My Path to Level One Certification.

[86mustang408w]

Well, I guess I'll start with this year back in May I wasnt doing well mentally or physically. Injures, chronic pain, and depression are not nice to me. So, I think I saw an email or video about model rockets. The same thing happened back in 2012(I got hurt and bought a lot to build)after a work Injury and 2 failed surgeries when I got back i to this hobby for the second time with a fresh start. Sadly that has left me not much employment and still turned down for disability even as my doctor wanted that for me. So, I was just beyond stuck in a rut.....

Back around the middle of May, I walked into Hobby Lobby for the first time ever. Bought myself an Alpha III kit but said I wasn't going to buy anything else until I got my old 2012 collection back. Now keep in mind I didn't have one thing in my immediate possession for rocketry. So I grabbed the Alpha III launch kit(and some A/B motors)and built it, flew it. The first day we took it out, 6th flight or so it landed on the roof of the local middle school and that was it. So, I bought another Alpha III off Amazon and put that one together. In the mean time went back to Hobby Lobby and grabbed a few more things probably around the end of May, beginning of June. I built most of the smaller 18mm ones and then 24mm. Well as I'm building these smaller ones I thought I want to make it a goal, to fly high power.

I had tried this back in 2012/13, and just quit because I found no place to launch(I even posted on here and got hardly no response). So, last time I launched was over in Bloomsburg about 2014 on a rainy, windy day. I got a few up, and that was it. Everything which was about $3,500 of stuff was packed and put in storage.

So we go back to about mid June this year, I'm opening a box of parts for a L1 scratch build from Rocketryworks. It was definitely smaller so I got a chute release for it. I started reading and doing research(Learned OpenRocket)I wanted to go that day and fly. Well, I realized I was making it way too complicated. I slowed down, looked at local clubs as it was advice given on here. Around late June joined my very first club thats SPAAR here on PA. Now given I got started with this hobby in 1990 at age 7, this was the best thing to happen to me. So SPAAR had a meet in Halifax, PA July 29th. Now at this point I had probably 35 or 40 low power flights in since May so I was definitely getting back in the groove. But kept flying, then went to another event with them in Elizabethtown at the Zell Farm launch site.

That was a disappointing day, drove a few hours to lose my one rocket on its 2nd flight. I wasnt happy, at this point it was August 19th, I was getting discouraged again and a little burnt out. So, around then I took a little break. Then I decided I'll drive up from Pa to URRG in NY September 9th to check it out and just relax and watch. Well I was absolutely in love with this spot. Very nice field, great people, just nice all around. And I stood there with no rockets, watching a Jr member get his L1 cert. I said "OK, its time".

So I went back home and immediately started thinking and working. I really started this L1 build about 3 weeks ago. I checked out the flight dates for the rest of the year and Nov 4th and 5th seems to be very doable for an L1 Cert flight attempt. So this was about the first week of October when I started putting this together. Its a 29mm Mercury Engineering Integrator that came with a 29mm motor tube and just some low quality mid power parts.

So, going back to June after going/getting my collection from 2012 back and merging it with my new stuff. That gave me a number of new possibilities. So I took everything as far as the stock parts(fins, centering rings, chute stop, etc)...Put that all in a box and maied it to James at RocketyWorks. He was just the best with this, I'm so very happy with the parts he designed and how it came together. It took a little while to get the stuff back, pretty sure it was sometime in September when I got the parts he made.

First thing I did was cut the tube slots. After that I modified the noscone, just worked on it a few hours a day for the last few weeks. I made a decision about 2 weeks ago not to fully paint it. It would cut into my build time and I'm still not sure what color I want it. Reading, listening, watching, and just observing really helped me earn this. Also I've been using high power build techniques for low and mid power rockets which has made doimgnthe bigger ones very easy since back in June with builds. Its just a larger scale. I went with wood glue for the majority of assembly with epoxy in the noseone and on the bottom side, or ejection side of the chute stop James made.

After I had a very close flying weight, I started to do OpenRocket sims. I want sure what motor I was going tonjse and had only been to URRG one time. That was Saturday September 9th and they haven't flown since then due to poor weather. That was another thing I kept my eye on about 10 days ago. But Once I knew the weather was good I joined URRG with a High Power Membership. The rocket was finished up Thursday night November 2nd, well as far as primer. I packed it all and we headed up to URRG Saturday morning Nov 4th after a late start. I bit into something Friday about midnight and never slept, almost didn't go. But after thinking about it I finally said yeah I'm going. I got ready we finally left here about 9AM or so and its about a 3 hour drive one way from where I live in PA to Penn Yan, NY.

