Swore I'd never do it but here we go...

[Toyguy]

Another Level 3 project heading to the start line

I couldn't pass up the 25% off sale at the end of 2009 on any of Wildman's kits, so I went for the big one - the new and improved Ultimate Wildman. The kit arrived about 3 weeks ago, drop-shipped from the supplier. The kevlar strap and 98mm Aeropack retainer came in last week. Here's a couple pics I snapped of the components as delivered.

As you can see, the fins are nicely beveled out of the box, and the airframe is pre-slotted. I will likely cut the slots aft so I can build the fin can outside the airframe then just slide it in.

I still need to acquire the recovery systems and one more altimeter. I am not planning on using the kevlar strap as my recovery attachment, preferring an eyebolt arrangement where the harness can be replaced if necessary. Tentative plans include a small drogue or streamer at apogee, simply for visibility sake, then a Skyangle Cert-3 XXL for the altitude deployment, recovering the nose cone separately on its own chute and using that chute to deploy the main from a bag. Altimeters will likely be an RRC2 Mini and a MARSA4.

Current motor plans call for taking advantage of the CTI Level 3 Cert special, ordering the case at regular price and getting an M2505 for free.

I haven't started any work yet as I need to select my second TAP and I'm waiting on the first one to return from some travelling. Soon, very soon!

 

[MarkII]

Wow, that is one serious-looking collection of fiberglass tubes! :jaw:

MarkII

 

[blackjack2564]

The Kevlar strap is not intended to be glued to the motor mount on this Wildman, but is supplied to be used as a Y harness attached to 2 eyebolts on the top Cr as in the conventional method.

You may also want to try injecting the internal fillets. Will save the integrity of the airframe and is more than strong enough.

We built the first Ultimate this way and it's still going strong after several years and several N flights.

Pantherjon will be getting his Ultimate in a few days and intends on doing a complex and thorough build using this method. It is also the one in which the lifetime warranty is covered. You can see how it's done by going to Wildmans site and clicking on the instructions for the 4in. extreme. The manual for the Ultimate will be coming very soon!

Just a thought. Good luck on your L-3 attempt!

 

[patelldp]

Jeez, how long is that coupler? You could fly a small arsenal of flight computers in there...

 

[Toyguy]

The Kevlar strap is not intended to be glued to the motor mount on this Wildman, but is supplied to be used as a Y harness attached to 2 eyebolts on the top Cr as in the conventional method.

You may also want to try injecting the internal fillets. Will save the integrity of the airframe and is more than strong enough.

We built the first Ultimate this way and it's still going strong after several years and several N flights.

Pantherjon will be getting his Ultimate in a few days and intends on doing a complex and thorough build using this method. It is also the one in which the lifetime warranty is covered. You can see how it's done by going to Wildmans site and clicking on the instructions for the 4in. extreme. The manual for the Ultimate will be coming very soon!

Yep, the Y method is exactly what I'm intending to use, although I'll be buying the harnesses pre-manufactured since I have no real means to sew them myself. I'll take a look at that injection method. I was intending to glass the fin roots, but given your experience so far, maybe I won't. I don't intend to overbuild much at all. I like to keep things light.

 

[dixontj93060]

I guess it proves again--never say never.

 

[Toyguy]

Jeez, how long is that coupler? You could fly a small arsenal of flight computers in there...

Yeah, it's a beast. 21" long, with a 6" switch band. I'm tentatively planning to fly some type of redundant data recording altimeter as well, since the RRC2 mini doesn't do that. I may also fly my SPOT tracker but I need to experiment a bit and see if it works inside the coupler. It needs to be able to communicate with its satellite in order to send back its location.

 

[fox_racing_guy]

If you would like a custom colored SkyAngle C3 XXL ( there is no additional charge ) get a hold of me at LOC/Precision. You can chose your colors here https://www.rocketsbymelissa.com/SkyAngle_Parachutes.html and I make them the same day I receive the order, I can do a matching drogue as well if you like.
If you like you could send me that Kevlar strap and I can sew some loops with Kevlar thread on it for you at no charge if you go with SkyAngle parachutes.

