PemTech HMAS Bonestell

[JAL3]

The process seemed successful so I repeated it on the opposite side of the same fin.

 

[JAL3]

I then did the same thing with one side of the opposite fin. I did not do the other side because of interference with the launch lug and launch rod hole in the after bulkhead. Still, I think I got enough to significantly strengthen both fins.

 

[JAL3]

I gave the epoxy a full day to dry and then brushed a coat of white acrylic over the fillets. It needs another coat but that has yet to happen since I am now out of white acrylic.

 

[Pem Tech]

Brother John,
Yep, we are all agreed that the E30 is just too much motor for the Bonestell. Think there is an E15 and two E14's hiding in my range box, just begging to give it a whirl.
Good job on the repair, those tight spaces between the tank strake and wing are tough to access.

Out to the shop for development work..
WORK you lazy gnomes!
*CRACK*
Hop to it!!

 

[JAL3]

Brother John,
Yep, we are all agreed that the E30 is just too much motor for the Bonestell. Think there is an E15 and two E14's hiding in my range box, just begging to give it a whirl.
Good job on the repair, those tight spaces between the tank strake and wing are tough to access.

Out to the shop for development work..
WORK you lazy gnomes!
*CRACK*
Hop to it!!

Thanks.

I did find an E15. I thought I had never seen one but I apparently have. I also found the E11 and F12 reloads.

I also found some more white acrylic and finished the job. Its not a perfect match for the original paint but it blends, especially from the launch pad.

 

[JAL3]

After getting refurbished, the Bonestell was ready to try its luck in the air again and I took her to the AARG launch in Hutto. Since I KNOW it does well on D12s, I wanted to start out with one of those. I used a 5 second delay because I was going to need the threes later on for another project that would not be as forgiving.

I was assigned to a pad with a 1/4" rod and immediately found a problem. Some of the epoxy I had used in the repair had dribbled in the way of the lug hole on the aft bulkhead. The rod would not fit.

The fix would be easy enough at home but home was over 2 hours away. I asked the RSO for permission to move to the adjacent 3/16" rod. Permission was given and the rocket was set up.

 

[JAL3]

AARG is quite a bit bigger than my club so there were more people and the pads were located farther away. I guess I have an excuse now to get a telephoto lens.

It looked nice out there and received favorable comments. There was definite two distinct types of people who asked about the rocket. Those who knew who Chesley Bonestell was had an "aha" moment. Everyone else was clueless.

 

[JAL3]

Liftoff was slow and majestic on the D12. It looked good.

 

[JAL3]

It climbed straight without any twisting of gyrations and weathercocked ever so slightly into the wind.

 

[JAL3]

It looked pretty cool coasting too, until it reached apogee and started back down. Those 5 seconds lasted a loooooong time!

 

[JAL3]

Thankfully, ejection finally occurred and the crowd though that I had suffered a separation and even announced as much before the nice, new, loooooong shock cord halted everything.

 

[JAL3]

The rocket landed safely and I was ready to try the experiment with it that I most wanted to conduct.

 

[JAL3]

I knew from much experience that the Bonestell did not react well to E30s. That was the only 24mm E I had been able to find locally for a long time. Finally though, I got hold of an E15-4. I reasoned that the gentler thrust would be all that was needed to take the Bonestell into the realm of the e motor on an regular basis.

I loaded the 15 and then found that the included crapperhead would not fit down the slot. I had heard that the new Quest igniters worked with small AT motors. I had also hear that they did not. I decided to give it a try and put one in. The Bonestell then went out to the 3/16 rod again.

 

[JAL3]

Then I had to wait my turn as the others of the heat took to the air first. That was a good thing. They were mostly owned by youngsters who were excited and it was wonderful to see you young people out flying rockets.

 

[JAL3]

My turn came and....nothing.

The LCO said he had a green light until the launch button was pushed and then it went out. That meant the igniter had fired but failed to ignite the motor. That was the first time one of the new Quest igniters had ever failed me; although I must admit that this was not their intended purpose.

