Ultimate QCC Explorer L3 build Indiana

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I think you and Nick need to have a drag race.

It will have to be at a high altitude :).

Looking great Charles!

I little friend I think wants a ride along.
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Both chutes showed up this week, the large was purchased used and the drogue is a 5' Mach 2 chute from Rocketman.

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Still working on intakes, all 4 are completely assembled and filleted. Over hang is trimmed and spot putty, filler primer started.

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Unfortunately yesterday at lunch in broad daylight, my rear window was busted out of my truck and computer bag stolen. On that computer was my complete L3 drawings, OR file and all pictures. Worse yet, all my business info, QB for the year blah blah, backed up on a locked hard drive ...that was in the computer bag. One thing I can't stand is a thief. There was quite a bit more to the story, but have vomited enough on that subject. Eric C was kind enough to email me back the original L3 file, thanks Eric and may BR be kind.
 
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Continuing with the intake finish prior to installation since I learned from the MAC Performance VTS-6 (seen in the background) 4" rocket that sanding and finishing is more difficult once it is on the booster, so I'm doing as much finishing as possible but still leaving some strips to epoxy to. Another pic of the intake next to the 4" version for comparison.

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Next while bondo is drying, thinking of my AV BAY lid lay out. This will be 1/4" U bolt on each side and 1" copper caps capable of holding well over 8 grams (I know I won't need that much).
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Today while bondo still drying - since the dreaded "put AV in backwards" could easily happen under stress, I decided to key my AV Bay so it will only go in one direction, even though I have indentions drilled into the tubes, it could still happen.
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AV Bay mechanical portion is complete, next cut sled and install intakes!
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Using a triangle for the indexing is a pretty good idea. I will use that in the future.
 
Using a triangle for the indexing is a pretty good idea. I will use that in the future.

Thanks, I'm thinking about doing similar idea with the lids.

So an amazing story, I mentioned that my computer bag and computer was stolen in a recent trip on Wednesday. The suspected thief later called me and told me what I could do to get it back because everything was password-protected and it was no longer any use to him. This was in a not so nice neighborhood and I felt that I was going to get rolled so I tried to call his bluff and said it was a broken computer and it wasn't worth 50 bucks to me so lets meet at a Walmart by me or throw the darn thing in the trash then. Lots of prayer later I thought my computer, my business information and backup hard drive is gone (yes lessons learned here - Ive been getting sloppy)
So yesterday I get a call from the trash man says "hey are you missing a computer and a bag because I'm working at the trash station and down the line came this bag and I grabbed it and inside is a computer that has all your information on it so if you want it I'm here at the trash company I have your bag. So seven hours round-trip later - I hooked up with a policeman that accompanied me - I gave the honorable man handsome reward and thank God they're good people in this world very encouraging. My computer, L3 documentation , biz info, hard drive etc all back in my possession - wow.

So I got back in time today to put on final installation of my first intake. Mixed up 2.8oz of RocketPoxy and an alcoholed 1" PVC pipe for the first of the fillet game - 7 more to go.

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Woe what a computer story... Although I do keep full backups, I'd still be in real trouble.
 
Good for you Nick, on the computer and stuff.
Build is looking great!
 
How long does it take you to drink alcohol out of that 1" pvc glass??? Non breakable shot glass? :eyeroll:

Tadum, diss... :facepalm: thank you, I 'll see myself out now... :horse:

Adrian
 
Holy crap, glad to hear you got your stuff back. Thieves are just the worst. When I was younger and not making much as a regional airline FO, I saved and saved so I could finally buy my dream RC airplane, a 40% Carden Extra. I bought one used from a guy and got a dozen flights on it before my utility trailer was stolen with the plane inside. Fortunately I had it insured, but that sure was a blow to my faith in humanity.
 
Last intake installed - but fillets to do.

Took entire rocket to my TAPs house to verify everything is in order and to his liking, response was very good. Issues where my chutes maybe a little on the large side and a suggestion to ditch the gel coat NC at some point, I decided that I will do this right away if I can find in stock. This will have a couple benefits that I would like anyway as the rear feels heavier than anticipated, there is more glue on the butt of this thing than in a suburban kindergarten class.

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Also working with a friend to print the faux exit nozzle, this is the only item that I'm unsure will be on the rocket at time of cert flight, I won't let that stop the flight.

Also CA'd and sanded all holes

When I look at the intakes, it is really neat to see how well Nat at UpscaleCNC did on these, great job Nat if your still keeping up with this
 
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Nick that is going to be a beauty. Keep up the magnificent work.


