Today was our annual night launch... or should I have said tonight..? I flew modified a Mean Machine, Sumo and Rising Star...
What did you do rocket wise today?
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arconhi
Well-Known Member
Nice day you had. Cool.We did some launches today too.Introducing some newbees to the Hobby.
I arrived at our club launch and discovered my new camcorder was not fully charged- I thought I had fully charged it. Regardless, apologies for the vertical phone video format, I forgot to rotate... We always fly our night rockets once during the day, then they can fly at night. First up was my Mean Machine, followed by my Rising Star, and last was my Sumo. The night flights were reversed, Sumo, Rising Star and the Mean Machine was the very last flight for the night. I can't wait 'til next year... 
Oops, went over the limit, here's the last "flight" of the night...
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Drawing laser cutting files. I sometimes find when I split a fin to optimise grain direction, and then start flipping parts to get the best use from a balsa sheet, I can't get my brain to realise if I still have the best grain direction for all the fin parts.
So I print the file out, stick it on some balsa with a glue stick and cut it out.
Put it together, check the grain direction. Get happy. Email the file to my laser cutting mate in Melbourne.
So I print the file out, stick it on some balsa with a glue stick and cut it out.
Put it together, check the grain direction. Get happy. Email the file to my laser cutting mate in Melbourne.
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Big Red Rocketeer
Well-Known Member
Pretty windy day but I did manage to get a bit of paint work done. Just had to keep to the lee side of the house. 
Biggest of job was to get half the roll pattern on the body of my V-2. I'm pretty pleased so far.
Biggest of job was to get half the roll pattern on the body of my V-2. I'm pretty pleased so far.
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Trying to decide which of the rocket kits I got with my birthday gift cards I want to build first.
Jay Dub 4009
Well-Known Member
was a great flight too!
XrayLizard
Well-Known Member
Lance Delta build thread
arconhi
Well-Known Member
I arrived at our club launch and discovered my new camcorder was not fully charged- I thought I had fully charged it. Regardless, apologies for the vertical phone video format, I forgot to rotate... We always fly our night rockets once during the day, then they can fly at night. First up was my Mean Machine, followed by my Rising Star, and last was my Sumo. The night flights were reversed, Sumo, Rising Star and the Mean Machine was the very last flight for the night. I can't wait 'til next year...
Every flight was awesome. Wish we could have been there.
(Yesterday) I went down to my mentor's place to test rocket motors. Unfortunately, although the DATAQ software worked when I tried it at home...it didn't when I needed it. More troubleshooting.
We did test-fire w/o instrumentation two motors, just to watch them: a pretty-fast blue and a plain yellow-orange flame, both PBAN based.
After which beer, steak, baked potato, beer, funny movie, beer, 8-ball, dessert, and beer happened.
We did test-fire w/o instrumentation two motors, just to watch them: a pretty-fast blue and a plain yellow-orange flame, both PBAN based.
After which beer, steak, baked potato, beer, funny movie, beer, 8-ball, dessert, and beer happened.
Looks like you have 'chamber of commerce weather' up there in Manassas. Curious, how many rockets end up finding those isolated trees that appear to be smack dab in the middle of the flying field?
While the rocket-eating trees do feed occasionally, I think it is surprisingly few... none even came close yesterday.
Wish you could have been there too...
So I guess you'll have to go back and do all that again. And I'm sure you won't sabotage the DATAQ just so you'll have to do it a third time. "I don't know what happened, mate. It worked fine at home. Oh well, let's have some beer and steak."
First flight of my Red Flare had a beautiful launch but had a faulty E6-4 motor had 4sec. Tracking but no deployment charge so no chute
Designed and constructed a 24mm Stealth foam core rocket to make with the grandkids, patterned after one of Art's designs. Apparently, the Star Wars takeoff called the Mandalorian is the hot semi-new series from Disney.
How do you like that paint...
...just kidding, it's vinyl.
How do you like that paint...
Big Red Rocketeer
Well-Known Member
Got the other stripes on the V-2. Have some touch up to do but it's mostly done. Probably the most challenging paint job I've ever done. I like the look though. Definitely worth the effort.
That really came out NICE!Got the other stripes on the V-2. Have some touch up to do but it's mostly done. Probably the most challenging paint job I've ever done. I like the look though. Definitely worth the effort.
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Looks good. Is it a kit or scratch built. What's it weigh etc.Got the other stripes on the V-2. Have some touch up to do but it's mostly done. Probably the most challenging paint job I've ever done. I like the look though. Definitely worth the effort.
View attachment 437720
Big Red Rocketeer
Well-Known Member
Thanks! It's the current Estes model.
XrayLizard
Well-Known Member
Big Red’s V2 is inspiring!
So ordered one tonight along with the Honest John
So ordered one tonight along with the Honest John
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Got the last fillet done on my Mach1 29mm Area 51. Little sanding and its off to paint. And started on the Loc Semper Fi, a little late to fly on the 10th but, better late than never.
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Read chapter 2 of Make: HPR. The chapter introduces a custom MPR-HPR rocket called "Callisto." It's apparently similar to the MadCow DX3. Sidebars on fin shapes, pressure and altitude and motor information made the read even more interesting - now I know more than one meaning for the word "Tang." Even better, the chapter walks through a complete set-up of the rocket in Open Rocket, along with simulations and tips. I learned something by messing up, thankfully only in simulation. Thinking that I had followed the example perfectly, my first simulation spewed out a red error "chute deploy at high speed." I discovered that I had set the simulation for a 14 ejection charge delay rather than a 10. What better way to learn that simulating an HPR launch can really pay off? That actual launch may have produced a zipper or shredded the parachute or something else potentially nasty.
Awesome book so far. My brain has sucked in quite a bit of juicy stuff even 2 chapters in.