It was a nice drive, we ended up getting there about 11:50am or so. I took the laptop with me too as I ran simulations on many but wanted it to have it. I made myself a checklist, well actually 3 on a small yellow notepad:

1. Initial/Rocket Setup.
2. Motor.
3. Pad.

For the most part the day went off pretty well. First thing I did when I got there was find Larry the club President. Him and a few others ponted me in the right direction. I went over to Teddy at OneBadHawk.com and looked at my motor choices. When I first got there I saw he had a Aerotech H135W-14A sitting out, I was thinking maybe. But went back to buy and looked at what he had. I was going to get a H115 and use it but he was sold out. So, the H135W-14A was the choice. Definitely not low and slow, but with the field size and conditions it would have been ok. I picked up that and ejection delay drilling tool as thats one thing I'll need anyways.

So after I bought that I grabbed my motor and went back to the car, opened it up. Checked out the tool to make sure it was zeroed in or calibrated. I was confident I could have done it on my own but waited and asked for help. So Larry gave me a few tips and we were set with the motor. After that I put dog barf in the rocket(wiped down the inside of the BT so the dust from that wouldnt make the nosecone loose), grabbed all my paperwork and headed to the flight line. I was in that line for about 45 mins until the flight. I took my checklist, and a few things like masking tape to hold the igniter which I didn't need anyway.

Got the rocket on the launch rail, took the igniter(took the insulation off before)out of my pocket and made sure it was all the way up, and then checked continuity and walked back to the flight line.
They started back and counted down on mine, no joy. The igniter was a dud, so I waited for the range to be cold. I walked back out and put a new igniter in that Larry gave me, thanks again Larry. I made sure it was straight and all the way up as always. Put that in, wrapped the clips around the lead ends and walked back to the flight line, after having to go back and check continuity again.

They started with the C pads to the left and then came to the F pad, mine was still at F1. So they read the info out loud again, and then 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....Launch. It took off which looked to be a very good flight, until about 2 seconds in. The motor had a freak ejection and the nosecone came out pretty much at full speed. Quite a few things ran thru my head right away thinking there no way we messed up that bad. We didn't, it was a just one of those things. I kept my faith in the rocket I built, but after seeing that your first reaction is "Well, next time". I was extremely surprised that it came back down with the small amount of damage it had.

I gave myself a goal of getting my L1 attempt in by next summer, goal hit. L2...

 

[86mustang408w]

Continuation of pictures, my hand made chute protector works well...

 

[loopy]

It happens, but it always sucks when it does. You have the perfect attitude for this! Great build to handle that failure as well as it did! Looks simple enough to fix - cut off just below the zipper, and go again, I'd say, unless I missed more damage somewhere. In any case, good luck!

 

[86mustang408w]

It happens, but it always sucks when it does. You have the perfect attitude for this! Great build to handle that failure as well as it did! Looks simple enough to fix - cut off just below the zipper, and go again, I'd say, unless I missed more damage somewhere. In any case, good luck!

Oh I was pretty confident in the build, even when they said separation over the PA i kept my cool. Yeah I looked it all over its fine. I may try to fix it without cutting the tube after looking at it. It was definitely a fun experience, this whole year has been great rocket wise. I haven't launched at all in over 10 years, never high power, and didn't have one rocket back in May. Now I'm sitting here reading L2 material, I was going to wait for the L2 and experiment with DD/L1 stuff. But I think having more motors available to do DD with L1/L2 stuff before L3 would be better.

So I'll probably attempt the L2 next Spring, thank you! I absolutely love these and this hobby.

 

[Rschub]

I had to cut an inch off my Minnie Magg after a traumatic landing, yours should be fine a little shorter.

 

[NTP2]

@86mustang408w a thread of your progress on a L2 would be cool.

 

[86mustang408w]

@86mustang408w a thread of your progress on a L2 would be cool.

