Level 1 Build: The Zephyr!

[Precision3D]

So this will be my rocket I will be attempting to get my Level 1 within the next month or so. I worked for a little over 3 1/2 hrs straight to complete this rocket, not including sanding and painting of which I will complete in a few days or a week maybe even 2 weeks depending on school and work.
The outside fin fillets are made with Fix-it Epoxy because of that's what I had on hand and is also what I'm comfortable with working and molding.
Everything in this kit was pretty tight fitting, which I kinda liked but also disliked because of how much force was used to put it together.
I Plan to fly this on a CTI H110, right now I'm trying to figure out the delay for the rocket, as what is posted on Apogee's website and what Rock Sim ( the trial version as I'm broke and can't get the full version yet ) is giving me are 2 different answers. Apogee says 9 seconds on delay but when I put this rocket through Rock Sim I get 11 seconds to apogee on an H110.
Hoping the next rocket will be a dual deploy so I can start playing around with that stuff than I may attempt my level 2 in the early summer( I'm debating dual deploy for level 2, probably won't just so I can get it done easier )

 

[Precision3D]

 

[Precision3D]

I also have a video of this build, I just need to finish painting it then I'll edit and post the video!

 

[MikeyDSlagle]

Interesting build techniques. I don't think I have ever seen this rocket...I like it.
Clean build. Good look on your cert flight.
Check out Open Rocket. It is similar to Rocsim but free.

 

[DeepOvertone]

Mike, It’s an L1 cert rocket from apogee. It’s new. I don’t like a couple things about it. #1 is the cutout in the fin. It looks neat but seems like it’s just asking to break off on a landing that otherwise wouldn’t break anything. Possibly causing a failed L1(depends on the certifying officer). #2 is the pointy tips protruding below the body tube. Again cool looking but asking to break off. To me, an L1 vehicle should be built like a tank.

Just my .02. May be an unpopular opinion.

On the other hand. It’s a pretty rocket kit that looks very well made.

Good luck on that L1/2!

 

[KDA]

I saw this one pop up on the Apogee site and I was hoping someone would build it. I'll be anxious to hear how it flies for you. I'm sure as a few more of these get into the wild and the open rocket files start floating about someone will simulate it with trimmed fins to eliminate the cut out and the pointy bits. On the other hand those look like awful thick fins and I expect they would be fairly tough.

 

[Nytrunner]

So this is the Zephyr! Our club is giving one away as a contest prize, so this is timely
Definitely check out OpenRocket. Use the initial sim you make to get an idea of what motor you want, then when you've finished the build and painted it, adjust the weight and balance of the simulation to match so that you have the best accuracy.
The issue with Apogee's "canned answer" delay suggestions is that no one will build the rocket exactly the same, so weight and finish will affect the delay you'll need in the end.

Unsolicited opinion: Go ahead and look into Dual deployment for L2 (or even before). You'll learn a lot more that way than building essentially the same rocket but a little bigger. RRC2 from Missileworks and Stratologger CF from Perfectlfite

You've certainly got a quick build going! Reminds me of throwing together my Madcow Patriot with 5min epoxy back before I new anything about high power rocketry (It still flies and takes H-J no problem!)

What are those odd wood stringers along the motor tube for?

 

[smugglervt]

So this is the Zephyr! Our club is giving one away as a contest prize, so this is timely
Definitely check out OpenRocket. Use the initial sim you make to get an idea of what motor you want, then when you've finished the build and painted it, adjust the weight and balance of the simulation to match so that you have the best accuracy.
The issue with Apogee's "canned answer" delay suggestions is that no one will build the rocket exactly the same, so weight and finish will affect the delay you'll need in the end.

Unsolicited opinion: Go ahead and look into Dual deployment for L2 (or even before). You'll learn a lot more that way than building essentially the same rocket but a little bigger. RRC2 from Missileworks and Stratologger CF from Perfectlfite

You've certainly got a quick build going! Reminds me of throwing together my Madcow Patriot with 5min epoxy back before I new anything about high power rocketry (It still flies and takes H-J no problem!)

What are those odd wood stringers along the motor tube for?

I wondered the same thing about those stringers. Looks to me like they are there just to give the aft CR something to butt up against and to make sure there is sufficient distance between the fore and aft CR to fit the fins' root edges.

 

[grouch]

Cool looking kit. I like the slots in the fins.

 

[Precision3D]

well, painting isn't going too well as of right now, the sudden drop in temperature seems to have affected my spray paint and made it more viscous and shoot blobs out instead of a nice even coat. we will see how things play out. its also extremely windy soo getting paint on the rocket is harder than I thought it was going to be.
I'm changing up the paint job a bit from the original. hope to be giving my nose cone a metallic looking tip and a green stripe on the bottom of the cone.

