What did you do rocket wise today?

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That's quite an upgrade in project level. You'll be able to learn alot getting that together, selecting the motors, figuring out composite motors, and flying it.

Do you have a club in your area with launch rail?
Hey, Huntsville...thanks for the reply! Haven't researched clubs in the area yet. I'm tempted to build the Saturn as a static display model. I'm not sure I want to risk the heartbreak of a flight "incident" resulting in loss of the vehicle!
 
When you say "the instructions say to tape the engine into/onto the airframe. It has no engine mount" I gather it's your first minimum diameter kit? When the airframe tube is the motor tube, where would one put a motor hook? There are a number of methods for motor retention in a minimum diameter; tape bridging the end of the tube and the motor overhand is a common one. So it friction fitting, which involves building the motor OD up a little with masking tape.

Thanks for introducing me to another model rocket concept - the minimum diameter kit. I wasn't complaining, I was just curious because I had not seen that configuration before. Now I know what to call it, so thanks!
 
Ordered an RRC2, RRC3, screw switches, mounting kits and teminal blocks. Missileworks says I'm gonna have to wait a couple of weeks for the RRC2 though; apparently they need to build a few more (well, one more at least...).

Also ordered a bunch of parts for various projects: I'm updating my 4" scratch built with a more modern av-bay, building a 3" payload bay to carry a couple of small cameras I've got and changing out a couple of shock cords and quick links that are starting to make me nervous.
 
I re-painted a couple mid power rockets, they have 13 and 14 flights on them and were due. I painted the fin section on my ARCAS after a broken fin repair.

I also finished and painted Lowtech 5, test flight on a AT E16w was good but I need to use a larger chute the 18" TFR X type came down a little hot. I plan to fly this as my go to MPR. Payload is large enough for GPS or other electronics and could go 4000'+ on a CTI G54.

I am still working on Lowtech 4, a near MD 2 stage capable rocket. I will be doing a layer of fiberglass on the rocket and will have a "heavy" nose cone to help with CG on larger motor flights. This could see 10,000' someday on a H to H flight.

I used to fly a c6 motor with a golf T nose cone and simple fins glued on, but now I understand I need to try and recover whatever I send up. So I have a few MD c6 motor rockets with a couple feet of nylon coated cable , the golf T nose cone is attached to the shock cord and may have a small streamer. This will be a single use rocket. All up weight 1.2oz.

The other is a 2 stage c6 rmotor rocket, the booster will be single use, and the sustainer will be reusable. Rear motor eject with 3' of cable, and a small access hatch for a micro peak altimeter to see how high it goes. I will add a little nose weight as well, all up weight about 2.5oz. I will launch these off my MPR pad with a 1/4" SS rod that is 65" long.

~John
 

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On a slight whim, I ordered Sky's Shenzou rocket kit. I have heard both good and bad things about this kit, but at only $17.00 I thought it carried a fairly low risk. Here is a detailed review on the kit: https://archive.rocketreviews.com/reviews/all/sky_shenzhou.shtml

I also bought more supplies for more building. I'm working my way up the skill levels, perhaps in a somewhat glacial way, but the curve ultimately trends upwards.
 
I was part of another unofficial launch. The other guy and I flew a backlog of BGs that because it was a little too breezy the other days. Plus Evel and Frankenalpha III flew again. Otherwise, the Mission Controller can sure suck down the batteries if the key is left in it for a little too long. Also 20 year old shock cords are still snapping off.
 
I got a new triple pull-pin switch from Lab Rat Rocketry. Chris is great to work with on new ideas. This will make electronics arming very easy.0816191354.jpg
 
On a slight whim, I ordered Sky's Shenzou rocket kit. I have heard both good and bad things about this kit, but at only $17.00 I thought it carried a fairly low risk. Here is a detailed review on the kit: https://archive.rocketreviews.com/reviews/all/sky_shenzhou.shtml

I also bought more supplies for more building. I'm working my way up the skill levels, perhaps in a somewhat glacial way, but the curve ultimately trends upwards.

This looks really great at first glance. Looking forward to hearing about your experience building and flying it.
 
Prepped Deadpool for the club launch tomorrow.

Well, by “prepped” I mean: I’ve checked I have a motor, a bag of stuff that I’m pretty sure has all the recovery gear in it, and some 4f...

No kids with me tomorrow so I’m playing the lazy game and I’ll prep it onsite tomorrow.

I have a few colleagues coming to watch... I’m hoping I can get a few hooked - I think our work needs a rocketry team... otherwise all that cool machinery just makes prototypes for our products.. such a waste!! [emoji12]
 
Another spray painting festival. This time with some epoxying as well. I forgot that brand new tubes have a tendency to goosh on first use. This one did.
 