Alexander Solis - TRA Level 1 - Mariah 54 - CTI-I100 Red Lightning Longburn - 6,345 Feet
 
This is looking great. One thing I can't figure out is how you build so fast. Amazing work at an amazing pace.
 
Holy crap, great job BUILDING this thing! I puzzled it out and cut some sheet goods up for you (for those keeping tabs on this, the intakes used an entire 3'x4' sheet of material, and then some scrap...) but you've gone and made it into a rocket. Really great stuff, it's rewarding to see parts made into projects.

N
 
This is looking great. One thing I can't figure out is how you build so fast. Amazing work at an amazing pace.

Well MWP will be here before I know it so better be ahead. Hoping you are able to get back to your V2 soon but I saw you shelved it for now.


Thanks Nat, you did a great job on everything.
 
Thanks Nate, I'm enjoying your build too, nice fin jig

Thanks. That fin jig was one of the best 30 mins I've spent on rocket work. I was surprised at how easy it was. I am really scrambling to put the final touches on it tonight so it can fly on Saturday.

Question on the air intakes: Are they designed to whistle? I am not familiar with the original LPR kit.
 
Well MWP will be here before I know it so better be ahead. Hoping you are able to get back to your V2 soon but I saw you shelved it for now.

I'm finally cleaned up from AIRfest, and I'm a bit ahead of the curve in prepping for the races we're timing this fall, so I'll be picking at it here and there...not a hard stop by any means.

Good luck with finishing up, and the flight of course.
 
Question on the air intakes: Are they designed to whistle? I am not familiar with the original LPR kit.

The original, LPR, intakes don't intake.... or... uh, out-go, either. These were designed as a rough upscale (there's issues caused by material thickness) and were closed off at the back as well... the whistling should be interesting to see if they do.

N
 
The original, LPR, intakes don't intake.... or... uh, out-go, either. These were designed as a rough upscale (there's issues caused by material thickness) and were closed off at the back as well... the whistling should be interesting to see if they do.

N

Ok. That makes sense that they would be mainly for show. I am curious to see if you could redesign them to actually whistle.
 
Ok. That makes sense that they would be mainly for show. I am curious to see if you could redesign them to actually whistle.

Well I really won't know if it whistles until the flight. I researched whistle making and tried to incorporate holes into the air intakes so that they are real air intakes. I think what will cause the intakes to whistle or not will be the amount of air moving through the intakes and through the smaller exit hole. We will see and I'll report back in Nov with the flight report.

I decided to take a better direction on my nose cone based on advice from Giffin and my TAP Gus. Ordered a filament wound NC from Madcow. Could've used the gel cost for awhile but knowing I want to push the rocket one day, why put that effort into painting, bulkheading the NC that I won't stay with. Madcow had a 5.5:1 VK in stock so should be here next week. This rocket is a mutt for sure, Wildman, Madcow, MAC Performance, UpscaleCNC, PML...I need to buy something from Binder, GLR and LOC.
 
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Well I really won't know if it whistles until the flight. I researched whistle making and tried to incorporate holes into the air intakes so that they are real air intakes. I think what will cause the intakes to whistle or not will be the amount of air moving through the intakes and through the smaller exit hole. We will see and I'll report back in Nov with the flight report.

I decided to take a better direction on my nose cone based on advice from Giffin and my TAP Gus. Ordered a filament wound NC from Madcow. Could've used the gel cost for awhile but knowing I want to push the rocket one day, why put that effort into painting, bulkheading the NC that I won't stay with. Madcow had a 5.5:1 VK in stock so should be here next week. This rocket is a mutt for sure, Wildman, Madcow, MAC Performance, UpscaleCNC, PML...I need to buy something from Binder, GLR and LOC.

I will never go back to gel coat Nosecones. The filament wound FG nosecones with the metal tips are the best option nowadays by a long shot. You will like the Madcow nosecones.
 
Drogue test on 6grams and (4) 4x40 shear pins today, I did this with a blocked motor casing in and rear centering ring not epoxied in yet - not a good idea - the pressure pushed the motor tube out breaking my rear rail button mount off, minor set back - even though popped off strong the test will have to be repeated and likely 6 will be fine.

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Back to it.
- Rear CR Epoxied in place
- received the FW FG nose cone from Madcow ( this is a nice piece, hated to paint over it
- polished the aluminum tip
- primed, wet sanded and base coated NC, payload and switch band
- primed, spot putty, primed booster again (always amazes me what shows up after priming...every coat)

Also weighed the NC - which was just shy of 6lbs which changed my stability from 1.73 to 2.2! The NC measures 34.4" from shoulder to tip.

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