L1 build starts tonight. Aerotech G-Force

[TheSamurai]

So I am going to build the G-Force after my Ventris failures. The Ventris was my first attempt at my L1 but it was flown unsuccessfully.

I am going to build it at the club managers house tonight with another member of our club. Building it myself of course but they had a couple pointers that they wanted to tell me about. Plus rockets are more fun to build when other rocketeers are with you.

I haven't decided on the paint scheme for sure but I am calling it Bazinga. If you don't watch The Big Bang Theory then it won't make much sense. My wife is the artist in the family so she is coming up with some designs for the paint scheme based on some of the clothing that Sheldon wears.

Should be a lot of fun!!!

 

[Area66]

Plus rockets are more fun to build when other rocketeers are with you.

May be for you, I like to flight them with other peoples but I prefer be alone to build them.

 

[TheSamurai]

May be for you, I like to flight them with other peoples but I prefer be alone to build them.

I'm a social bug so I like to be around others. And the wife doesn't care to talk rockets with me unless we are talking about the painting part. My 5 year old likes to watch. The 3 year old likes to destroy.

 

[DizWolf]

Good luck man. Pick a motor yet?

 

[TheSamurai]

Good luck man. Pick a motor yet?

No. Haven't decided on that yet. Got any suggestions?

 

[majordude]

The G-Force will get you that L1 for sure. I launched one last weekend on an H151 and it was a looow flight. I filled my nose cone with foam for additional weight and stability (and even lower flights).

 

[TheSamurai]

The G-Force will get you that L1 for sure. I launched one last weekend on an H151 and it was a looow flight. I filled my nose cone with foam for additional weight and stability (and even lower flights).

Glad to hear it!!! The guys who are helping me tonight did their L1's with the G-Force. I'm excited for it.

How high did it go on your H151?

 

[Area66]

With a L1 you want things low , I did it with a Cesaroni H90, mine go to 1100 feet and with a delay of 7 secondes the chute open at 7,57 f/s this is very good and no way to tear a chute at that speed. I add few weight in the nose of the rocket, the full rocket without motors was 49 onces. the mod I did :

estes retainer
I use the original shock cord but attach to an eye screw mount on the center ring
I don't use the baffle
I use a shock cord and chute nomex protector
add rail buttons

View attachment 133577

View attachment 133578

 

[DizWolf]

No. Haven't decided on that yet. Got any suggestions?

I've never flown a G force so others would have better advice. I did mine on an H133 Blue. Nice pop up to 1300' and a slow drift down. I really love the CTI blues.

 

[Area66]

I really love the CTI blues.

like this one

View attachment 133580

 

[DizWolf]

yea! that's awesome.

 

[Orion14ed]

Will be following alongside with my Level 1 build. Good luck!

 

[majordude]

How high did it go on your H151?

I didn't have an altimeter in mine but I'd be shocked if it went higher than 1,000'. It's pretty heavy with the foam filled nose cone. It was low, slow and loud!

Oh, I wrote to Aerotech and ordered an extra coupler. The fins are above the aft end of the tube which means the tube will hit the ground first and get dinged up. I inserted the coupler in the back end of the tube to double wall that last 4" of main tubing.

Also, I only use one chute.

I certified on an Aerotech Mirage but the G-Force ("H-Force" now tee-hee) would have been a lot easier.

 

[Area66]

I inserted the coupler in the back end of the tube to double wall that last 4" of main tubing.
.

that's what I do with my non fiberglass rocket, but I ordered Madcow couplers they are very , very thick

 

[majordude]

that's what I do with my non fiberglass rocket, but I ordered Madcow couplers they are very , very thick

I'd probably order a Mad Cow one too (if it is thicker than the Aertoech ones).

 

[Area66]

I'd probably order a Mad Cow one too (if it is thicker than the Aertoech ones).

5 x thicker , I will take a pic later, for Aerotech parts I don't know if you have a place in US, but we have a dealer here who sell all the AT parts , the fins, nose, tubing, fins clip holder.... he ship in US too, better than ask AT I think

https://www.allrocketengines.ca/Build?zenid=69pm90ndir6ot6gk92f2ctdhc3

 

[Handeman]

Are you going to upgrade to a 38mm MMT? The Aerotech H123W is my favorite H load. In 29mm it's the H250G. Both would be great cert motors in a 4" rocket like the G-Force.