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This looks really great at first glance. Looking forward to hearing about your experience building and flying it.


Maybe I'll do a build thread, such as others have done. From what I've heard, the kit takes only an hour or less to assemble.

It will supposedly also fulfill the NARTREK Silver level "Scale Model" qualification. Even if it doesn't, it looks interesting enough to build and fly.
 
I was going through old CAD files. mostly from the late '90s. Digging out a few things that fell down the memory hole. There are a few gaps. Although, that's probably not bad considering how much of that stuff was sneaker netted or bucket brigaded between computers over the years.
 
Learned a cruel lesson. Attaching an Aeropack 54 mm retainer on an almost completed motor mount tube. Left it to cure and went for a walk. Didn't weight it or tape it in place. As it cured one side lifted causing it to bond crooked to the tube. I don't know if there would be a way to put a shim between the retainer body and the aft closure of the motor to make it parallel to the axis of the mount. I guess the Kevlar harness can be saved, but it will be too short. Order new parts and start again.
 

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Learned a cruel lesson. Attaching an Aeropack 54 mm retainer on an almost completed motor mount tube. Left it to cure and went for a walk. Didn't weight it or tape it in place. As it cured one side lifted causing it to bond crooked to the tube. I don't know if there would be a way to put a shim between the retainer body and the aft closure of the motor to make it parallel to the axis of the mount. I guess the Kevlar harness can be saved, but it will be too short. Order new parts and start again.

If you can get it real hot you may be able to get it off before the epoxy completes its cure fully. Start with a heat gun on high, and progress from there. You don't have a ton to lose.

It has been done on trashed rockets successfully: https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/it-worked-retainer-removal.59314/
 
Went to the Museum of Flight today at Boeing. Below is a Saturn V engine that was recovered from the ocean and a display of NARAM champions.IMG_20190817_115007.jpg IMG_20190817_132852.jpg
 
Your suggestion gave me some hope, however heating it actually made it worse.
As I heated it it moved, but I grabbed it with channel locks and couldn't move it!
Got it hot enough to scorch the rings but no go.
I appreciate the advice, just didn't work in this case. At least I know my retainer was bonded on securely.
 

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I like that Intercepter in the middle of all those NARAM champions.

I'm going through those old CAD files again. I got a reminder that I spent a good chunk of '97 figuring out how to design BGs, especially the tailless ones, and then a good chunk of '98 optimizing them.

Otherwise, can somebody recommend a freeware DWG viewer for the Mac that would speed up reviewing and recovering these?
 
Your suggestion gave me some hope, however heating it actually made it worse.
As I heated it it moved, but I grabbed it with channel locks and couldn't move it!
Got it hot enough to scorch the rings but no go.
I appreciate the advice, just didn't work in this case. At least I know my retainer was bonded on securely.

Sorry it didn't work out. That it moved at all is encouraging if you could focus your heat on the retainer and not the rings that is.
 
Sorry it didn't work out. That it moved at all is encouraging if you could focus your heat on the retainer and not the rings that is.
Did a quick tally. Four centering rings, MMT, retainer body, 8ft Kevlar, + shipping from two different vendors. About $100. Ouch!
I may try hitting it with the propane torch tomorrow. Trying not to let it distract me from preparing to fly two other new rockets tomorrow.
 
Great flight... then...

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Did you get it back?

What I did today -- mostly wait for stuff the come off the printer

Finished with furniture and house repair projects (for the moment) so got back to the TAO -- if it flies well, I'll post the STLs and CAD files.

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I printed two versions of the booster parachute hatch. The red one has a long lip at the top which works better and is less fiddly to install. I was worried that it would be too fragile. It doesn't appear to be.

I am trying to figure out why why inner surfaces of the hatch and the booster/fin-can are glassy smooth, but the outside have significant striations. How does the printer know to put the good side out of sight? >smile<
 
Did you get it back?

I’m waiting to hear back from the power company.

The field is 1hr20mins from my house, and I couldn’t hang around to wait for them.

I thought we had a special arrangement with the local crew through the club, but it turned out that arrangement ceased when the club board member stopped working for the power company 6months back or some such...

If I knew at 11am what I know now, I’d have called them straight away. Apparently they’re usually onsite within 2 hours.

If I’d called straight away I probably could have waited for them.
 
I haven't had much time at all for anything rocketry lately..
I clear coated my "Reaper" Goblin and began sanding over the vinyl.... a few weeks ago....
Still have a long way to go.....

What I did do today was vote...
Tripoli polls close on the 24th...
If you haven't done so already, show your appreciation for all the hard work that has been done for our sport and VOTE!!!

And THANK YOU to ALL that have put your time and effort into this hobby and website and sharing your experiences to help those of us who are just starting out!

SALUTE!!!!!!
 
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