Awesome book so far. My brain has sucked in quite a bit of juicy stuff even 2 chapters in.
arconhi
Well-Known Member
Thats good flying. We had seven launches yesterday. We lost one due to a Tree Eater , my 18mm Estes "Iris" with a B6-4 motor. It happens,it's going to happen sometime. However, I have another of the same kit and a 4.0 diameter 29mm. Can't wait to fly again.
caheaton
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A busy day for me today, but a decent one. Winds about 4 mph gusting to maybe 7 at times temperature a balmy 77 degrees with full sun....not bad for November!
Today I decided to launch from the spillway at East Fork State Park (about 10 minutes from home). First up as a way to check the winds was my Custom Screamer (the one with the warped fins) on a B6-4. Flight was surprising straight and nice....I guess the spin imparted by the fins can be a good thing. Unfortunately the shroud lines tangled so the chute didn't deploy. No damage to rocket so all is good.
Next up was the LOC Cool Spool on a G71-4R. I had a devil of a time getting this one to go. I initially had continuity, but no launch. After that nada. I finally ended up removing the stupid copperhead ignitor and replacing it with a first fire. That worked splendidly, though the engine chuffed for a moment before taking off. Not sure if that was due to the age of the motor (it's maybe 12 years old) or if the ignitor wasn't correctly seated. Sadly, the shock cord broke on ejection but no damage to the spool and the parachute was recovered as well. Should be easy to repair.
Next up was another launch of the Custom Screamer with the B6-4. Another straight flight with proper chute deployment.
Next launch I decided to go ahead and fly the digital Astrocam using the Tigres as the booster. This rocket works well with the camera and the bright orange color makes finding the rocket in the tallish weeds easier. First launch was with the B6-4, followed by another with a C6-5. The C6-5 flight landed near the (short) edge of the field but landed safely. Both launches had correct deployment of the 12" plastic chute, though deployment came just a touch early. An extra second of delay would have been ideal.
Final launch of the day was the Estes Big Daddy. I'd hope to send this up on a D9-4 but alas the copperhead gave me the same troubles as with the spool. I swapped it for a firstfire, but either the propellent was reluctant to light or I'd inserted the ignitor too deep (the masking tape across the end of the grain wasn't sticking very well). The ignitor ignited but failed to ignite the propellant grain. So, that motor will have to wait for another day. I swapped the the D9 for a D12-5 for a perfect flight.
Attached is a link to the video of the Astrocam launches. There is one small error....at the end I said the stills are from the C6 launch, they are except for the first...it's the B6 launch. I didn't feel like redoing it to correct that minor error.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/gnca50bQRiSuzVyPXo3HPw.POStKEbqCqIuyoUTOv_lFe
Almost forgot....I also applied primer to the Custom Aztec and Fiesta builds.
Today I decided to launch from the spillway at East Fork State Park (about 10 minutes from home). First up as a way to check the winds was my Custom Screamer (the one with the warped fins) on a B6-4. Flight was surprising straight and nice....I guess the spin imparted by the fins can be a good thing
. Unfortunately the shroud lines tangled so the chute didn't deploy. No damage to rocket so all is good.Next up was the LOC Cool Spool on a G71-4R. I had a devil of a time getting this one to go. I initially had continuity, but no launch. After that nada. I finally ended up removing the stupid copperhead ignitor and replacing it with a first fire. That worked splendidly, though the engine chuffed for a moment before taking off. Not sure if that was due to the age of the motor (it's maybe 12 years old) or if the ignitor wasn't correctly seated. Sadly, the shock cord broke on ejection but no damage to the spool and the parachute was recovered as well. Should be easy to repair.
Next up was another launch of the Custom Screamer with the B6-4. Another straight flight with proper chute deployment.
Next launch I decided to go ahead and fly the digital Astrocam using the Tigres as the booster. This rocket works well with the camera and the bright orange color makes finding the rocket in the tallish weeds easier
. First launch was with the B6-4, followed by another with a C6-5. The C6-5 flight landed near the (short) edge of the field but landed safely. Both launches had correct deployment of the 12" plastic chute, though deployment came just a touch early. An extra second of delay would have been ideal.Final launch of the day was the Estes Big Daddy. I'd hope to send this up on a D9-4 but alas the copperhead gave me the same troubles as with the spool. I swapped it for a firstfire, but either the propellent was reluctant to light or I'd inserted the ignitor too deep (the masking tape across the end of the grain wasn't sticking very well). The ignitor ignited but failed to ignite the propellant grain. So, that motor will have to wait for another day. I swapped the the D9 for a D12-5 for a perfect flight.
Attached is a link to the video of the Astrocam launches. There is one small error....at the end I said the stills are from the C6 launch, they are except for the first...it's the B6 launch. I didn't feel like redoing it to correct that minor error
.https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/gnca50bQRiSuzVyPXo3HPw.POStKEbqCqIuyoUTOv_lFe
Almost forgot....I also applied primer to the Custom Aztec and Fiesta builds.
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Got confirmation of a big box of fins, stands and decals shipping from my cutter mate in Melbourne. Best get cutting tubes for the Apanina and Longreach. Oh, and some new fins for a proto coming as well. Happy, happy, joy, joy... 
Jay Dub 4009
Well-Known Member
Work continued on Mach1 starlight 38XL. Cleaned up edges on fins I laminated with carbon on Friday. Prepped booster tube for fun install, and got rear fin set adhered with aeropoxy structural with some milled fiberglass. Started work on av bay lids 
arconhi
Well-Known Member
I always liked the Black and white paint scheme. Nice work.Got the other stripes on the V-2. Have some touch up to do but it's mostly done. Probably the most challenging paint job I've ever done. I like the look though. Definitely worth the effort.
View attachment 437720
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