Build Thread - Loc Caliber ISP-38

[pyrobob]

Always been a fan of the Caliber ISP. Good looking work and nice paint job .

 

[Theory]

thank you all for your kind words

I am very very close to having this build complete! the AV bay is 100% done and epoxied into the payload tube.

I have filled the gap between the switch band and the payload tube and shot a few coats of primer.

I also loaded her up with all the ancillary pieces: 30' of 5/8" tubular nylon, 12 x 12 chute protector, 36" chute, full av bay with 9v, and a 38/240 case - put all that on the scale to get a near final weight - SHE IS HEAVY - 68oz to be exact

I updated the open rocket file and it shows that she will fly ok with a G138. while I do have two of these in the range box, I am thinking I will still aim for an H148 or H165 for the first flight as they are quicker off the rail.

back to the 68oz, how do you all feel about recovering that with a 36" chute? calculations put the decent at 22ft/s. kinda quick, but as the fins aren't swept it might be ok.

the current chute is an old LOC piece, nothing special. I still have a few weeks before the July 13 NOVAAR launch so I may invest in a 4' Rocketman chute.

thoughts on the upgrade? is it $50 well spent?

 

[mbeels]

back to the 68oz, how do you all feel about recovering that with a 36" chute? calculations put the decent at 22ft/s. kinda quick, but as the fins aren't swept it might be ok.

I'd consider a slightly larger parachute. My L1 rocket came in at 48 oz no motor (59 with), and I got a 20 ft/sec descent rate with a 42" sphera chute.

 

[Theory]

D - O - N - E spells done!

I have a spiffy Rocketman chute on the way as well as some Aerotech reloads. Maiden flight scheduled for the July 13 NOVAAR launch

 

[mbeels]

That's sharp! Is that a fractal? Julia set?

 

[Theory]

Is that a fractal? Julia set?

nothing quite that fancy. the majority of the decals are the factory design re-made by Mark at StickerShock23. the decals on the fins are the also by him, the "biohazard" symbol in cut vinyl.

 

[pyrobob]

Very nice. Well done.

 

[Rocketjunkie]

I'd consider a slightly larger parachute. My L1 rocket came in at 48 oz no motor (59 with), and I got a 20 ft/sec descent rate with a 42" sphera chute.

Spherachutes measures size over the top of the canopy. 42" is only about a 27" opening or about 30" equivalent LOC chute. I find the LOC chutes work well and on the Caliber, I just used the chute that came with the kit.

 

[Theory]

Absolutely perfect first flight today on an H220. Sadly I only got one in, but there will be many more in the future! Launch picture to come when I pull it off the DSLR

 

[Theory]

Not too bad for a mid H motor. There was a 5-7mph wind at launch. It leaned into the wind slightly but flew straight after. What 2.75 calibers of stability margin will do to you

 

[BradMilkomeda]

Nice build! And congratulation o. A nice flight.

 

[Theory]

Picture didn’t come out all that great, but this should officially tie off the build

 

[Mugs914]

Congratulations Sean! Beautiful build...

You guys have an amazing launch site!

 

[Theory]

thanks Mugs!

yes it is beautiful but full of "obstacles." from trees to ponds it has it all, but hey, I would much rather fly there than nowhere. and the echo you get off the hills from the larger motors... very cool!!!

 

[BSNW]

Dude....now I want one!
NICE build! Try an I211-W it is one of my favorite motors...that and the I200 too...NICE job on the build. Very sharp!
Andrew

 

[Theory]

Thank you my friend, and Yes, the 29/360 case is on my short list of things to buy. The I200 and H268 would be perfect for the NOVAAR field.

I300 or maybe a Loki I405 this fall at the big Battle Park field

 

[macmansteve]

Coming in late to the party, I won the Caliper ISP at a club raffle.
I am going through the assembly and it’s a bit trickier than my previous high power builds. (Apogee Torrent that I got my Level 1 with)
Are you separating the parachute at the nose cone, or between the two body segments?

 

[Theory]

No worries, fun to revisit this thread

I have actually built two more Caliber ISPs in the exact same manner as this one. All of them have a single break between the main "booster" airframe and the payload. The recovery system is activated by an RRC3 at apogee and at times I use the motor as backup. A JLCR controls the actual opening of the main. Have well over 50 flights on the three Calibers, and absolutely love them.

A few fun videos:

 

[Art Upton]

Here is mine, Identifying as a D-Region ISP

I have flown it full up with the I65 54mm motor at NSL 2018 in Geneseo NY. I plan to fly it again on same motor as I have two more reasonably fresh ones. It was built as Fin Can, then the slotted tube put over it and sealed to the fins. It weights just @ 3lbs with everything but the motor if I recall correctly. I don't think that weight would have included the I65.

A Stratologger CF in the Ebay for Apogee charge, and JL Chute Release for the main was used.

 

[Art Upton]

All of them have a single break between the main "booster" airframe and the payload. The recovery system is activated by an RRC3 at apogee and at times I use the motor as backup. A JLCR controls the actual opening of the main. Have well over 50 flights on the three Calibers, and absolutely love them.

Nice, I also use the JL Chute Release for the main. I like that better then the Chute cannons, as it can be a hard time getting a proper chute into the small payload bay/Chute cannons in many kits.

 

[Theory]

@Art Upton must comment on the fact that you have several mustang pictures cluttering up your wall that has a 1970 Chevelle. ; - )

 

[Art Upton]

@Art Upton must comment on the fact that you have several mustang pictures cluttering up your wall that has a 1970 Chevelle. ; - )

Yea, I am partial to the 1970 Chevelle, with a Big Block and cowl induction. I also like the orange/red Torino GT with the black hood in that picture as well as the Charger doing a burn out.

However I owned two of the Blue Mustangs that looked close with the same custom stripe job. In fact I fooled a service tech guy with the GT when I first got it. He was in our Car Club and Thought I had put 5.0 badges on my Pony Pack

The first was a 2013 Mustang Pony Pack I got in 2012.
The second was a 2013-1/2 Mustang Track GT 5.0 6 speed manual in the Top Center Pic at MIS speedway I got in 2014.

The Pic to the right of that is the V6 cyl Pony Pack; note no center big fog lights in the grill. That generally went faster then earlier GTs with the 4.6. It is also in the lower left, you can see it has honeycomb rims instead of the GT's 5 spoke hot wheel rims at the top.

I traded the GT and my Silverado in 2018 for a Tundra TRD/SR5 in Desert Sand. As I am no longer going to be pulling an RV with it as I had planned, I am looking to trade it in this year as well as my commuter car for something new. On a fixed income now I really can't afford two vehicles and the truck uses too much fuel even though I like it a lot and hate to let it go. The commuter car is getting worn of tooth. The truck only has 17K miles on it.

The Taco parked next to my Tundra in the Metro Park was a random thing and so I took a picture of it. Rare to get the two in the same color together like that.

 

[Theory]

@Art Upton I dig it!