Multi Stage Saturn V

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Streamer Fixture

I made the 172" long streamer for the 4th stage. In order to make this tedious task a bit more efficient I built a simple fixture to make the creases.

It's just a 2 x 4 which I used a back saw to cut some slots across across. They're spaced at 1-1/2" which is just right for the 1/2A3 motor dia. of 0.53".

A table knife upside down makes a crease across the streamer, use every other slot, then flip the streamer over and crease the streamer on the other side for the adjacent slots.

Then take the streamer, fold it at the crease and then use your thumb and fore finger to make the crease nice and tight. Rinse and repeat 115 times.

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3rd Stage Recovery Spool

I used a piece of C-50 and some cardboard to make a recovery spool for the 3rd stage. This will protect the 3rd stage streamer from the 4th stage motor at staging.

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Streamer Fixture

I made the 172" long streamer for the 4th stage. In order to make this tedious task a bit more efficient I built a simple fixture to make the creases.

It's just a 2 x 4 which I used a back saw to cut some slots across across. They're spaced at 1-1/2" which is just right for the 1/2A3 motor dia. of 0.53".

A table knife upside down makes a crease across the streamer, use every other slot, then flip the streamer over and crease the streamer on the other side for the adjacent slots.

Then take the streamer, fold it at the crease and then use your thumb and fore finger to make the crease nice and tight. Rinse and repeat 115 1680300264544.jpeg1680300264544.jpeg
I can’t believe it’s not butter!1680300264544.jpeg
 
Is there no end to the knowledge base on this site.... and the plot twists in this thread? ;)

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a43436/fabio-busch-gardens-goose-killer/
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So long as we are wandering off the rails (what’s the status on the rail launched rocket, BTW?) there is a NASA story on bird strikes (hey at least NASA has something to do with rocketry on most days)

the Japanese were finalizing the testing of their bullet train, and there was concern that the driver’s cockpit window Might not hold up to bird strikes. They learned that NASA had actually developed a “bird cannon” to fire chickens at the canopy to test the Shuttle. They asked to borrow it and NASA shipped it over.

on the first test, the deployed bird sheared through the cockpit, THROUGH the headrest of the driver’s seat, and embedded itself in the rear wall of the cockpit! The Japanese were stunned, the specs on the windscreen had predicted it would easily handle the impact.

they contacted NASA to see if the cannon settings were off or some other issue could be the problem.

NASA sent a three word reply:



”Thaw The Chicken.”
 
So long as we are wandering off the rails (what’s the status on the rail launched rocket, BTW?) there is a NASA story on bird strikes (hey at least NASA has something to do with rocketry on most days)

the Japanese were finalizing the testing of their bullet train, and there was concern that the driver’s cockpit window Might not hold up to bird strikes. They learned that NASA had actually developed a “bird cannon” to fire chickens at the canopy to test the Shuttle. They asked to borrow it and NASA shipped it over.

on the first test, the deployed bird sheared through the cockpit, THROUGH the headrest of the driver’s seat, and embedded itself in the rear wall of the cockpit! The Japanese were stunned, the specs on the windscreen had predicted it would easily handle the impact.

they contacted NASA to see if the cannon settings were off or some other issue could be the problem.

NASA sent a three word reply:



”Thaw The Chicken.”
Sushi Bird​
 
Recovery Spool Wire Leaders

Revised 04-28-2023
See Post #605

Since the 1st and 2nd stage have multiple motors ejecting I'm wanting to use something other than Kevlar in the ejection area. I'll use some fishing leader lines, they are flexible enough to stow between the spools and the BP motors.

The swaged loops on the end of the leaders slide right over one of the studs used to hold the motor retainer.

The 2nd stage is shown below, the same set-up will be used for the 1st stage.

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Well upon further review, after counsel by @rharshberger, I think I'll do some destructive testing on the wire leader lines. See Post #605

At this point it seems using Kevlar may be the wise thing to do.

Installed some fishing line leaders that will secure the recovery shock chords and take the heat of the BP ejection charges for the 1st and 2nd stages of my Saturn V.


