4" Mega Der Rex Max - nose weight really needed?

[Dave S.]

Is nose weight really needed for a Mega Der Red Max?

I am building a 4" Mega Der Red Max w/ Estes parts and it would need nose weight to have a proper 1 caliber of stability.

However, I am wondering if nose weight is really needed? This is one of those short stubbier rockets. I have a simulation in Open Rocket, but I have not tried that trick to add the phantom cone.

I was wondering what experience others have with this model?

[ I plan on launching with an H100 motor.]

Thanks!

 

[K'Tesh]

No... Estes tests their products, and if it needed weight, they'd have included it. You add weight to the nose (presuming a stock build) and you may induce unintended consequences. However, If you don't build stock, then you might need it.

 

[Art Upton]

No... Estes tests their products,

Yea, like they tested the "Mars Leaper"

* I recently used one I got new for $5 to test a batch of A10-0s to make sure they didn't Kaboom. The "Leaper" pretty much spiraled all over. And yes it did not lose any of it's clear radials

 

[Art Upton]

Is nose weight really needed for a Mega Der Red Max?

I am building a 4" Mega Der Red Max w/ Estes parts and it would need nose weight to have a proper 1 caliber of stability.

However, I am wondering if nose weight is really needed? This is one of those short stubbier rockets. I have a simulation in Open Rocket, but I have not tried that trick to add the phantom cone.

I was wondering what experience others have with this model?

[ I plan on launching with an H100 motor.]

Thanks!

How did you build the fins?

1) Stock
2) Used Basswood to cover instead of balsa
3) Used Lite Ply.

 

[CalebJ]

Yea, like they tested the "Mars Leaper"

* I recently used one I got new for $5 to test a batch of A10-0s to make sure they didn't Kaboom. The "Leaper" pretty much spiraled all over. And yes it did not lose any of it's clear radials

That's interesting re your Leaper experience. I only flew mine a few times but it always seemed stable.

 

[Rob Campbell]

Yea, like they tested the "Mars Leaper"

* I recently used one I got new for $5 to test a batch of A10-0s to make sure they didn't Kaboom. The "Leaper" pretty much spiraled all over. And yes it did not lose any of it's clear radials

I've seen several Mars Lepers fly and those should be heads-up launches as the things are so erratic.

 

[Dave S.]

How did you build the fins?

1) Stock
2) Used Basswood to cover instead of balsa
3) Used Lite Ply.

The fims are those plywood/balsa sandwiches that are stock.

However, I did not bevel the leading edges. Perhaps I should’ve. I’d expect more air resistance on those flat thick edges of my fins then a true stock fin.

 

[Art Upton]

The fims are those plywood/balsa sandwiches that are stock.

However, I did not bevel the leading edges. Perhaps I should’ve. I’d expect more air resistance on those flat thick edges of my fins then a true stock fin.

The Red Max Series does look better with squared off fin edges. Drag at the fin ends will increase stability by the way.

Next did you pour epoxy into fin fillets and/or centering rings?
Or did you use a lite amount of wood glue on the centering rings and lite filler on the fillets ?
If you built it stock it should not need nose weight. But if you beefed lots of glue into it, it might.

Being this is a MPR rocket as targeted, perhaps you should cross post in the mid power group to see if any was needed for G motors. I'm surprised more folks that build these and flew on H motors have not posted yet. Weather is bad out in the east. Perhaps more replies later this evening.

 

[kuririn]

We flew three MDRMs a while back.
Mine was built stock. I believe the other two were as well.
All three flew straight and stable.
Great kit.
(At 5:48, 6:51, and 8:22).

 

[RokitFlyr]

Is nose weight really needed for a Mega Der Red Max?

I am building a 4" Mega Der Red Max w/ Estes parts and it would need nose weight to have a proper 1 caliber of stability.

However, I am wondering if nose weight is really needed? This is one of those short stubbier rockets. I have a simulation in Open Rocket, but I have not tried that trick to add the phantom cone.

I was wondering what experience others have with this model?

[ I plan on launching with an H100 motor.]

Thanks!

Well, in the "old days" you loaded the largest motor you intended to fly and checked CP/CG by balancing the rocket with a string. Add nose weight as needed. No fancy shmancy SIM stuff required.

 

[Dave S.]

[deleted]

 

[Tom Flint]

My 4" Red Max only has a 29mm motor mount but I've flown it on an Aerotech H180 reload without any additional nose weight. Strange that Estes included nose weight with their 3" Red Max kit. On that one I did not install the clay and have flown it on a G25 reload without issues.

 

[Back_at_it]

I've owned and flown two 4 inch Maxx kits. I only flew them on G74 and G80's and they were completely stable with no issues.

My first one was an actual Estes kit and built pretty much stock. My second was cobbled together from parts with an Estes tube and nose cone, plywood inner fin structure with basswood sheeting that was papered and epoxied. Plywood upper ring and fiber lower ring. Built completely with epoxy. No stability issues with either one.