What did you do rocket wise today?

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I'm working on an Estes U.S. Army PATRIOT. And I already screwed up and put the fins on the smaller tube, instead of on one of the longer ones. The shorter "yellow" tube was supposed to go on the other end, where the nosecone attached to it. It's really a no-brainer, as it doesn't matter which end it goes on, because the wall thickness is the same on all 3 tubes, which means the weight distribution will be the same. Not completely reading the instructions, I used the short tube for the motor mount and fins, and the coupler fit just fine attaching it to the center body tube. This was the same way I was supposed to assemble it with the Cherokee E rocket - using the short tube for the engine mount and fins. However, I NOW see that the Patriot instructions tell you to measure back 1 inch from the top of the "yellow" tube and paint that section red, and the rest of that short tube is to be painted yellow, not necessarily in that order (I always paint the lighter color first when doing two-tones). Well, since I'm not using the short tube for this paint scheme, now, I've got to do a little simple math for the longer tube to get the paints located in the right positions. Since the short tube is 3-1/4"L, I have to paint the top 3-1/4 inches of the longer tube yellow. Then wait for it to dry and use light tack tape to do the red stripe, there, after bagging the rest of the rocket to keep overspray off the white paint. PITA, I'll tell ya. This was supposed to be a simple 1-hour assembly, minus paint and glue dry time. I was supposed to paint the short tube separately, and then paint the other tubes already coupled, white. Then tape off one end of that tube and paint it red after the fins were attached. I painted the engine mount and inside the bottom of the body tube gloss black, btw. However, because of my mess-up, I've got to do two-tone taping for both ends of the rocket, now - all in one piece...LMBO. Oh, did I mention that I tried painting the body tube, and because it wasn't warm enough, my paint crackled all over and I had to sand it all down and prime and paint all over again??!!! ARGH!! Wow...coming from a true novice. When it's finished, I'll post pics. Until then, here's a few of the Cherokee E rocket I just finished, yesterday. The rocket looks green, however that's the fluorescent tubes playing havoc with my Cannon EOS, which I have yet to figure out to adjust the exposure or what not to show it's true dark blue hue. 'Hope you like the pics. Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!! And Happy Flying. :DView attachment 399625 View attachment 399626 View attachment 399627
I'm working on an Estes U.S. Army PATRIOT. And I already screwed up and put the fins on the smaller tube, instead of on one of the longer ones. The shorter "yellow" tube was supposed to go on the other end, where the nosecone attached to it. It's really a no-brainer, as it doesn't matter which end it goes on, because the wall thickness is the same on all 3 tubes, which means the weight distribution will be the same. Not completely reading the instructions, I used the short tube for the motor mount and fins, and the coupler fit just fine attaching it to the center body tube. This was the same way I was supposed to assemble it with the Cherokee E rocket - using the short tube for the engine mount and fins. However, I NOW see that the Patriot instructions tell you to measure back 1 inch from the top of the "yellow" tube and paint that section red, and the rest of that short tube is to be painted yellow, not necessarily in that order (I always paint the lighter color first when doing two-tones). Well, since I'm not using the short tube for this paint scheme, now, I've got to do a little simple math for the longer tube to get the paints located in the right positions. Since the short tube is 3-1/4"L, I have to paint the top 3-1/4 inches of the longer tube yellow. Then wait for it to dry and use light tack tape to do the red stripe, there, after bagging the rest of the rocket to keep overspray off the white paint. PITA, I'll tell ya. This was supposed to be a simple 1-hour assembly, minus paint and glue dry time. I was supposed to paint the short tube separately, and then paint the other tubes already coupled, white. Then tape off one end of that tube and paint it red after the fins were attached. I painted the engine mount and inside the bottom of the body tube gloss black, btw. However, because of my mess-up, I've got to do two-tone taping for both ends of the rocket, now - all in one piece...LMBO. Oh, did I mention that I tried painting the body tube, and because it wasn't warm enough, my paint crackled all over and I had to sand it all down and prime and paint all over again??!!! ARGH!! Wow...coming from a true novice. When it's finished, I'll post pics. Until then, here's a few of the Cherokee E rocket I just finished, yesterday. The rocket looks green, however that's the fluorescent tubes playing havoc with my Cannon EOS, which I have yet to figure out to adjust the exposure or what not to show it's true dark blue hue. 'Hope you like the pics. Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!! And Happy Flying. :DView attachment 399625 View attachment 399626 View attachment 399627
Um Ken, don't mean to bum you out or anything what with the nice paint job and all, but the fins on the Cherokee are upside down. Unless that was intentional the trailing edges are supposed to sweep up, not down.
The Cherokee is one of my 2 favorite rockets. I have done this in 3 different sizes.
 
