I've been flying an Estes Interceptor, and have noticed something odd about the rocket. I built it with a Kevlar removeable shockcord, with a 1.5" wide piece of blue painters tape at the top to reduce the chance of a zipper (and treated the tube end with CA glue and sanded it down).
The instructions recommend 5-6 sheets of wadding. I initially tried 6 pieces, but due to the nosecone being a little snug, it was not ejecting the wadding at all - the wadding was stopping around the end of the body tube. It was ejecting the parachute though. But my biggest concern was that the wadding was smouldering and I didn't want it to damage the body tube.
I sanded down the nosecone a little, and went to 5 sheets of wadding, and its still not ejecting the wadding, even when the blue tape fell off and I failed to notice it. While it hasn't caused any problems with parachute deployment, I don't want the rocket to be damaged by smouldering wadding if I can help it.
Is this typical for rockets of this diameter (1.3")?
The instructions recommend 5-6 sheets of wadding. I initially tried 6 pieces, but due to the nosecone being a little snug, it was not ejecting the wadding at all - the wadding was stopping around the end of the body tube. It was ejecting the parachute though. But my biggest concern was that the wadding was smouldering and I didn't want it to damage the body tube.
I sanded down the nosecone a little, and went to 5 sheets of wadding, and its still not ejecting the wadding, even when the blue tape fell off and I failed to notice it. While it hasn't caused any problems with parachute deployment, I don't want the rocket to be damaged by smouldering wadding if I can help it.
Is this typical for rockets of this diameter (1.3")?