Its time to rebuild Witches Express....

[Rocketeer Gator]

This was my first FG/scratch built rocket from Wildmans MWP kit offered back in 2010.
Before its first flight and launch pic with a I600R,its only flight on 9-3-11.

Several rookie mistakes were made in the building process.....and were paid for after its maiden launch.(Its been sitting around ever since)

1.Using 30 min epoxy.It hardened like glass an cracked at fin fillets easily on landing.All fins were knocked off this morning with the palm of my hand.

2.Adding too much weight(about 8oz.) in NC and counting on plastic attachment points.When drogue charge fired the NC & payload BT drag separated itself completely from rocket and landed about 200 yards from rest of the rocket.

3.Not using shear pins & retaining screws on payload BT in the build.

So now onto the rebuild process and things that will be done...
Completely strip down booster and attack with dremel to get as much of the old epoxy out as possible.
Reattach fins with West epoxy/carbon fiber mix.Also knock off the conards an reattach with same.
Drill holes for shear pins on booster and payload.
Drill holes for retaining screws to secure payload to ebay.
Add vent holes on BT's.
Toss old NC and order another unless I can get all the BB's and epoxy out.

 

[Getmore]

Chris do you plan on going with the same motor this time around. What's the dia. Of the rocket.

 

[Rocketeer Gator]

I'll prob launch with something similar first then step it up to 54mm .I'm thinking of doing FG T2T this time around to handle large motors.A K1275 will push it to around 1.5 mach,but thats a sim without any chutes,electronics,etc.

2.56" OD


attached the ruff draft rocksim file

View attachment Witches Express.rkt

 

[fyrwrxz]

Chris- Save the nose cone-ya never know. BTW- Never use the plastic attach eyelet-you know why!

 

[Getmore]

You can reuse the nose cone. Cut off the end and epoxy 1/4" plywood disc with eyebolt in place. I do it to all my plastic nc. For mid to hp

 

[Rocketeer Gator]

Yea I won't toss it, but doubtful I can get all that epoxy and BB's out.Most likely will use it for a boat tail one day on a 38mm build.I would prefer a FG NC but haven't found one yet.

 

[Getmore]

Chris I have a nc I had to remove the epoxy lead and with some banging and prying it came out. The epoxy didn't stick from lack of sanding. If you don't find a fgnc give it a try I bet it will let go.

 

[Rocketeer Gator]

To be honest I doubt I'll even try to get it out.A new 2.5 cone is only $16 if I can't find a fgnc.My biggest worry right now is staying out of the ER since I'm digging most of the old epoxy out with screw drivers and single edge razors.

 

[Rocketeer Gator]

While I was chipping away at the old epoxy with a hammer and screwdriver the MMT let go.Well that thrilled me because now I can get rid of that cable I thought was a good idea and replace with a couple kevlar SCs.Now to break out the palm sander and get the rest of the paint off then get my shear pin marks laid out.

 

[Rocketeer Gator]

After a few hours work all the old epoxy is gone and ready to start getting the ole witch back together.

 

[Rocketeer Gator]

I got the fins tacked back on.Made a lil angle aluminum jig to square up the ends,after first two were set the others were clamped and positioned.Using a speed square made sure they were even with each other.While the fincan was out I made my marks and drilled for a vent hole on the booster and 2/56 shearpins.

Cut some small groves to get the conards to adhere better and attached with CA.Epoxy/carbon fiber fillets to be added later.

But until I talk to Tim and find out if I can get another payload section the project will be on hold.I applied some stripper to remove the paint,scraped it off and reapplied some more to get the stubborn areas off.Dozed off like old people do at times,when I woke up I went out and found the BT totally screwed.The stripper had stayed on there about an hour and started to delaminate the FG.