A dozen low power flights, overall a good day!

[BABAR]

Started out only 75 Degrees at 8 a.m., but 95% Humidity.

First trick, staying out of the sun as much as possible.

Park facing the sun, put up the shades, and pop the trunk.

 

[BABAR]

Dealing with the local WildLife. This guy had to be shooed away repeatedly from the tip of my launch rod. The close ups were taken with my cell phone with no magnification.

 

[BABAR]

First up, Double Ringer.

15 " Gap Stage, first time I flew it painted. I really didn't expect the altitude I got on the booster. The booster recovers with horizontal spin recovery. I think I can go bigger on the waterwheel ring fin on the booster to get more spin and a slower recovery. You can see the booster took a bit of damage coming down a little fast.

 

[BABAR]

Next up (figured with no wind, get the multistagers out of the way) is the Double Helix. For those of you who don't like filling spirals, vinyl tape can be cut to desired line thickness and cover them very nicely post painting!

This one BARELY landed within the field. I was really surprised, as it was a vertical launch with zero wind, at least at ground level!

 

[BABAR]

Okay, tired of long walks, let's fly something on an A8-3.
Here's the SlimmFasst.

 

[BABAR]

People say you can't fly a rocket with only two planar fins. I built my first one a while ago, figured I'd redo it. I called the original the Lucky 7, because of the shape of the fin confirmation. This one turned out to be the UN-Lucky 7. If there was only ONE big puddle.........

 

[BABAR]

The water was enough to loosen the fin. It is fixable. At least I was smart enough to pull out the motor before it swelled up!

 

[BABAR]

My Double Mach Diamond is always one of my favorites. Starts out straight, then spirals, come downs nicely on a streamer. The configuration makes it fall sideways, so fins are spared. So makes a nice small field rocket.

 

[BABAR]

Work in progress, an Estes MIRV-style rocket that is actually APPROPRIATELY POWERED and has sustainers that are ACTUALLY STABLE! (sorry, I like most Estes designs, let's just say that was the exception that proved the rule.) Anyhooo, this is made of Portrait Matting and a single central BT-20. No balsa.

That nose really is flat on one side. Three of these fit together to form one six sided superstructure.

 

[BABAR]

Remember our visitor? Look closely at the rod tip. He's baaaaaaack!

 

[BABAR]

Okay, after another poster here discussed difficulty with filming and pressing the button at the same time. Hope the following don't cause nausea and vomiting. I had to resist the urge to keep going

Nanananana Hat CAM!
Nanananana Hat CAM!

 

[BABAR]

Hard part is making sure that camera is facing straight. I am going to bring a mirror next time so I can tell for sure, but these came out pretty well, except I guess if you start with camera sideways, the pic stays in that orientation, so some of these look like they were launched from Ecuador. None from Australia, unfortunately!



Sometimes not all the rotors open. I call this "flop recovery"


one of my AirBrakers



and another, Equatorial Launch


Tic Tac Toe, designed to minimize rotation. Really like this one, especially since it is 1/16" balsa so it is very light for its size.

 

[BABAR]

Last but not least, Windwalker. Cut to the end, you can see how this "toddles" on the way down.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

Very nice set of pics and videos, looks like you had a great day. Thanks!

 

[Joshua F Thomas]

Wow, those are some unique birds!

 

[jrap330]

Started out only 75 Degrees at 8 a.m., but 95% Humidity.

First trick, staying out of the sun as much as possible.

Park facing the sun, put up the shades, and pop the trunk.

View attachment 429423View attachment 429424

To maximize your use of the field dimensions,.....you have to launch from the Parking lot and pray asphalt landings are gentle?

 

[jrap330]

To maximize your use of the field dimensions,.....you have to launch from the Parking lot and pray asphalt landings are gentle?

Also please explain your launch pad. Looks like scrap lumber from some project.

 

[GlenP]

That is even better than a bad day fishin’!

 

[hcmbanjo]

Okay, after another poster here discussed difficulty with filming and pressing the button at the same time. Hope the following don't cause nausea and vomiting. I had to resist the urge to keep going

Nanananana Hat CAM!View attachment 429452View attachment 429453

That did crack me up! Great launch report, the air brake rockets come in nice and slow!.

 

[BABAR]

To maximize your use of the field dimensions,.....you have to launch from the Parking lot and pray asphalt landings are gentle?

Late reply.
Yup, parking lot surrounded by fields. I've had a few that recovered barely within the fields, and a couple outside, one in a tree not recoverable. So I get a number of asphalt landings. For the AirBrakes and Helis usually not an issue, for some of my chute and streamer models some cosmetic chips or scratches are common.

 

[BABAR]

Also please explain your launch pad. Looks like scrap lumber from some project.

4x4s, wheels from a Polaris Pool cleaner, a lazy Susan swivel plate, and an axle. So can rotate 360, angle up to 10 degrees. I figure if you need to angle more than 10 degrees, you probably shouldn't be launching.

Has a thumb screw to swap out 1/8 and 3/16 brackets, and screws on the side I have used for a 6 foot maker beam rail.

A bit heavy, but generally I set up 20 feet from the car, so not too bad.

 

[jrap330]

4x4s, wheels from a Polaris Pool cleaner, a lazy Susan swivel plate, and an axle. So can rotate 360, angle up to 10 degrees. I figure if you need to angle more than 10 degrees, you probably shouldn't be launching.

Has a thumb screw to swap out 1/8 and 3/16 brackets, and screws on the side I have used for a 6 foot maker beam rail.

A bit heavy, but generally I set up 20 feet from the car, so not too bad.

very created.....thanks for reply. Good luck on all Asphalt landings.