Level 2 Attempt- Mach 1 Rocketry Speed Demon Build Thread

[swatkat]

Will be doing my L2 attempt here as soon as the rains come in California. I have a few vehicles capable of doing the deed, but wanted to go big on it. So... Mach 1 Rocketry's Speed Demon. Attached is the build thread to date, just waiting for the last fin to dry now. Will be matte black Tamiya Paint with the Stickershock Stock Decals. Great kit BTW!

 

[swatkat]

Sorry about the double post of photos... I'm still working through this new forum format.

 

[tim cubbedge]

Sorry about the double post of photos... I'm still working through this new forum format.

No problem, done it myself. Looks like it's been deleted!

 

[Wallace]

Sorry about the double post of photos... I'm still working through this new forum format.

Thanks for totally screwing that whole picture thing up. Now I don't feel so alone. I cannot figure it out, sometimes it uploads two or even three copies, other times it works just fine. I've taken to just letting it do what it feels like, then after posting just go back and edit out the multis. Make sure to delete the fore and aft [ATTATCH] along with the document #.

 

[djs]

Quick question- your nosecone shows the coupler stuck in it... is this how it comes, or is it removeable? I'm looking at one of their kits, but want to make it HED.

 

[boatgeek]

Looking good so far! I applaud your boldness in epoxying over a carpet with no dropcloth.

 

[swatkat]

Quick question- your nosecone shows the coupler stuck in it... is this how it comes, or is it removeable? I'm looking at one of their kits, but want to make it HED.

The coupler is "stuck" in mine. I don't see any epoxy though, so I added some just in case it truly was just "stuck". The Nosecone does have the threaded rod and the bottom bulkplate screws on... Maybe shoot Steve a note when the order goes in or give him a call and see if they can just leave the shoulder portion separate.

 

[swatkat]

Looking good so far! I applaud your boldness in epoxying over a carpet with no dropcloth.

Thanks there is only "one" spot where some 15min BSI dripped on the carpet when I doing another project. Otherwise. the table just takes the brunt of it... there area few "pools" of 15 min on it. JB Weld and Rocketpoxy are thick enough I haven't had an issue there.

 

[swatkat]

Quick question- your nosecone shows the coupler stuck in it... is this how it comes, or is it removeable? I'm looking at one of their kits, but want to make it HED.

Actually in looking at my Portia, it wasn't glued in... so I'm happy that I put the Epoxy on mine. I think you'll be good to go...

 

[swatkat]

All in primer and looking good. Heavy bird though. I had thought I'd come in around 180 Oz all loaded up. It was 198 Oz without paint. (all recovery weighed separately and added in). I bet it'll come in at 210-215 Oz with paint.

 

[Bat-mite]

Looking good so far! I applaud your boldness in epoxying over a carpet with no dropcloth.

Drop cloth? You mean I don't have to keep covering my floor in masking tape?

 

[Bat-mite]

All in primer and looking good. Heavy bird though. I had thought I'd come in around 180 Oz all loaded up. It was 198 Oz without paint. (all recovery weighed separately and added in). I bet it'll come in at 210-215 Oz with paint.

Good luck on the L2! We're having a run of 15 straight days of rain here in MD.

 

[Eric]

It's looking great. Neither of my Mach 1 nose cones had the coupler glued in.

 

[swatkat]

Good luck on the L2! We're having a run of 15 straight days of rain here in MD.

Thanks! I hate the rain-out days. If it's only a 1250 foot flight, I'm hoping it goes flawlessly with a single deploy (electronic with motor backup). nice big 96" chute to bring it down slowly.

 

[swatkat]

It's looking great. Neither of my Mach 1 nose cones had the coupler glued in.

Whew... good thing I added that extra ring of epoxy then on the shoulder joint. It must have been stuck really good!

 

[Nytrunner]

1250 ft? What motor are you using? Some low% J?

That seems low for rocket of that diameter and weight on a J motor.
(Comparing to my 5.5" L2 that weights 14.8lbs dry simmed to ~5300 on the K750)

 

[swatkat]

1250 ft? What motor are you using? Some low% J?

That seems low for rocket of that diameter and weight on a J motor.
(Comparing to my 5.5" L2 that weights 14.8lbs dry simmed to ~5300 on the K750)

Yup, really low. J340M, just over the limit...

 

[swatkat]

While I'm waiting on paint to some in, printed out a little custom T3 transmitter holder with ziptie and screw attachment. Also finished up a custom base station that holds my phone, battery and charger along with the T3 base and half-stick antenna. A/V bay is printing now. 70 more hours...

 

[swatkat]

First coat of paint is on. I chose Galaxy Blue Colorshift by Rustoleum. 29 bucks a can and the first coat was two cans... going to be an expensive paint job.

 

[swatkat]

 

[neil_w]

Wow, that is some expensive paint... should look super cool though.

 

[swatkat]

Clear coat on... looks amazing. Ended up using 3 cans of colorshift, 2 cans of clear.

 

[neil_w]

Wow! I don’t know if I’d ever spend that much on paint for one rocket, but ya can’t argue with those results. Would love to see that one in person.

 

[swatkat]

Wow! I don’t know if I’d ever spend that much on paint for one rocket, but ya can’t argue with those results. Would love to see that one in person.

Yeah, I figure I could have bought one of their nice 38mm FG kits for what the paint costs.

 

[swatkat]

With Vinyl and all together. Just recovery and electronics to go. She's a big bird,

 

[Rockethound]

Hey there Swatkat (and Eric). Is the Speed Demon all finished and ready for Snow Ranch? Finally some rain is forecast for the coming week.

I came upon this thread looking for builds of the Speed Demon. Mach 1 has its motor list as E-I. Your build weight suggests an E motor might work if it's built SD with no electronics. I thought it could be a cute DD for SARG but that doesn't seem likely.

Question: does this use the Mach 1's thin FWFG tube with thickness similar to the cardboard BT-60? I like the idea of light weight with FWFG qualities.

Very fine paint job!!!

 

[Eric]

Lol. The BT-60 speed demon may be E-I motors. But swats is 4" and it would laugh at an I motor as it sat on the pad burning. I think he has it all ready to go with a J500. We need some rain....

Mach1's thin wall BT-60 is amazing. Same dimensions as Estes BT 60. But 10 times stronger. Steve Took a piece of it threw it on the ground and stomped on it. There is a video on their Facebook of it.


My BT-60 Black Hole is going up on an I- 59 for its first flight. Ready for snow ranch...

 

[Rockethound]

Oops, another "open mouth, insert foot" moment. Thanks for the info re the BT-60, Eric. How much does your BT-60 Black Hole weigh without motor?

 

[Eric]

Oops, another "open mouth, insert foot" moment. Thanks for the info re the BT-60, Eric. How much does your BT-60 Black Hole weigh without motor?

With recovery, redundant electronics, and a Tracker. It is flight ready w/o motor at 21oz.

 

[Rockethound]

That's *very* cool - thanks!