything important or share a comment. I'm sure I'll be tweaking it a bit over the next couple of weeks or so.
Here is 'The Zippo' in RocSim 9.0.6f81 :
