I think lots of it comes down to attitude. The folks rushing for power are often not the ones who should be holding it, both physically and institutionally.
That is a true statement.
I think lots of it comes down to attitude. The folks rushing for power are often not the ones who should be holding it, both physically and institutionally.
The Formula 54 rocket I’ve working on the past few days is a Halloween rocket as well: Blck NC and fins, pumpkin orange body tube.
Both of our rockets should be easy to find post flight...
I am similar, my motivation for "leveling up" was LDRS coming to the east coast, Potter NY in '09 and MDRA in '15 and the fact I could get a great kit for 1/3 off.Thanks! Yeah, there are so many things to do with Level 1 motors, I'm less interested in "leveling up" than I am in trying new things and seeing what I can do. For me, it is fun to pursue specific goals and try to optimize and learn along the way.
I am similar, my motivation for "leveling up" was LDRS coming to the east coast, Potter NY in '09 and MDRA in '15 and the fact I could get a great kit for 1/3 off.
I agree there are a many things you can do with L1, but you might want to consider L2, just because there are even more things to try with the extra power available. The Lo to Hi power of J motors alone give you a range of 640Ns vs. 480Ns for Lo to Hi in H & I motors. That will be the first thing you really learn flying L2, is the amount of power those motors have, that and how to fly your field. I found that my L1 usually stay below 4K ft. L2 usually run 4k to 7K and can easily push the limits of the field I fly at.
Good Luck and have fun!
The coupler in my LaserLOC 1.6 is 5” long.The 4" couplers from LOC were actually 5", which was a good thing, the Proton and battery would have fit within 4", but 5" gives it more room. How long is the one in your LOC kit?
Somebody somewhere has full length couplers, where did I see that....
Rocketarium has full length phenolic. But I think Mike is right:
What did you do for your shock cord anchor? I have a 38mm Giant Leap Hard Point and am considering using it. It is slightly undersized in diameter and requires one wrap of masking tape to fit snug. It would be a bit of a task to replace the shock cord but not impossible. One of those cross that bridge when I come to it things.
The one I installed in my L1 dual deploy tube fin rocket is still going strong so as a sample of one person, I give it a thumbs up.I haven't decided yet, each option requires some compromise. I'd also like to have the shock cord replaceable. I'd attach to the forward closure of the motor, but I'll probably mostly fly CTI, and they specifically state that their MD retainer adapter is not for attaching recovery gear. The other option would be to epoxy an eye bolt into the CTI forward closure, but that would be an extra required step for each flight.
I had to look up the GLR 38mm hard point, and boy, that looks very robust.
Check the dimensions, but Balsa Machining may have 34" coupler stock in the diameter you need.The coupler in my LaserLOC 1.6 is 5” long.
Most likely an extremely tight fit for my RRC2+ and printed sled. That’s why I was looking for a 6” long coupler or even a full length tube I could cut to my needs.
What did you do for your shock cord anchor? I have a 38mm Giant Leap Hard Point and am considering using it. It is slightly undersized in diameter and requires one wrap of masking tape to fit snug. It would be a bit of a task to replace the shock cord but not impossible. One of those cross that bridge when I come to it things.
If you’re going full dual deploy and no delay charges, a bulkhead would work. A 38mm plugged tapped front closure would work, too.
For 29mm motors you could bond the shock cord to the motor mount adapter. I didn’t think of that until just now. D’oh!
Check out their C60-34. I measured my Park Flyer EZE and it's 1.524 IDCheck the dimensions, but Balsa Machining may have 34" coupler stock in the diameter you need.
That looks like it will work.Time for motor retention and recovery attachment. My current plan is to use a single 5/16" threaded rod to connect the motor, airframe, and recovery harness together. I'm going to glue in a bulkhead with a 5/16" blind nut, and use different length threaded rods to accommodate different length motors, up to a maximum of CTI 4 grain. It leaves about 6" for the recovery harness, that will be tight, but I think it will just fit.
In principle this should provide positive motor retention, allow me to change the recovery harness, and still give me a place to attach the recovery harness when using DMS, SU, or 29mm motors that aren't compatible with MD retainers. The trick is going to be threading and unthreading the rod when it is sitting in the middle of the booster. I have a tool that I've used for situations like this, and I think it will work here as well. It is a length of angle aluminum with a hook on the end that can grab an eye nut and twist it. I'll keep the eye nut locked to the top of the threaded rod with a jam nut, and screw it down from the top. It will take some fiddling to get the length right for the motor retainer, but I think that this will work.
