Celebratory L2 build thread

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PhxRocketeer

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Just completed my L1 and L2 certs on Saturday, super pumped! Flew a simple 3” shipping tube rocket for L1, low and slow, but went small and fast for L2. Here is the ‘Mock2’ build I used for my L2, dubbed Neon Piranha. I bought a Wildman Mach 2 kit but wanted to do a reproduction first to learn from it. Used 2 layers of Soller medium glass over a cardboard tube with BSI 20min epoxy. 2nd time doing a FG over cardboard and man was the sleeve a luxury! Fins are 3ply birch that I tip-to-tipped with 6oz shrinking layers, big fillets of glass sphere filled epoxy. Nose cone is a 3d printed custom design with sled for my Eggtimer and Quark and holes for barometer. Recovery ring was epoxied in 7” from the top to keep room for a K250 that I may one day run. Also put 60g of clay in the nose for stability. 3d printed centering rings made for a 38mm motor adapter so I flew my cert on a J270 (friction fit + reverse thrust ring) and two grub screws behind the fins to lock it in for flight. Will eventually use a JLCR but for cert flight went simple and did the mile walk to recover. Fly away rail guide for a 1010 rail worked great.

Super pumped, she flew perfectly straight to 8400’ on the cert. the 14sec motor delay was a little early but no zipper even with 90ft/sec deployment. Coasted down for 7min on a 36” chute 😆 and landed 0.7mi away. Simmed at about 1000mph but Eggtimer can’t estimate.

Planning to make this part of a dual stage 54mm rocket with the actual Mach2 kit. Targeting April launch to get that together. Thanks to all the awesome content on here that made this build possible. Also to the Phoenix SSS Rocketry club for the support on launch day. IMG_5120.jpeg
 

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Wow !

Two certs in one day !!

Is that a Flyaway Rail Guide on your "Neon Piranha" ?

If so, how did you like it ?

Congrats, @PhxRocketeer !!!

-- kjh
Zero complaints. It's the Adaptive Aerospace guide. I picked it up from Wildman with the Mach 2 kit and I'm very happy. I have used my own DIY version for small 24mm rockets, but this one is built ruggedly. Survived the fall to the desert without a blemish. I know people have said they experienced failures on other rail guides, I'm not sure how. It's so light I can't imagine anything would shatter. But time will tell.
 
Zero complaints. It's the Adaptive Aerospace guide. I picked it up from Wildman with the Mach 2 kit and I'm very happy. I have used my own DIY version for small 24mm rockets, but this one is built ruggedly. Survived the fall to the desert without a blemish. I know people have said they experienced failures on other rail guides, I'm not sure how. It's so light I can't imagine anything would shatter. But time will tell.
I've been thinking about maybe trying one for a 38mm min diameter rocket but I don't know much about them so I solicit opinions ...

Additive Aerospace's version looks pretty robust !

Thanks !

-- kjh
 
I’ve done small ones for repairs. Don’t think I’m up for making my own big ones. I’ll stick to FG at that point. The surface finish is fine for the right project. Every arsenal needs The Big Ugly, right?
 
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