Hello all. I've been lurking here for a bit trying to learn all I can, but this is my first post.
I'm currently building a 2.6" diameter rocket with leftover pieces from a previous semi-custom Executioner build. This particular rocket has Executioner fins, a 18" lower tube, a 14.25" stock Executioner upper tube and an ogive nose cone from Apogee.
The motor mount is 29mm attached to ttw fins and an extra centering ring at the tip of the fins for a little extra strength. It separates at the middle of the rocket and the two halves are joined with an ejection baffle.
In the upper tube I installed coupler with a bulkhead on both ends. The lower bulkhead has an eyelet for the parachute cord and the upper bulkhead serves as a platform for an internally-mounted, horizontally mounted camera. I felt two bulkheads would provide a bit more protection for the camera...I tend to overbuild.
The camera is a RunCam2 and just barely fits in the 2.6" tube. As a matter of fact, only the camera body fits...the lens had to protrude through the side of the rocket. It is still removable, however, and I mounted it as low as possible and still be able to shoe-horn it into place. I felt the lens protruding out the side would not be good for aerodynamics as well as the fact it made the lens vulnerable on landing. So, I used a camera hood from Apogee that was manufactured for an externally mounted camera, but I removed enough material that it just barely extends beyond the camera lens and protective ring and cut a round opening so that I could use it with a horizontally mounted camera.
Below are pics of where I am at:
The zip-tie around the camera is simply there to make it easier to pull the camera back out of the rocket.
Sorry to be so long winded, but this brings me to my questions:
1. Is there a best place to position the camera hood in relation to the fins? I assume that I would mount the lugs opposite the hood, but this is a 3-fin rocket. I would appreciate any advice regarding where to best position the hood & lugs in relation to the fins as well as one another.
2. I also want to install an altimeter in camera's payload bay. I've read to drill holes (usually 3) in the body of the rocket for an altimeter so that it can read external air pressure. If you look at the close-up of the camera hood you can see that there is an air-gap between the outside of the lens protector and the hood. Would this be adequate ventilation for the altimeter to read correctly? For what it's worth, I can mash the top of the rocket tight against my face around my lips with the camera in place and can comfortably breathe. I know that's not very scientific but I would think that is a fair amount of air. I'd rather not drill extra holes if not necessary.
If anyone has read this far, thanks for suffering through my post. Also, thanks in advance for any advice.
I'm currently building a 2.6" diameter rocket with leftover pieces from a previous semi-custom Executioner build. This particular rocket has Executioner fins, a 18" lower tube, a 14.25" stock Executioner upper tube and an ogive nose cone from Apogee.
The motor mount is 29mm attached to ttw fins and an extra centering ring at the tip of the fins for a little extra strength. It separates at the middle of the rocket and the two halves are joined with an ejection baffle.
In the upper tube I installed coupler with a bulkhead on both ends. The lower bulkhead has an eyelet for the parachute cord and the upper bulkhead serves as a platform for an internally-mounted, horizontally mounted camera. I felt two bulkheads would provide a bit more protection for the camera...I tend to overbuild.
The camera is a RunCam2 and just barely fits in the 2.6" tube. As a matter of fact, only the camera body fits...the lens had to protrude through the side of the rocket. It is still removable, however, and I mounted it as low as possible and still be able to shoe-horn it into place. I felt the lens protruding out the side would not be good for aerodynamics as well as the fact it made the lens vulnerable on landing. So, I used a camera hood from Apogee that was manufactured for an externally mounted camera, but I removed enough material that it just barely extends beyond the camera lens and protective ring and cut a round opening so that I could use it with a horizontally mounted camera.
Below are pics of where I am at:
The zip-tie around the camera is simply there to make it easier to pull the camera back out of the rocket.
Sorry to be so long winded, but this brings me to my questions:
1. Is there a best place to position the camera hood in relation to the fins? I assume that I would mount the lugs opposite the hood, but this is a 3-fin rocket. I would appreciate any advice regarding where to best position the hood & lugs in relation to the fins as well as one another.
2. I also want to install an altimeter in camera's payload bay. I've read to drill holes (usually 3) in the body of the rocket for an altimeter so that it can read external air pressure. If you look at the close-up of the camera hood you can see that there is an air-gap between the outside of the lens protector and the hood. Would this be adequate ventilation for the altimeter to read correctly? For what it's worth, I can mash the top of the rocket tight against my face around my lips with the camera in place and can comfortably breathe. I know that's not very scientific but I would think that is a fair amount of air. I'd rather not drill extra holes if not necessary.
If anyone has read this far, thanks for suffering through my post. Also, thanks in advance for any advice.