Good luck with those leaders, I quit using them after 3 broke on 3 separate rockets, I can look but iirc they are not a good grade stainless and are not anti-corrosive enough.

Do you remember what motor's you were using them with, what the weight of the rockets were?

Estes Mean Machine ,full length couplers and baffle, Estes equivalent 24mm BP charge in AT 24/40 E28T
Scratch 2 stage SA-3/S-125 Pechora, Estes C6-5 and C6-3 (iirc, as I didn't want both ejection charges going off at the same time).
Stock built clone of the Estes Blue Bird Zero, again with Estes 24mm BP charges but using the AT 24/40 cases.

None had more than 5 flights on them after being built when I re-re-re-re-BARred in 2015ish, none have been repaired yet either, and its been over 6 years. I thought the "stainless" fishing leaders were a great idea for LPR rockets, I don't think that way anymore, now they all get 800lb kevlar and I haven't had an issue since.

Thanks.

Did they fail at the crimp locations?

After confirmation....the answer would be yes they failed at the crimp locations, FYI I also use longer kevlar harnesses with taped z-folds to mitigate shock loading the harnesses. I found all three rockets, one the leader is totally missing, the other two the leaders were still attached but the entire crimp end was missing including the ferrule, but I still had the snap link attached to the harness.
 
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Fancy positive motor retention only if it passes Der Pad Fuhrer's weight and balance requirements! Otherwise it is the art of friction fitting each motor with cheapo tape. Such a pain.
 
Fancy positive motor retention only if it passes Der Pad Fuhrer's weight and balance requirements! Otherwise it is the art of friction fitting each motor with cheapo tape. Such a pain.
<---- When in doubt

In this case the motor retainers are an example of "a belt and suspenders". There's more than enough thrust to go around, so eliminating 10 artfully done friction fits with two hell-for-stout aluminum plates is logical and proportionate.
 
<---- When in doubt

In this case the motor retainers are an example of "a belt and suspenders". There's more than enough thrust to go around, so eliminating 10 artfully done friction fits with two hell-for-stout aluminum plates is logical and proportionate.
The Comrade General Secretary is confident of his "Belt and Road Initiative." He is looking forward too seeing this new Capitalist "Belt and Suspenders" project implemented! :)
 
3rd Stage Streamer

2" wide Mylar 1 mil Holographic Bird Scare Tape,​
127"+ Length,​
3" Z-Folds, Quan (43)​

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Gloss Clear.. Last Coat

Sealed up the decals, shooting the rocket with 3 more coats of gloss clear Rustoleum.

Technically, I should have used flat clear.. that's ok.. slicker be better.

The toothpick? It keeps the stages separated... so the clear gets on the end of the body tubes. Ya gotta keep 'em separated.

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Ordered the BP Motors and a couple 9" Nomex chute protectors yesterday from Apogee Components. I've never used Nomex before, not sure if those really are needed though. But, it'll be nice to have them in my arsenal just in case.

If you've used these... got any tips?

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Ordered the BP Motors and a couple 9" Nomex chute protectors yesterday from Apogee Components. I've never used Nomex before, not sure if those really are needed though. But, it'll be nice to have them in my arsenal just in case.

If you've used these... got any tips?

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Don't lead the shock cord through like what they've shown. If they can slide around, they'll stay wrapped around your chute and keep it from unfurling. I like to tie them off a foot or two from the parachute (at least) so that when the burrito comes out of the rocket the fire blanket is pulled away from the chute.
 
BP is in the house.. tip of the hat to Apogee Components... Parts only took 2 days to arrive, and I used their discount coupon "Tool423" and got a free Needle File Set.

It's so freakin' dry here though.. going to have to hire an Indian to do a ran dance.

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You will have to perform many pagan ceremonies to appease the entire pantheon of rocket gods before launching this bad boy! The line between science and necromancy has been blurred. Remember Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice in Fantasia, the bigger the cluster, the better! ;)
 
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