Best Fiberglass rocket kit for Level 3 on a budget!

bobkrech said:

SD

That's the cheap stuff construction grade stuff you don't want to use. Good 1/4" baltic birch is usually up to 12 ply in 1/4" thickness. It is almost as strong as solid glass and weighs half as much. An example is shown here:

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/wppages/finnishbirch.php

Bob

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Yup, I've seen 1/8 plywood with more ply, 8 IIRC.

Anyway, why is more ply better?

I use it & don't have any trouble & it's cheaper than aircraft grade.
The Baltic birch is better if you intend on doing some composite lay-ups; being that it's more porous & will soak up more epoxy.

Ouch, only $420.00 for a full sheet of 1/4" ply!
I wonder what they charge to ship a full sheet?


JD

ScrapDaddy said:

Well it's only 5 ply, thickness is only 1 of 2 factors

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Personally, I'd go with a 4" DarkStar, but thats a bias for me.

I'd did a L3 on a budget page a few years back and made the whole thing from scratch for about 250.00 and glad to say, my L3 was flawless.

Bulding and designing it was a learning process, that I think is needed to truely get that L3 knowledge.

NO fiberglass in the body(only the fins have it), and has since flown on a N4000 with not a worry at all!

https://www.wolfstardesigns.com/gravity_kills.htm

hope it helps

Or just be crazy and build the 4" DarkStar as a MD rocket as I'm now doing, look out Waivers!

mikec said:

They're 1/4" ply, what's the problem?

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To be honest, nothing. Earlier, I just glanced at the page, and I misread the thickness as 1/8". 1/4" should stand up to mach+ just fine, even just the 5 ply stuff. I'm not sure I'd stuff a really big, hard hitting 75mm (like the Pro75 6g Imax) into it, but it should do fine on a lot of M motors.

My buddy did his L3 on a 4" Wildman extreme, M1297 was 13,200 feet. I'd say one of the 4" Mach 1 kits would also get it done as well. My Speed Demon Sims to 11,700 on the M1500G and M1297W, it's the Mach 1.25 I'd be worried about. Lobs up 1400' on a J500G, 2400' on a J570W, 4700' on a K1103X...

I have been approved by both of my TAPS for a level 3 on the Mach1 4" Black Hole. Steve has agreed to mod all the G 10 stuff to 3/16ths, the extra weight sure will not hurt me. Will fly on the AT M1350. Have simmed a rocket that is close to the Black Hole, as I do not have her yet. Flight will be 13,000 agl and just under Mach. Although the Mach + should be no problem as I have flown my 3" to over that. These rockets by Mach1 are nothing short of perfect. I should know, got enough of them

I did a stretched little john fg from madcow . Will do 7k on mid k motors and level 3 is 15k on baby M if they still made the 1second I motor i might have tried dropping 30" of tube and using same rocket for recert on level 1 too. If you have the waiver and build light and strong. No reason why a level2 and 3 combo cant be done . Just document it like a level 3 before you build it.

Resurrected a 9-yr-old thread ....

David Schwantz said:

I have been approved by both of my TAPS for a level 3 on the Mach1 4" Black Hole. Steve has agreed to mod all the G 10 stuff to 3/16ths, the extra weight sure will not hurt me. Will fly on the AT M1350. Have simmed a rocket that is close to the Black Hole, as I do not have her yet. Flight will be 13,000 agl and just under Mach. Although the Mach + should be no problem as I have flown my 3" to over that. These rockets by Mach1 are nothing short of perfect. I should know, got enough of them

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i

David Schwantz said:

I have been approved by both of my TAPS for a level 3 on the Mach1 4" Black Hole. Steve has agreed to mod all the G 10 stuff to 3/16ths, the extra weight sure will not hurt me. Will fly on the AT M1350. Have simmed a rocket that is close to the Black Hole, as I do not have her yet. Flight will be 13,000 agl and just under Mach. Although the Mach + should be no problem as I have flown my 3" to over that. These rockets by Mach1 are nothing short of perfect. I should know, got enough of them

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Lets try this again.
I am doing a 4" MadCow Frenzy, on a M1850. I had to lengthen the booster section to get it to fit. It sims around 13-14000', and just under mach.

Bat-mite said:

Resurrected a 9-yr-old thread ....

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Yea, the OP doesn't even have a profile any longer.

Still a fun discussion, that might benefit someone else. I have been so impressed with my Wildman Drago 4XL. I didn't build it as a Level 3 project, but after I eventually get certified L3, I would love to punch it with an M motor. I have no doubt it would do beautifully.