Um Ken, don't mean to bum you out or anything what with the nice paint job and all, but the fins on the Cherokee are upside down. Unless that was intentional the trailing edges are supposed to sweep up, not down.
The Cherokee is one of my 2 favorite rockets. I have done this in 3 different sizes.

Holy Crap, gj. You're absolutely right! Oh well, this is my first rocket build in about 30 years. I guess you really got to pay more attention to detail on this one. Thanks for the compliments, tho. I'm sure she'll fly the same, tho. Dang, that kinda sucks, but I'm glad you caught that. I'm sure there will be others who notice them on backwards when I go to the flying field!!! I guess I've got to take it with a grain of salt and remember this next time I build another one...a much larger one at that. :D
Take care.
KW
 
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Ken, as far as the Patriot goes, if you haven't glued the tubes together, make lemonade. Consider, if it's not too late, set up for an aft seperation
AKA zipperless design. Just a thought.

John,
'Already glued the fins on the tube "B" which was supposed to go up top for the nosecone attachment. Then glued it to the other tubes, and then hit it with a light grey primer coat, sanding all imperfections. By the time I got done airbrushing the white over 3/4's of the body (minus the lower section, since it will be red), I realized after looking over the instructions again that I put the tubes on backwards. It seems that I've been doing that a lot, lately. lol If I hadn't had glued them, the aft separation would have sounded pretty cool.
 
Was informed today that a rocket I lost in September has been found.
It had a Jolly Logic Chute Release on board which was recovered as well and seems to be working.
This rocket labors under a curse. It was one of three kits that were manufactured with the wrong size fins. Crashed on first flight. Added nose weight and got it to fly. Lost it on the second flight. The JLCR was brand new. I'm really happy to get it back.
 

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John,
'Already glued the fins on the tube "B" which was supposed to go up top for the nosecone attachment. Then glued it to the other tubes, and then hit it with a light grey primer coat, sanding all imperfections. By the time I got done airbrushing the white over 3/4's of the body (minus the lower section, since it will be red), I realized after looking over the instructions again that I put the tubes on backwards. It seems that I've been doing that a lot, lately. lol If I hadn't had glued them, the aft separation would have sounded pretty cool.

OK no prob. I try to do an aft separation whenever it is plausible. I it has a coupler and two tube sections Instead of separating at the nose cone I will do an aft or even a mid line separation.This GREATLY reduces the chance of a zipper.
I also try to use a LONG shock cord, 3-5 times the body length, if plausible. Anything you can do to "beef up" the sustainability and toughness is a good idea.
There are lots of good people on here with great building methods mostly from years of experience and utilizing methods learned from higher power models and incorporating them into other builds..
 
Spent too many minutes looking at HPR motors in the various holiday sales, then went down to the shop and looked at all of the motors that didn't get burned this year.

Counted up my pennies, and ordered a new camera to replace my increasingly flakey Samsung NX 300 (along with an FD to E mount adapter -- with tilt-shift!)

edit: removed -- some of -- the gibberish
 
Just put in my Black Friday order with Estes for a Expedition at $8.19. Can't wait for this cool build.
Great deal on a cool rocket. I built one with my grandson Chase and we built it with a 29mm motor mount, long nylon shock cord, nylon chute and plywood fins. Flies great on G64's, G76's to 2K.
Also can adapter down to 24mm F44's etc... Here is a pic.20191020_120834.jpeg
 
Worked on the new HPR pads for Tri-Cities Rocketeers. Still lots to do, but the most difficult assemblies are done, definitely wished I had a wire feed welder but my 30+ year old AC/DC stick is a great old welder.

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I started some rocket surgery.
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That, and I spent way too much on the Wildman sale.
 
I’ve been putting the finishing touches on my rockets that I play to Level 2 cert attempt on in February at Havoc in the paddock in NZ.

Charge testing completed. Just need the local fire ban to be dropped by next weekend so I can give them each a shake out flight prior to NZ. Never flown dual deploy before, so hoping not to be trying to learn it on the day.

Have to say the remote testing capability of the egg timer Quantum is seriously awesome.



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Got some paint on the BT-80 Merc. Redstone capsule and tower prior to final gluing.
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And received a little package in the mail this afternoon.
1/100 Merc. Atlas from Boyce.
So of course I had to cut a 29mm tube to length and dry fit the pieces.
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Next to the BA 1/100 Merc. Redstone.
This is going to be FUN!
Laters.
 
Ohhh, the HORROR!!!
I ordered the MadCow 4" AMG-33 Pike....
The largest rocket for me so far...
YEPPERS, I'M ADDICTED!!!
I missed the sale on the fiberglass 4" Defiance....a LOVELY specimen of pointy 6:1 nose cone....and FIBERGLASS....well
That boat has sailed.....
Funny thing about boats, they don't fly nearly as well as ROCKETS!!!!
The 3" Aerobee-Hi and the 4" Pike will fly.......;)
 
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