(I've said "I think" too many times, I'll get snagged by something)
View attachment 419373
A very short (2” at most) 38-29mm motor adaptor modified to accept a shockcord wrapped around the 29mm tube can be permanently mounted in the body/motor tube is also a possibility for you to consider. That’s pretty much how the LaserLOC 2.23 is set up from the factory. Kind of a pain to install the thing in place AND you cannot replace the shock cord so there are trade offs.
Use a Cesaroni H225 and you pull 33g’s off the pad, 1.5 sec motor burn, just break Mach, 100 feet shy of 1 mile at apogee, but probably burn off your decals from Stickershock23. The Cesaroni H100 gets you the mile but won’t break Mach (about .9) and the liftoff is much more reasonable at 12.5g’s.Alright, 20 oz on the nose without dog barf, shear pins, and stickershock23 decals.
View attachment 419501
but probably burn off your decals from Stickershock23.
I was under the impression those decals were a lot more durable than just Mach 1
Video/pics or it didn’t happen. LOL!
Motor | Max Velocity [mach] | Apogee [ft] | Max Acceleration [G] |
F67 W | 0.26 | 1100 | 13 |
G115 WT | 0.5 | 2800 | 17 |
H225 WT | 0.88 | 5130 | 30 |
I357 T | 1.01 | 5870 | 50 |
I345 WT | 1.14 | 6300 | 40 |
I470 WT | 1.34 | 6900 | 52 |
Use a Cesaroni H225 and you pull 33g’s off the pad, 1.5 sec motor burn, just break Mach, 100 feet shy of 1 mile at apogee, but probably burn off your decals from Stickershock23. The Cesaroni H100 gets you the mile but won’t break Mach (about .9) and the liftoff is much more reasonable at 12.5g’s.
My sims were simple ones done using the Thrustcurve app on my iPad.Your sims are a little more optimistic than mine. Do you remember what surface finish you used?
Motor | Max velocity [mach] | Apogee [ft] | Max V (without launch shoes) | Apogee (without launch shoes) |
G115 WT | 0.49 | 2448 | 0.51 | 3041 |
I357 T | 1.02 | 4970 | 1.09 | 6800 |
I470 WT | 1.35 | 6200 | 1.43 | 8590 |
By “launch shoes” I assume you’re referring to launch lugs.Ras Aero results.
There is a pretty significant increase in altitude without the "launch shoes" (as RasAero calls them). I used 0.08950 sq. inches for the cross sectional area, they're small, but that makes a big difference in the simulation.
The max velocities from Ras Aero are very similar to Rocksim, however the apogee results are lower than Rocksim. I read elsewhere on this forum that the general consensus seems to be that RockSim underestimates altitude for Mach 1+ flights, and Ras Aero is higher and more accurate. So I'll be very curious to see the actual flight results. Either way, I've got a good idea what to expect. Enough simulating, time to go fly.....
Motor Max velocity [mach] Apogee [ft] Max V (without launch shoes) Apogee (without launch shoes) G115 WT 0.49 2448 0.51 3041 I357 T 1.02 4970 1.09 6800 I470 WT 1.35 6200 1.43 8590
By “launch shoes” I assume you’re referring to launch lugs.
BTW, I just ordered a custom 25’ long alternating Neon Pink/Black streamer for my LaserLOC 1.6 from Bama Chutes to use as a drogue and visual reference point.
I hope to be able to see it when it’s a mile up. I carry a pair of 10x23 Nikon Travelite II binocs in my rocket box so I should be able to spot the streamer once it’s deployed.
Worst comes to worst, I should be able to see it on the ground.
I’ll pop the 25’ streamer at apogee and the small main at about 500’. Thinking about it, the 25’ streamer may be too long and permit the rocket to drift...
I asked Ben at BAMA Chutes to do the streamer for me on a custom basis. It has alternating 5’ long 6” wide neon pink and black panels for visibility and contrast. Price was quite reasonable. Whether it works as planned remains to be seen.
Just a thought and Chris B may be amenable to doing something for you on a custom basis.
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