What did you do rocket wise today?

SeaHwak Update-

Today I will be buying paint for this beauty.. We shall see how the day goes... Crossing Fingers it all goes to plan...

Cherokee-E build: applied glue fillets to the launch lugs, and did final sanding of the overall model. The bird is ready for primer once the weather warms up a little.

I did get the neon paint onto my Lowtech 4 two stage project. Pink on the top of the sustainer and green fin can, I will do a blue band at the transition and the payload separation point. The booster is pink fading into orange and looks good.

Over all it is a vibrant paint job, a little blotchy up close and a little rough on surface finish.

Now to finalize the recovery harness, build a sled for the payload to hold: MW RRC3, MW T3 tracker, micro peak altimeter, 2 lipo batteries with twist and tape.

First 2 flights will be black powder direct stage with tumble recovery on the booster, and a rrc2+ in the payload with a apogee charge, and cable cutter holding the main.

I hope a E12-0 》 E12-8 has a 2400-2500' apogee. Then a F15-0 》 F15-8 might go a little higher, the motors are heavy for the thrust. This will be off my 86" long 1010 rail pad.

Then the G80T-10 》 G40W will have drag separation, the booster motor eject with separate the motor from booster, a recovery harness and small chute will tie the 2 together. The RRC3 will ignite the G40w on the auxiliary channel, and the apogee charge and cable cutter will be setup the same as before. I removed the ejection charge from the g40w as the 7 sec delay would be to short. The stack will be in the trans sonic region on the G80, about 900'/s and the G40 will be in the 800'/s range. I think the rocket will go 7500' this is my max effort mid power altitude attempt. I have a frozen lake just down the road that has a about 2 square miles of open space.

I started building this series rockets 2 years ago, inspired by the Loc Hi-Tech rocket but built with Estes Bt55 tube and bass wood fins.

~John

Greg Furtman said:

Understandable, but my question is can it be done? Has anyone else done it?

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jqavins said:

An OR or RS file would be even better, as it would let you evaluate the CG shift and effect on stability.

This thread looks like somebody has one, and like it was attached, but it's not attached now. Maybe reach out to the people who posted.

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This?

https://www.rocketreviews.com/unknown-arapahoe-e.html

So I put these together this morning while digging around the basement for supplies...

Vdutel said:

So I put these together this morning while digging around the basement for supplies...

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I think you may have violated both NRA and Tripoli guidelines by using anything other than PVC pipe to make a rocket stand.

milehigh said:

Cherokee-E build: applied glue fillets to the launch lugs, and did final sanding of the overall model. The bird is ready for primer once the weather warms up a little.

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So, yesterday I was asked to go help an inventory that was behind at the Hobby Lobby in LaGrange, GA. After finishing counting, I wandered by their rocketry displays. Saw the Cherokee-E that they had and *almost* bought it. Unfortunately, SWMBO would probably give me grief if I came home with yet another rocket at this point. I need to at least finish painting the ones I have before I buy a new one!

Snagged the tube from a plotter paper roll. 3 5/32" OD, 1/8" wall thickness, 22" long.

Vdutel said:

Club Found ...

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GalantVR41062 said:

[The] sled for the payload to hold: MW RRC3, MW T3 tracker, micro peak altimeter, 2 lipo batteries with twist and tape.

First 2 flights will be black powder direct stage with tumble recovery on the booster, and a rrc2+ in the payload with a apogee charge, and cable cutter holding the main... Then the G80T-10 》 G40W will have drag separation, the booster motor eject with separate the motor from booster, a recovery harness and small chute will tie the 2 together. The RRC3 will ignite the G40w on the auxiliary channel, and the apogee charge and cable cutter will be setup the same as before.

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And you call this Lowtech, why?

Ordered a jug of Pledge Revive it to be delivered to my local Ace Hardware.

I stopped by the HL in Castle Rock yesterday and noticed they now stocked the Mean Machine, Vapor, and High Flier XL. This likely means more additions to the growing 'must-have' build pile.
"Estes/Hobby Lobby. - curse their black hearts!!!!"

Kevin O'Dell said:

Progress!

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Saturn 1B. The most beautiful rocket ever. Saturn V might be the biggest but the 1B is the best. The tubes are so cool. Estes kit ultimately challenging. Made a mess of it as a kid and I'm smart enough to know I a not ready for it yet. To the best of my recollection, it had build up fins. Is this still true?

jlabrasca said:

This?

https://www.rocketreviews.com/unknown-arapahoe-e.html

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Thanks. I found it earlier and I also found this. When the fellow built it he did used a screw on retainer.
https://www.rocketreviews.com/arapahoe-e-8938.html

I started gluing together a 200% Zoomie, Although I should know better. I uploaded some Holverson Design laser cut files to Thingiverse. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4105085

Vdutel said:

So I put these together this morning while digging around the basement for supplies...

