there are lots of words in this thread, many mine, can't review them all. but did you say why you're so locked in on the 38mm diameter, Shane? I like the idea & get the challenge of spanning F/G (pre-cert mid-power test flight) to J/K power-ranges on one rocket. But I'm curious why it matters to you whether you fly a 3 grain 38 vs. a 5 grain 29 or 1-2 grain 54? When you mix & match the propellants right, you can get nearly identical flight profiles with all 3 of those options.
Even if you want unity for the sake of unity on your cert flights, this is an important rocket in your 'journey'; hopefully you'll get dozens of flights beyond cert-day. Maybe you'll find a guy selling a spare single-use motor for cheap at an event...or giving it away cuz he forgot what propellant he put in his casing last year (I've seen it happen!)...or you borrow or buy a 54 hardware a year or two down the road...you see a great deal in TRF Yard sale, etc. why limit your options?
That AT. Mega Initiator is literally designed for and out-of-the-box equipped to handle 29, 38 and 54 motors...spanning F-K, Tim @ Wildman had them at a pretty deep discount within the last year for 'club members'...reach out and see what he can do for you, you don't know unless you ask!
Thinking ahead, you want to know what's a fun challenge? Put an obscenely oversized motor in a well-built rocket & see if you can keep the landing within tracking-range; that's also what Wildman lives for, btw
My selection of the 38mm motor size and 1,500 gram liftoff weight was an outgrowth of my desire to test-fly the rocket prior to a Level 1 certification attempt. An adapter from 54mm would add weight.
I also ended up imposing a 1,000ft ceiling on the design when loaded up with a non-HPR G motor, as this is the ceiling of the closest flying field to me. DART has the "Level 0.9" program to build such a rocket, in which experienced club members can assist prospective newcomers to HPR (like myself) select their kit and motor, test-fly under MPR rules at a DART event, and then make a certification attempt at a waivered HPR launch elsewhere. They work with TRASD for this purpose; a few DART members take the trek out to fly with TRASD every now and then.
My desire for versatility beyond G/H/I flights and into the L2 regime spawned from my current display and storage arrangement. I have a row of spikes set up for rockets of different sizes, 13mm thru 29mm. I thought it would be pretty neat to create something that could sit on a 38mm spike (a spent Aerotech H283ST single-use casing, for example) and fly on pretty much anything in that size. Right now the various configurations of the DarkStar Jr. look very much the ticket.
Although....I wouldn't be opposed to doing a Level 2 certification on a different rocket with a 54mm mount, set up one of those while I'm still exploring the ins and outs of flying 38mm. A wider body tube and more substantial weight would certainly make a Level 2 certification flight more recoverable. I could even do a test-flight on an I. Hmmmm....
I may end up dropping my desire to certify for L2 on the 38mm bird. I'd have to think about it.
Either way, all of this stuff is a long way off. No doubt further experience on the field in the coming months and years will be invaluable for taking a crack at L1. I'll keep my ideas for the DarkStar Jr. tucked away. I mainly wanted to use this thread to see if there was something ready-made that would prove adapable.
Regarding the 29mm motors, I have some limited experience flying motors in this size and I have a rocket ready to go: An Estes Star Orbiter. I realize the construction may be a bit dainty for going past the G range but I've fully accepted the possibility that I'll probably have to replace it at some point down the line. Still, I've used it for two flights on reloadable motors, and I anticipate that it'll be nice for learning a few more build and prep techniques that are common in the HPR realm. I plan to do a
lot of flying with it. I just wish my Aerotech E16W reloads would show up. I ordered them in November and their supply chain difficulties are nasty right now. 15 weeks to ship to the dealer or something like that. *
sigh*
) is at the point where cutting fin slots in a thick BT is in the picture. Did I actually read something about turning a nosecone on a lathe? But some of that talk might be directed at AstroAbacus, though, who DID ask about scratchbuilding...
As clearly evidenced by my profile pic! The wildman kits will eat anything you can throw at it if you have the waiver. Just be mindful of the weight and rail exit speeds when flying it on MP/Gs.
