I have a Cestris alsol. Flies nicely. I extended the SC as well. I don't think they can be too long if you can properly fit the NC and launch. Nice job on the vac-u-form.Building the SS Cestris. I can’t decide if I should use the stock Kevlar/elastic or insert the baffle and double the length of the elastic. Which will protect the NC better? I’m guessing the longer elastic but why didn’t Sirius do that already?
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Thanks on the vacuform. So you think the extended SC will decrease the chance of the heavy NC from colliding with the rocket? This is the heaviest NC I've launched (except the Saturns which are dual deploy) so not sure if the same rules apply. It seems to me that Sirius woulda thought of that. The included elastic is 32" not including the Kevlar.I have a Cestris alsol. Flies nicely. I extended the SC as well. I don't think they can be too long if you can properly fit the NC and launch. Nice job on the vac-u-form.
Jim
Try sprinkling a little talcum powder (preferably the real stuff, not cornstarch) on the surface, see if it lubricates things enough to reduce the gumminess. I found it very helpful for those chewing-gum paints and primers.Really crappy application of old primer on new rocket. It's 'cured' for a frickin' month. I swear it's rubber based. Gums up ordinary sandpaper like the residue from an 18 months old's diaper. Now very seriously considering sand blasting the darn thing! They frown on open fires in my neighborhood....
The usual issue with short shock cords is that the NC wants to come back and give the airframe a big old kiss. That rarely ends well. In most HP rockets, there isn't an elastic element to the shock cord. The force is dissipated by shock cord length. Shock cords of 30 feet or so probably aren't going to work well in a mid-power rocket. That's a lot of stuff to get into an airframe that size, and still have it deploy well. The baffle could be an issue. If the baffle doesn't allow enough expansion area in front of the motor, too much of the ejection charge might redirect out of the nozzle. This has happened to me on a HP rocket (not a Cestris), and it occurred more than once. I was trying to allow plenty of room for recovery rigging and that put the baffle too close to the motor. My take away on that was to resort to wadding and chute protectors on some designs. The baffle in your picture does not look overly restrictive though. I used a short baffle in my Cestris and it worked fine.Thanks on the vacuform. So you think the extended SC will decrease the chance of the heavy NC from colliding with the rocket? This is the heaviest NC I've launched (except the Saturns which are dual deploy) so not sure if the same rules apply. It seems to me that Sirius woulda thought of that. The included elastic is 32" not including the Kevlar.
Unless anyone can convince me otherwise, I'll include the Qualman baffle and install a 48" elastic.
Congrats!Oh yeah, I also got my level 1 today. Video and proper post to come later. (for now I’m taking my wife to the casino and we’re celebrating!!!)View attachment 475086 View attachment 475089
I say i have an E12-4 with its name on it.Put together an Estes Spaceship One #2196 yesterday/today.
The big E powered foam one.
Replaced the rubber shock cord with a longer elastic one.
Waiting for the foam glue to cure.
Instructions have you only paint the trim and then decals.
I'm thinking putty and basecoat with foam safe paint.
What say you rocketeers?
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THE SECOND EDITION IS OUT?!?!Today I signed a bunch of copies of ECP 2e.
Yesterday I gave my TRATECH presentation on basic propellant ingredient properties, formulation, and a typical processing procedure. To a packed room. As I told the crowd, "I spent 42 years teaching chemistry to students who [mostly] didn't want to learn it. It was so gratifying to teach again, and to teach to people who really wanted to hear what I had to say."
Best -- Terry
What about a two part epoxy primer like Eastwood's 2K Aerosol? Don't know if it's "foam safe"... it's tough though.Put together an Estes Spaceship One #2196 yesterday/today.
The big E powered foam one.
Replaced the rubber shock cord with a longer elastic one.
Waiting for the foam glue to cure.
Instructions have you only paint the trim and then decals.
I'm thinking putty and basecoat with foam safe paint.
What say you rocketeers?
View attachment 475284
Challenging afternoon today building a sled to fit a Stratologger, 9V battery, and Lab Rat pull-pin switch in a tiny 54mm × 4" coupler. Not quite finished but coming along nicely.
Nice. Can I suggest you put a piece of heatshrink tubing over where the wires are soldered onto the microswitch? Given it is still work in progress I guess you might still be adding it anyway. It will protect the strands from breaking where the solder stops. Vibration and handling can cause this to happen. Only needs to be a short piece but it needs to go past where the solder stops wicking up the strands.
Well, in that case, may I suggest a second look at the bulkhead that's over the battery. it looks as if it's there to help with holding the battery on position, and like it's surface mounted to the sled base. If it's needed, i.e. if there's a bump load against it as the battery wants to move, that load has a substantial moment arm to torque that glue joint. You might consider adding gussets to support it.The only things that should be final are the positions of the major components...
Well, in that case, may I suggest a second look at the bulkhead that's over the battery. it looks as if it's there to help with holding the battery on position, and like it's surface mounted to the sled base. If it's needed, i.e. if there's a bump load against it as the battery wants to move, that load has a substantial moment arm to torque that glue joint. You might consider adding gussets to support it.
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Sorry for the delay. After I read the forum on Sunday, I worked on my rebuilt AMRAAM 4.Thanks on the vacuform. So you think the extended SC will decrease the chance of the heavy NC from colliding with the rocket? This is the heaviest NC I've launched (except the Saturns which are dual deploy) so not sure if the same rules apply. It seems to me that Sirius woulda thought of that. The included elastic is 32" not including the Kevlar.
Unless anyone can convince me otherwise, I'll include the Qualman baffle and install a 48" elastic.
I have old ThinkPads and when I upgraded them to SSDs it was like they became new again. In in both I swapped the DVD unit for a SSD unit so I have two SSDs in each.Managed to swap the SSD into the old laptop today. Wow . Boot time is now about 90 seconds into Win10. Previously it was about 13 minutes with the old HDD. Will be a nice PC for the GSE collection. $78 for the new SSD gave the PC an entire new lease on life. Prior to that it was a dog to do anything on.
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