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Nice work

John Kemker said:

So, yesterday I was asked to go help an inventory that was behind at the Hobby Lobby in LaGrange, GA. After finishing counting, I wandered by their rocketry displays. Saw the Cherokee-E that they had and *almost* bought it. Unfortunately, SWMBO would probably give me grief if I came home with yet another rocket at this point. I need to at least finish painting the ones I have before I buy a new one!

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I'm sorry

Building an Eggtimer Quantum and a 29 mm launch tower in my hotel room.

You know you’re a nerd when...

you pack a 3D printer for a work trip!

The postman had to bring a trailer with him today. All of my orders from different vendors all arrived on the same day, and a day early at that!

LOC Nike Zeus, transition, nose cone and tube (for Spartan conversion) from LOC:



1/4" kevlar shock cord, Acme rail guides (three sizes) and nose cone from Giant Leap, 24 ejection charges and nomex blanket from Buy Rocket Motors, 42" and 48" thin mill X-form chutes from Top Flight:


The jelly beans were courtesy of Giant Leap. I got the Rapala lures at the local Academy Sports, but they were on the table and rounded out the picture...

kuririn said:

Mike, you know that now you HAVE to do a build thread, right?

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I've never really done one before, but I'm willing to have a go. Might be fun!

I'm planning several mods to the kit so it may be a bit more interesting than just gluing up the kit pieces (Though I like those build threads too).

jqavins said:

Snagged the tube from a plotter paper roll. 3 5/32" OD, 1/8" wall thickness, 22" long.

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This sounds interesting, do you have a specific project in mind, or did this just look like a good tube?

jqavins said:

Snagged the tube from a plotter paper roll. 3 5/32" OD, 1/8" wall thickness, 22" long.

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The college I worked at has an old HP 42" wide plotter and I have snagged several tubes from that over the years. I have one that is 2" ID, 2.18" OD x 36". I came up with a scratch design I like and will be starting the build soon. The plotter tubes are very accurate and well made.

Joekeyo said:

Ordered a jug of Pledge Revive it to be delivered to my local Ace Hardware.

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Ok, I have to ask. What are you going to do with it that has to do with rocketry?

Greg Furtman said:

Ok, I have to ask. What are you going to do with it that has to do with rocketry?

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Works well as a gloss clear coat. Formerly called Future (among many, many other names).

This morning I cut out fins from a template for a Cherokee D clone. I’m planning on building the 18” version with the plastic nose cone. My 4 year old assistant engineer was wholly supportive of the idea...

More to follow

Wm Reid said:

I’m planning on building the 18” version with the plastic nose cone.

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Diameter?

Wm Reid said:

This morning I cut out fins from a template for a Cherokee D clone. I’m planning on building the 18” version with the plastic nose cone. My 4 year old assistant engineer was wholly supportive of the idea...

More to follow

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If its the original BT55 version Semroc sells the kit.

neil_w said:

Diameter?

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BT-55

I’m pretty new to the group and I am still learning appropriate information to share [emoji6]

rharshberger said:

If its the original BT55 version Semroc sells the kit.

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I’ve seen the kit online but I have enough stuff in my work area to build one though I wish I had the decals to do it right.

My kids and I just usually scratch build most of our rockets...we have plenty of kits from our early days...but we like to look up plans and try and clone them with what we have.

It’s all fun!

Wm Reid said:

BT-55

I’m pretty new to the group and I am still learning appropriate information to share [emoji6]

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No worries, it was a joke.

Rockets (particularly larger ones) are usually size-identified by their body tube diameter. For smaller rockets the body tube designation (e.g. BT55) does it. Of course other parameters can be relevant as well (length, weight), but size starts with diameter.

mbeels said:

This sounds interesting, do you have a specific project in mind, or did this just look like a good tube?

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Nothing in mind but an eventual scratch. I was walking by when the paper was being changed and said "Ooh!" Maybe a 54 mm motor mount, which would leave room for about 9 mm of fin tab. I weighed it last night and and it's about 350 grams, so it needs a strong motor, and without using up too much of it's modest length. That means it needs a good diameter. 54 is more than enough, but I can always adapt down.