Nice rocket, and cool paint job!
I have a Zephyr in the cart at Apogee, but the shipping cost being 1/4 of the rocket's price is what's keeping it there for now...
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I've always wondered if any Zephyr owners/fliers have had problems with the fins being damaged upon landing? Those point fins extending below the end of the body tube look like they would be vulnerable to breaking. I know the Zephyr's fins are pretty iconic/unique, but I could see myself trimming those points down a bit.
LVL 1 Cert Launch Sat
it was a fun build ... small mishap installing one of the skull decals... missing a cheek bone lol. Will get it replaced.
I have two Zephyrs - both modified for dual deploy - with lots of hard landings (had at least a couple flights with complete main parachute malfunctions - my fault, not the rocket). I have seen damage to the cardboard components and have replaced the nosecone in one of them, but the fins have never had so much as a dent. Very solid plywood fins.
The Zephyr is very reasonably priced for what you get. To mitigate the shipping hit, I recommend buying all the components you need for dual deploy when you buy the kit (payload bay, coupler, switch band, ebay sled, etc). That way, even if you just use the bird in single deploy mode for your level 1 cert, you can immediately build out the dual deploy, test it on a bunch of H & I impulse flights and then fly it with a J for Level 2 cert.
I do recommend upgrading the parachute that comes with the kit. It isn't bad, but there are vastly better options out there.
Do you have any recommendations for good HPR parachutes? I have personal experience with Top Flite, but I've heard of Bama, LOC, Fruity, etc
Do you have any recommendations for good HPR parachutes? I have personal experience with Top Flite, but I've heard of Bama, LOC, Fruity, etc
Do you have any recommendations for good HPR parachutes? I have personal experience with Top Flite, but I've heard of Bama, LOC, Fruity, etc
+1 per @mtnmanak those plywood fins are really solid and I've never had a problem. Launch weight is only about 3.5 lbs. so not a lot of stress unless you have complete failure.I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I've always wondered if any Zephyr owners/fliers have had problems with the fins being damaged upon landing? Those point fins extending below the end of the body tube look like they would be vulnerable to breaking. I know the Zephyr's fins are pretty iconic/unique, but I could see myself trimming those points down a bit.
or just look at it differently. Pretty much any similar kit probably costs almost $25 more once you add in a chute and nomex that the other guys don't include.I have a Zephyr in the cart at Apogee, but the shipping cost being 1/4 of the rocket's price is what's keeping it there for now...
Nice rocket, and cool paint job!
I have a Zephyr in the cart at Apogee, but the shipping cost being 1/4 of the rocket's price is what's keeping it there for now...
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I've always wondered if any Zephyr owners/fliers have had problems with the fins being damaged upon landing? Those point fins extending below the end of the body tube look like they would be vulnerable to breaking. I know the Zephyr's fins are pretty iconic/unique, but I could see myself trimming those points down a bit.
Level 1 Certified today.... LVL 1 Cert with H182 and then fired off the I280DM
it was a good day.
https://youtube.com/shorts/J8z67yUU5p0?feature=share
https://youtube.com/shorts/jyVe6Fls_E4?feature=shareView attachment 460326
Motor ejection on the cert? Yes, what was the delay?Level 1 Certified today.... LVL 1 Cert with H182 and then fired off the I280DM
it was a good day.
https://youtube.com/shorts/J8z67yUU5p0?feature=share
https://youtube.com/shorts/jyVe6Fls_E4?feature=shareView attachment 460326
I personally did notI have another quick question for Zephyr owners. Is anyone rounding the LE of the fins on these? I've been looking at photos, and it doesn't seem like it. If so, is it because of the proximity of the fin tip cutout to the LE, or just not bothering? With the 1/4" fins, it seems like you could use a router and round-over bit to get a quick and easy profile on the LE.
I personally did not
No reason for not doing it
Iam sure it would be effective to do so.
I did not round the leading edges. Im not trying for max alt. In my case and probably with most people they bought it to do that level 1 cert, just want a easy to build and durable. I also get ocd when I cannot make all the fins the same. No router access. I havent researched it but
I am curious exactly how much less drag or extra alt one gets from rounded leading edges.
Iam sure it would look great more refined clean finish to the finsThanks for the quick responses. I wouldn't do this looking for better performance/altitude, but just for the aesthetics. Since becoming a BAR rounding at least the LEs of fins as become habit, so it would feel weird to not do it!
I have another quick question for Zephyr owners. Is anyone rounding the LE of the fins on these? I've been looking at photos, and it doesn't seem like it. If so, is it because of the proximity of the fin tip cutout to the LE, or just not bothering? With the 1/4" fins, it seems like you could use a router and round-over bit to get a quick and easy profile on the LE.
Fin strength.... i converted mine to dual deploy shortly after my L1. Flown it a ton. Had an av-bay separation at the bulkhead and my fin can fell 3000ft on an 18” flat drogue and smacked the ice (flying off Lake Winnepesaukee) fins first/vertical. This was all the damage it sustained. Literally wicked thin CA in there, clamped it, and its good and back to flying on J’s.
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