I just flew my two stage Estes Renegade. The first stage liftoff was fine and stable. At the second stage ignition, a split secong after the booster tumbled away, I heard a pop and the nose cone came off while under power. It did a few loops and finally the parachute popped out. It landed and seemed unharmed, until I looked at the secong stage motor. The centering ring holding the motor tube was blackened and pushed in forward fro about one third of the circumference. My guess is that the combined effect of the tube coupler and the two side pods being so snug to the second stage kept it attached long enough for the compartment to overpressurize and push in the centering ring. The gases prssurised enough the forward end of the rocket to push out the only the nose cone.
Maybe this is why they don't put a stage coupler on the CC Express. Would it be advisable after repairs to punch two vent holes in that coupler compartment?
Maybe this is why they don't put a stage coupler on the CC Express. Would it be advisable after repairs to punch two vent holes in that coupler compartment?