I will definitely have one, and honestly its not a look at me type deal you guys probably get that. Its just to share knowledge, and I have referenced my posts too even 10 years later. But I'm hoping to have my L2 here soon, so a thread will follow, I've been looking for a while and have one picked out.

https://locprecision.com/products/magnum

 

[86mustang408w]

I had to cut an inch off my Minnie Magg after a traumatic landing, yours should be fine a little shorter.

Oh yeah, I wanted to try my best to fix it before I cut it. Its kind if a rare rocket so maybe I'll try that first. If that fails I'll cut it, and it looks like I could get away with taking about an inch off/fixing the rest. I'll post what I do.

 

[86mustang408w]

@86mustang408w a thread of your progress on a L2 would be cool.

I'm not sure if you saw it I do have a build thread for the L1 cert thats pretty in depth.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...ineering-integrator-with-r-w-upgrades.181869/

 

[kjhambrick]

@86mustang408w --

REALLY bad luck on your flight

Looking at this photo before you added primer:



There appear to be two sections of airframe.

Can you remove the upper section and replace it with a new one ?

I've done that to salvage several of my favorite rockets

In fact, all that remains of my original Vulcanite is maybe 12-inches of fin can

But it still flies great after more than 25-years and countless flights !

HTH

-- kjh

 

[David Schwantz]

Not that I have the LOC 5'5 magnum, but I have a lot of their stuff. Scratch build with LOC parts. They are always top quality and Jason is the best to deal with. You would not go wrong with any kit from them.

 

[86mustang408w]

@86mustang408w --

REALLY bad luck on your flight

Looking at this photo before you added primer:

View attachment 614593

There appear to be two sections of airframe.

Can you remove the upper section and replace it with a new one ?

I've done that to salvage several of my favorite rockets

In fact, all that remains of my original Vulcanite is maybe 12-inches of fin can

But it still flies great after more than 25-years and countless flights !

HTH

-- kjh

Hey, thats still sitting in the corner! Thats some scratch but parts I got from Rocketryworks and was going to use originally back in May or so...This one is part of my 10 year old collection I went and got back in May. That picture of the Alpha III and "Alpha H", as I called it was to just show what I was going to use. I haven't been into rocketry or launched in over 10 years, so back in June went to my house im supposed to be back in by now, and got into storage.

All my older stuff I bought in 2012/2013 when I got hurt at UPS then starting a new collection, and started flying again. was there. So we loaded up the whole van and I brought it over here to Milton.
I got discouraged back in 2013 and quit bc I couldn't find any close clubs or good information even on here. Its weird you can see my post history and those posts going back to 2014, then pretty much a gap until this May. I looked tonsee if I asked the right questions and did. I just didn't seem to put it all together. And one thing was a close club which still doesn't fly!! Never got back to me, and was having trouble finding a place to go launch these. So I thought if I can't launch why keep building. Some other things piled up and I just stopped building and flying all together. Last time I flew was on a rainy day back in late 2014, I remember I flew my Big Daddy, Big Bertha, and Super Big Bertha I still have all of them. But the nosecone issues, failed flight with the SBB, the interlock controller not working, and many other string just put an end to it. That the last time I launched with my niece ot crazy we did constantly we I babysat her.

I went and got that Alpha III kit back in May from Hobby Lobby and built it at the house and town im I'm temporarily, Milton, PA. But live in Bloomsburg(you can see my YouTube videos from "Streaters Farm" in Bloomsburg. I've launched there since the 90s and is about a half mile away from the Bloomsburg High School where I took my first rocketry class back in 1990!..). I was born there in 1983. But then posted on here that I wanted to use that "Alpha H" for my L1 on another thread too, but thats not the one I used. After advice it would be too light for a cert flight. And I went and joined a club, flew many times, then drove to URRG in NY September 9th just to watch. Came back and started putting this M.E.I. together around the beginning of October after seeing a few guys cert even Jr members.

Here they are side by side, lol...

I'm going to get back to that one really soon. It was just out on side track until, well about 3 or 4 more weeks from now, lol. But the top section I wanted like this to add a tracker, altimeter, or whatever. I may end up making this DD so it could be even longer. I was thinking about that last night honestly. I do have a build thread on it, I couldn't imagine how this may have ended up if I had used it. That ejection would have gone off regardless, and this can fly on D12-3s. It probably would have been a separation. I did listen to you guys about joining a club, flying, finding mentors, and picking a good L1 rocket, lol..So thank you all!