 

[TheSamurai]

We got pretty far. This is my first build of this type and with the mods that my fellow rocketeers were suggesting it was a little bit of a learning curve. I got most of it done. I did a sturdier u bolt on the centering ring as well and I ended up doing the lugs. Mixed in a powder fiberglass with the epoxy to make it a little stronger. Didn't have an eye bolt with me at the time so I couldn't do the bulkhead. I need to do that and the push rivets for the nose cone/body tube. I'm gonna use the upper portion as an altimeter bay.

 

[TheSamurai]

We are also going to do some of the painting today. It will be just like Sheldon Cooper would want it.

 

[TheSamurai]

With a L1 you want things low , I did it with a Cesaroni H90, mine go to 1100 feet and with a delay of 7 secondes the chute open at 7,57 f/s this is very good and no way to tear a chute at that speed. I add few weight in the nose of the rocket, the full rocket without motors was 49 onces. the mod I did :

estes retainer
I use the original shock cord but attach to an eye screw mount on the center ring
I don't use the baffle
I use a shock cord and chute nomex protector
add rail buttons

View attachment 133577

View attachment 133578

That's pretty much what I did other than I did use the lugs.

 

[TheSamurai]

I didn't have an altimeter in mine but I'd be shocked if it went higher than 1,000'. It's pretty heavy with the foam filled nose cone. It was low, slow and loud!

Oh, I wrote to Aerotech and ordered an extra coupler. The fins are above the aft end of the tube which means the tube will hit the ground first and get dinged up. I inserted the coupler in the back end of the tube to double wall that last 4" of main tubing.

Also, I only use one chute.

I certified on an Aerotech Mirage but the G-Force ("H-Force" now tee-hee) would have been a lot easier.

I like the low and slow. It gives it more of a realistic look. I haven't decided on a motor for sure but I am thinking of doing an H128 like I tried to do with my Ventris.

 

[TheSamurai]

Are you going to upgrade to a 38mm MMT? The Aerotech H123W is my favorite H load. In 29mm it's the H250G. Both would be great cert motors in a 4" rocket like the G-Force.

No, I just stuck with the 29mm. Seriously thought about changing it out but didn't feel like waiting for the part to come in. lol.

 

[TheSamurai]

Got the nose cone and the main body tube painted yesterday and today. Gonna try and get the bulkhead built tomorrow evening and the bottom portion of the airframe and the fins painted this week.

 

[Derek]

No. Haven't decided on that yet. Got any suggestions?

h90, 5 second delay.

 

[Area66]

h90, 5 second delay.

ok for the H90, but your 5 secondes is way to short , my G-Force weight 49 onces ( it'S heavay for a G-Force ) and I used 7 on my L1 certification

here the sim of my G-Force , 7 secondes is the best. But we have to see the final weight

View attachment 134284

I was the first flight on a H90, L1 certification success

View attachment 134285

 

[Derek]

after I posted that, I regretted posting the delay because it's going to depend on the final build weight and weather conditions.

for mine, with a tracker, altimeter, 2 oz nose weight, stainless steel u-bolts and quicklinks, etc, etc. 6 seconds was ideal, but you can't get that with a h90. my cert person preferred deploying early vs. later, and with the winds that day 5 seconds was the right choice.

but if you came up with a delay of 9+ seconds with a small h, I'd say something was off.

so far my favorite motor in my h force was a h410.

 

[TheSamurai]

Did you guys add the 2 part foam to your nose cone?

 

[majordude]

Did you guys add the 2 part foam to your nose cone?

I did. It makes the model more stable and fly lower. I used the foam from Public Missiles.

https://www.publicmissiles.com/secure/components.asp?groupid=19

 

[Derek]

Did you guys add the 2 part foam to your nose cone?

I did too. I used it to secure 2 oz of weight (1/2" ss nuts).

 

[TheSamurai]

I did. It makes the model more stable and fly lower. I used the foam from Public Missiles.

https://www.publicmissiles.com/secure/components.asp?groupid=19

I haven't ordered it yet but may put it in after the cert. I have been told that it is good to have it for an I flight for sure.