 

[Precision3D]

So this is the Zephyr! Our club is giving one away as a contest prize, so this is timely
Definitely check out OpenRocket. Use the initial sim you make to get an idea of what motor you want, then when you've finished the build and painted it, adjust the weight and balance of the simulation to match so that you have the best accuracy.
The issue with Apogee's "canned answer" delay suggestions is that no one will build the rocket exactly the same, so weight and finish will affect the delay you'll need in the end.

Unsolicited opinion: Go ahead and look into Dual deployment for L2 (or even before). You'll learn a lot more that way than building essentially the same rocket but a little bigger. RRC2 from Missileworks and Stratologger CF from Perfectlfite

You've certainly got a quick build going! Reminds me of throwing together my Madcow Patriot with 5min epoxy back before I new anything about high power rocketry (It still flies and takes H-J no problem!)

What are those odd wood stringers along the motor tube for?

I wondered the same thing about those stringers. Looks to me like they are there just to give the aft CR something to butt up against and to make sure there is sufficient distance between the fore and aft CR to fit the fins' root edges.

If I am interpreting this correctly and we are looking at the same stingers on the motor tube. they are to help align the 2 centering rings because both rings have cutouts for the fins to slide into is my guess.

 

[Nytrunner]

Spray paint is quite condition-sensitive

If used under 55 degrees F or over 85% humidity, results will be sub par

 

[crossfire]

11 seconds seem a little long for that rocket with the H110

 

[blueapplepaste]

Nice build!

I really like the CR slots and stringers to ensure correct spacing for fins. Sort of reminds me of the Aerotech construction, just with wood instead of plastic.

Good luck with the cert!! As I was told when I’d got mine, be ready to open your wallet. A lot!

 

[Precision3D]

Nice build!

I really like the CR slots and stringers to ensure correct spacing for fins. Sort of reminds me of the Aerotech construction, just with wood instead of plastic.

Good luck with the cert!! As I was told when I’d got mine, be ready to open your wallet. A lot!

I really like it too , the only problem I landed on was that my CA didn't like bonding to the motor mount even when I sanded it before hand. so midway through my expoxying of the inside fillets I had one the stinger things brake loose and made life difficult getting it to go back on correctly but that's on my end of things. If I had really wanted I could have epoxyed them on it used wood glue ..

 

[Precision3D]

Here are a few pictures of the painting !

 

[K'Tesh]

Can someone get me a scan of the fins with a ruler (1mm/ 1/16" measures or finer) laid along the root edge? I'd like to do a sim (and possibly a tutorial on how to do holes in fins).

 

[Precision3D]

I don't have a scanner and can't really rip them off my rocket now but here is this

 

[K'Tesh]

Thanks for the measurements, but I really need a scan for my method of importing fins.

 

[Precision3D]

She's all done ! For the most part

 

[DeepOvertone]

I DO like the look of that rocket. That nose cone is especially nice. Tim did a good job with that one.

 

[neil_w]

I agree, she's a looker. Better job than usual on the graphics.

 

[BradMilkomeda]

What is the final weight? Do you think it’ll fly as a class 1?

I loved my Loc IV but I cracked a fin once and had to nurse it after ever flight afterward. Quarter inch fins on that size is really nice!

 

[crossfire]

She's all done ! For the most part View attachment 371115

You did a very nice job on the build. How did you mask the nose cone tip? I always have problems getting a straight line around the tip.

 

[Precision3D]

You did a very nice job on the build. How did you mask the nose cone tip? I always have problems getting a straight line around the tip.

That is a trade secret …
but in all seriousness , electrical tape works great as it forms to curves and uneven surfaces well. if you want ill make a video on doing that.. another good idea is to have a piece of tube just smaller than the diameter of what place on the cone you want to tape off so you can slide it over and it will stop at the place you wanted and you can tape along where the tube stops.

 

[crossfire]

That is a trade secret …
but in all seriousness , electrical tape works great as it forms to curves and uneven surfaces well. if you want ill make a video on doing that.. another good idea is to have a piece of tube just smaller than the diameter of what place on the cone you want to tape off so you can slide it over and it will stop at the place you wanted and you can tape along where the tube stops.

Sure a video would be helpful

Thanks

 

[BABAR]

Looks like a show room model!
Very nice.

 

[Nytrunner]

That is a trade secret …
but in all seriousness , electrical tape works great as it forms to curves and uneven surfaces well. if you want ill make a video on doing that.. another good idea is to have a piece of tube just smaller than the diameter of what place on the cone you want to tape off so you can slide it over and it will stop at the place you wanted and you can tape along where the tube stops.

That's exactly what I did when I wanted to paint a nose like a bullet tip marking. I taped around the cone, used a couple tubes to make circles, then used an xacto to cut along that line.

 

[Tim51]

Very nice build and a very good looking rocket. Very best of luck with the cert flight!

 

[BLH]

Nice rocket!! I have seen one fly on a CTI H100 with 10 second delay and a H123-14 with delay drilled to 10 seconds and that seemed about right. Wouldn't go longer with samish motor impulse... It's a big and kinda heavy rocket... Don't forget the ground test part!! Best of luck...