 

[JAL3]

When the range opened up I went and retrieved the Bonestell but I was still faced with a problem. Of all the copperheads I had, not a single one would fit in the slot. I recalled, maybe incorrectly, that I had read that the longer lead Quest igniters were a bit different and that they had a bit more pyrogen. I had some but had never used one. I got it out to look at it. It was possible that it did have a bit more pyrogen but its nothing I would have bet on.

In any event, I resolved to give it a try and inserted it. I went back through the check in and was assigned to the same pad. I set the Bonestell up and returned to the flight line.

 

[JAL3]

Once again I had to wait quite a bit longer than I was used to at my club but the wait was worth it again since all of the others were youngsters...except for geriatric Dave Hein.

 

[JAL3]

It was all to no avail. The igniter again failed to light the motor and I was stuck in the same situation as before. I went back to my table and sorted through the copperheads again, finding my skinniest one and then proceeded to try and whittle it down with a razor. I accomplished nothing but the complete destruction of 2 igniters. Art Applewhite saw what I was doing, and asked, "copperhead? I guess you're not frustrated enough already."

It was at that time that I realized something. This launch, being bigger than what I am used to, had a motor dealer on site. Maybe I would be able to purchase an igniter that would fit. I went to his table, admired his selection of hardware and loads and popped the question. He looked at me kind of funny and it was apparent that he did not do too much with these smaller AT motors. He disappeared into his trailer and looked around and came up with a copperhead that he personally inserted into the slot. He then refused to take any payment.

It is my shame that I never even found out who he was. Whoever you were, thank you.

I loaded up, checked in and went out for the third time.

 

[JAL3]

This time I did not have to wait. This time, the motor also ignited. It looked good off the rod.

 

[JAL3]

Soon though, it began to oscillate like it had with the E30 motor, but not as violently. I also noticed that the frequency of the oscillations increased with time though their amplitude did not.

 

[JAL3]

During the coast phase, the oscillations began to damp.

 

[JAL3]

Ejection occurred right at apogee.

 

[JAL3]

The chute deployed and it began to drift back down.

 

[JAL3]

There was no damage when it was recovered.

While it did perform better with the E15 than with the E30, there were still problems. It does great on a D12 but does not seem to like Es. I want to try it again on an Estes E9 and also maybe an Apogee E6 to see if the gentler thrust of those motors will improve things.

Until then, my story is that the Bonestell saves E power for emergencies and evasive maneuvers.

 

[Donaldsrockets]

If you have an AT 24/40 motor, you could always try the E11-3J.

 

[JAL3]

If you have an AT 24/40 motor, you could always try the E11-3J.

That's right. I have the case and think I have the loads for it. I'll give that a try next outing.

I'm a bit leary of the E6 thinking it might be too gentle.

 

[RangerStl]

The oscillations might be velocity-dependent and they may be caused by the Ping-Pong balls on the outside of the body. Spherical things generate and shed vorteces.

I wonder what would happen if one flew the same configuration but without the balls... SCIENCE PROJECT!

 

[JAL3]

The oscillations might be velocity-dependent and they may be caused by the Ping-Pong balls on the outside of the body. Spherical things generate and shed vorteces.

I wonder what would happen if one flew the same configuration but without the balls... SCIENCE PROJECT!

I'm hoping to gather some more empirical data this Saturday at the Alamo Rocketeers launch.

I don't know about the vortices; that may well be the case, but I am convinced that the oscillation amplitude and frequency is a function of the rocket velocity. I'm going to try smaller and smaller until I find the sweet spot for Es. I hope that does not turn out to be 1/2E12 (=D12). Even if it is, though, it looks great on a D12. I should probably test it with a C11 too.

 

[gdiscenza]

. . . without the balls

Ranger,

To launch with the big engines, you gotta have the balls!

G.D.

 

[Pem Tech]

Ranger,

To launch with the big engines, you gotta have the balls!

G.D.

It is spelled Ballz....
BALLZ I tell you!



Great report Brother John. We are lust a bit closer to releasing the
HMAS Bonestell because of your endeavors.

Not so sure about the Ballz Vs. No Ballz experiment. Something about saying "No Ballz" that makes me jumpy.


But really, that would be a great experiment. If someone conducts it please let me know.