Keep everything dummy simply for the cert flight. Use a basic single use motor and drill your delay after you run the simulations. Speaking of the simulation, make sure you weight the rocket complete with everything packed, fire blanket/wadding/barf, parachute, shock cord, motor, retainers, altimeter, camera etc. Anything you plan to put in the rocket or on it needs to be accounted for.
Do a basic deployment at apogee, no chute releases or anything else that can fail.
Don't connect the shock cord to the nose cone using that little eyelet. Cut the eyelet off and drill holes in the base of the cone and thread the shock cord through those.
Connect the parachute to the shock cord not the nose cone.
Take a couple of extra ignitors.
Always have tape.
Make yourself a checklist of things to check before the launch then go over it a couple of times as you will be nervous in the field. I just flew for my level 1 last fall and I was a nervous wreck until the moment the chute opened.
Something to begin your list with.
- If you are using any quick connects, are they closed?
- Shock cord securely attached to rocket body.
- Parachute securely attached to shock cord.
- Shock Cord securely attached to nose cone.
- Parachute packed neatly.
- Fire Blanket / Wadding in place.
- Delay drilled correctly?
- Did you add the ejection powder to the motor after drilling the delay.
- Is the ejection cap secure.
- Motor inserted and motor retainer tight.
- Nose cone. Check fitment.
- Check screws on rail buttons.
- Breathe.