Aerotech "Labyrinth" Baffle

Hey guys,

I'm in the process of building an Aerotech Mustang, and had a couple questions about the cooling mesh. It seems to me that this mesh is just screaming to get clogged up with the little red plastic BP caps and whatever else gets thrown up there leading to potential problems down the road.

If I just leave the mesh out and just use dog barf....how well can I expect that plastic retainer to stand up to the heat of the ejection?

The mesh does it's job, but it does require some upkeep. You need to pull it out now and then and clean it out. I would not use the labyrinth cap thing without it, I'd think the hot ejection bits would melt it away over time. Shooting the ejection charge caps directly into it might not help it either.

The mesh has not been a problem for me. :wink:

I just shake the rocket or tap it on the ground so that the ejection caps fall out.

Don't use the shock cord anchor/baffle ring without the mesh. It will melt from an ejection charge (I found this out during a test ).

OK. Thanks for the advice on cleaning it.

I'll give the mesh a go

chadrog said:

The mesh does it's job, but it does require some upkeep. You need to pull it out now and then and clean it out.

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to be able to do it, you have to not install the trust ring and use a motor retainers like Estes or Areo Pack , or else I don't see how you can pull out the mesh.

Area66 said:

to be able to do it, you have to not install the trust ring and use a motor retainers like Estes or Areo Pack , or else I don't see how you can pull out the mesh.

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Good point - I don't use the thrust ring, hook, or aeropack, just empty tube. I retain the motor in my Aerotech rockets with a bit of friction and a hose clamp. Easy to pull the mesh out with a bit of wire/coat hanger.

Area66 said:

to be able to do it, you have to not install the trust ring and use a motor retainers like Estes or Areo Pack , or else I don't see how you can pull out the mesh.

Click to expand...

+1 That's what I do for Aerotech rockets.

Area66 said:

to be able to do it, you have to not install the trust ring and use a motor retainers like Estes or Areo Pack , or else I don't see how you can pull out the mesh.

Click to expand...

For my Arreaux, I did put in the thrust ring and also the motor hook. I clean out the mesh by reaching in with a bicycle spoke (a straightened bit of any firm wire would suffice) and fluffing the mesh and pulling it downward. Be sure that you don't have anything with a hook on it. The first time I tried the bicycle spoke, I used the curved end thinking that would be good for grabbing the mesh and pulling it down. It grabbed all right... to the point where it was impossible to get it out again. After a little cursing and swearing, I managed to push the spoke up through the top plastic baffle and got it out that way.

Now then, there are plenty of other reasons not to use a motor hook. And it's likely I won't next time on an Aerotech kit as every motor I've put into the Arreaux had a thrust ring and could have been held in place with an aeropack or similar.

Thanks for the tips guys....I ended up building the kit completely stock so we will see how it goes....though I did make one tiny modification. I through out those square plastic launch lugs and cut standard 1/4" lugs to length.

It looks like the Mustang will be a Single Use motor only flyer. The motor hook has this nasty bur on it that I can't seem to remove and I don't want to scratch up my RMS case. I can get PSII SU motors at Hobby Lobby with the 40% off, so she'll be flying tomorrow.

I think an F50 will be a good first flight

ditch the plastic ejection caps and replace with a bit of masking tape..it works fine and no plastic caps do deal with