Well I did some ground tests today. I used some homemade igniters and a 3/4" PVC cap about 3/4 of the way full of Pyrodex P and sealed with masking tape. This may seem like overkill, but at the TRF reunion launch the .8g of BP in a latex glove all wrapped in masking tape didn't blow the paraachute out.
The first test was just the cap in a small hole in the ground just to see what would happen before I put it in the rocket. I hit the button and there was a pop and a large puff of smoke. I went and looked and it had burned all the charge and had burned through the masking tape, releasing the pressure. It seemed to work.
Next I put a similar cap in the rocket, not attached to anything but pointing in the general direction. I set the rocket up in a lawn chair but did not attach it to anything. In retrospectt, it would be something to do next time to make it safer. Anyhow, I pushed the button and "poof!", the rocket seperated and the whole thing went flying into the air. It landed, unharmed with the inside all dirty. I went and checked and it was perfectly fine, everything had deployed nicely, though the parachute had not had time to open. Again, all the charge ahd been burned and there was a hole in the masking tape where it had burned through. According to PML this chute should not fit in this tubing, but it does and with enough of a charge, it comes out.
I did not get any pictures because I left my digital camera at my mom's house. Next time, the cap will be a 1/2" PVC cap filled 3/4 of the way to the top and sealed with maksing tape. I would attach the cap to something, but there is just no room on the 2" diameter bolkheads.
Anyway, that was my excitement for the day.
Reed