 

[86mustang408w]

Not that I have the LOC 5'5 magnum, but I have a lot of their stuff. Scratch build with LOC parts. They are always top quality and Jason is the best to deal with. You would not go wrong with any kit from them.

Yeah they are great kits! Many friends have them, and I've always wanted one. I've ordered a few parts and things from them but no kits. Honeslty back in 2013 I wanted to get some nicer ones(kits) but stopped this all together. I haven't launched in 10 years but still love the LOC Stuff. I've been dying to get a Mini Magg or Warlock. But im gonna shift my funds to this one. Its gonna be my first DD rocket(I won't use DD for the cert though), so it would be nice to get one that has that setup and I'll go from there. I love to scratch build, and have been getting tips and advice for DD.

 

[loopy]

Yeah they are great kits! Many friends have them, and I've always wanted one. I've ordered a few parts and things from them but no kits. Honeslty back in 2013 I wanted to get some nicer ones(kits) but stopped this all together. I haven't launched in 10 years but still love the LOC Stuff. I've been dying to get a Mini Magg or Warlock. But im gonna shift my funds to this one. Its gonna be my first DD rocket(I won't use DD for the cert though), so it would be nice to get one that has that setup and I'll go from there. I love to scratch build, and have been getting tips and advice for DD.

LOC is great for scratch builds! My first HPR scratch build was a 3x upscale of the first rocket I ever built back in the '80s - the Estes Sizzler. Great parts at great prices!

 

[86mustang408w]

LOC is great for scratch builds! My first HPR scratch build was a 3x upscale of the first rocket I ever built back in the '80s - the Estes Sizzler. Great parts at great prices!View attachment 615450

Thats Beautiful! I think the Magnum coming with the DD option would give me a better idea of how to build a DD setup, but last night was already making an Av Bay and looking at couplers, I have one thats 6" long, and 4" dia. That might be a little short than what I want, but I have the wood for the sled, and 1/4"-20 all thread. I'm looking at the Missleworks RRC2 and 3, and need wire, ematches, gonna make pvc blast caps/cup or canister(some call them either), a 9v or LiPo battery, etc...

Rather than ask dumb questions and assume I read more of my book last night, watched some videos, and looked at a few of the many Av bays I've been looking at for months.

 

[David Schwantz]

Only dumb question is the one you did not ask!

 

[NTP2]

Only dumb question is the one you did not ask!

+100

 

[86mustang408w]

Only dumb question is the one you did not ask!

True! I meant more along the line of listening to someone say that DD is a requirement for L2. Then I was under that assumption, then someone else said no its not it is for L3. Then actually reading the rules and getting corrected from other because what I was thinking and said for some certain things were off.

So rather just keep asking questions about rules that really don't exist. I read a little for a few hours and going to be reading a lot more today. So my questions are a little more understandable and give me usable feedback over ones that just lead to nothing. I want to learn as much as I can, so I can go as far as I can within means. I'm definitely looking at level 3 now and said I wouldn't go past* one.

 

[loopy]

Thats Beautiful! I think the Magnum coming with the DD option would give me a better idea of how to build a DD setup, but last night was already making an Av Bay and looking at couplers, I have one thats 6" long, and 4" dia. That might be a little short than what I want, but I have the wood for the sled, and 1/4"-20 all thread. I'm looking at the Missleworks RRC2 and 3, and need wire, ematches, gonna make pvc blast caps/cup or canister(some call them either), a 9v or LiPo battery, etc...

Rather than ask dumb questions and assume I read more of my book last night, watched some videos, and looked at a few of the many Av bays I've been looking at for months.

You're on the right track. I really like the LOC alt bays they sell, and you can build them to be used in multiple rockets of the same diameter.

 

[86mustang408w]

You're on the right track. I really like the LOC alt bays they sell, and you can build them to be used in multiple rockets of the same diameter.

I'm definitely planning on using one bay for a few of them if I can, I'm still planning it out. I feel like I'm getting a better understanding but still need to learn much, much more. I have all winter, I'm not in a hurry to rush anything. I told myself this was going to be fun, and it has been like this.

I felt like I had 10 plus years I missed out on, and was trying to catch up. But said in June when I realized 20 hour days working on these wasnt fun, I took a little breather for a week or two. I could see I was making it too complicated and was rushing builds. But took that time instead of just building and flying to watch and learn after a few days of doing nothing rocket related. Its funny how it all worked out up until now, 10 years ago I stopped because I just didn't have the help or direction I needed. Which is really dumb because certain clubs were there, I just didn't look for them.

 

[loopy]

Tha

I'm definitely planning on using one bay for a few of them if I can, I'm still planning it out. I feel like I'm getting a better understanding but still need to learn much, much more. I have all winter, I'm not in a hurry to rush anything. I told myself this was going to be fun, and it has been like this.

I felt like I had 10 plus years I missed out on, and was trying to catch up. But said in June when I realized 20 hour days working on these wasnt fun, I took a little breather for a week or two. I could see I was making it too complicated and was rushing builds. But took that time instead of just building and flying to watch and learn after a few days of doing nothing rocket related. Its funny how it all worked out up until now, 10 years ago I stopped because I just didn't have the help or direction I needed. Which is really dumb because certain clubs were there, I just didn't look for them.

that's the key - don't rush. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

 

[86mustang408w]

Tha

that's the key - don't rush. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

10-4! I'm really enjoying this again, I only stopped years ago due to many different circumstances that led me to stop completely. I never thought I'd get this far after attempting this all then. Which is why I'm so passionate and excited about this.

When your dreams are shot down with very little hope of that happening again, then its
happens 10 years later its beyond a wonderful thing. It feels surreal like its a dream, I haven't had this much fun ever with any other hobby.

 

[Art Upton]

True! I meant more along the line of listening to someone say that DD is a requirement for L2. Then I was under that assumption, then someone else said no its not it is for L3. Then actually reading the rules and getting corrected from other because what I was thinking and said for some certain things were off.

So rather just keep asking questions about rules that really don't exist. I read a little for a few hours and going to be reading a lot more today. So my questions are a little more understandable and give me usable feedback over ones that just lead to nothing. I want to learn as much as I can, so I can go as far as I can within means. I'm definitely looking at level 3 now and said I wouldn't go past* one.

I did Pop at the TOP deploy on my L2 [very large field]. Today I would do motor ejection L2 with a Chute release in a Loc I-Roc. [which is the rocket I did my L2 in ]

 

[Art Upton]

Later I added a Chute Cannon [payload section] for holding Dual Deploy and Ebay to that I-Roc.

But today if you really get the chute release down, it is much more relaxed to fly then Dual Deploy and ematches and charges.

 

[Art Upton]

The NASA Student Launch Collage Kids are bringing Huge Rockets down on the Chute Releases.

 

[86mustang408w]

I did Pop at the TOP deploy on my L2. Today I would do motor ejection L2 with a Chute release in a Loc I-Roc. [which is the rocket I did my L2 in ]

Awesome. Thats honestly my plan, a small J with a motor ejection then ill use my chute release. I picked the LOC 5.5" Magnum 3E, with the single 75mm mount for the L2 attempt. I trust the chute release, and I'm comfortable enough to use that for the cert flight.

 

[86mustang408w]

The NASA Student Launch Collage Kids are bringing Huge Rockets down on the Chute Releases.

Yeah I've seen that! Those chute releases are very nice. I've never heard of them until this June...lol.

 

[Art Upton]

I used an Estes Majestic on 29mm E motors to test my two on, till I got it down right; which means watching John Bean's video on how to fold and pack the chute. I suffered a creased tube in it but covered it in duck tape for more testing till I got it right.

 

[86mustang408w]

Later I added a Chute Cannon [payload section] for holding Dual Deploy and Ebay to that I-Roc.

But today if you really get the chute release down, it is much more relaxed to fly then Dual Deploy and ematches and charges.

Yeah, I was thinking about DD for the L2 cert but would rather not. Even if you know what you're doing it can still go wrong. And that's a compilation I don't want forna cert flight. I'd assume climb a tree to get it down over it failing at Apogee and it not working. And the URRG field is great, even when they do land in a tree they easily get them out.

 

[86mustang408w]

I used an Estes Majestic on 29mm E motors to test my two on, till I got it down right; which means watching John Bean's video on how to fold and pack the chute. I suffered a creased tube in it but covered it in duck tape for more testing till I got it right.

I'm going to test DD and 29mm stuff for a while after the L2 cert flight. I've been watching and reading how to fold the chutes for months now, and trying that out. This hobby definitely requires attention to every detail. I love that.