 

[Fozzie]

Quote
Current motor plans call for taking advantage of the CTI Level 3 Cert special, ordering the case at regular price and getting an M2505 for free.


Have not heard this where can I find more info about it?

 

[dixontj93060]

NOW THAT'S SERVICE!

If you would like a custom colored SkyAngle C3 XXL ( there is no additional charge ) get a hold of me at LOC/Precision. You can chose your colors here https://www.rocketsbymelissa.com/SkyAngle_Parachutes.html and I make them the same day I receive the order, I can do a matching drogue as well if you like.
If you like you could send me that Kevlar strap and I can sew some loops with Kevlar thread on it for you at no charge if you go with SkyAngle parachutes.

 

[FatBoy]

That rocket completely dwarfs the little Guardian in the background!

 

[Pantherjon]

That rocket completely dwarfs the little Guardian in the background!

And the Comanche-3 too!

ToyGuy:
VERY NICE! I should be getting mine by way of UPS or FedEx in the next few days! Nice to see the fins pre-beveled! Man, that thing is HUGE! Gah...Better start clearing out space in the 'workshop' for when it arrives!

 

[Toyguy]

Have not heard this where can I find more info about it?

I saw the notice about it on Ken Allen's website at Performance Hobbies. He's told me he'll be ordering them at the end of the month or thereabouts, so check out the web site and drop him an email.

 

[Toyguy]

If you would like a custom colored SkyAngle C3 XXL ( there is no additional charge ) get a hold of me at LOC/Precision. You can chose your colors here https://www.rocketsbymelissa.com/SkyAngle_Parachutes.html and I make them the same day I receive the order, I can do a matching drogue as well if you like.
If you like you could send me that Kevlar strap and I can sew some loops with Kevlar thread on it for you at no charge if you go with SkyAngle parachutes.

Outstanding! I'm working on some graphic schemes in Photoshop. Once I figure that out, I'll definitely be in touch. Thanks for the offer!

 

[Toyguy]

VERY NICE! I should be getting mine by way of UPS or FedEx in the next few days! Nice to see the fins pre-beveled! Man, that thing is HUGE! Gah...Better start clearing out space in the 'workshop' for when it arrives!

Hahaha, yeah, workspace is gonna be an issue, especially since my normal workshop area is unheated and mostly unusable during the winter. I can do the messy work out there though, such as sanding. Fortunately, the dining room is currently free for the rest of it

It will be very interesting to watch the 2 builds progress! Another club member is going to be building one also, but I don't know if he's planning a build thread. He has the slightly earlier model, I believe.

 

[Spurkey]

And the Comanche-3 too!

Are you sure that's a Comanche? I thought they looked all crumpled up with an unlit sustainer motor in the end...

That's a pretty serious kit (the Ultimate Wildman ), I can't wait to see how it comes together.

 

[Toyguy]

Necro Thread!

Well not really - I was delayed by a slight problem with the original kit. When it was delivered at the end of 2009, I noticed what I thought was just some discoloration in the coupler end of the booster airframe. Didn't think much of it, this being my first fiberglass rocket.

I was showing it to some friends, and noticed in February that some of the fiberglass had begun to delaminate. My friend commented that the discolored area appeared to be a layup defect and he wouldn't fly it. I contacted Tim and got the process going to get a replacement. That took longer than I would have liked, but it was resolved to my satisfaction, so building can start in earnest now. I'd been mostly holding off in case I needed to return the thing.

Anyway, I got the retainer mounted and the aft ring epoxied on tonight. I didn't like the looks of the threaded inserts Aeropack provided, and T-nuts were going to be a real pain because they were too big and would have to be ground down, so I just took the expedient route and put the screws in backwards.

Using Nyloc nuts, I am able to get the retainer off if it ever needs to be replaced. Once the motor mount is in, I'll inject some epoxy over the internal surface of the CR to lock the bolt heads in place. The only caveat to doing it this way is I'll need to be sure I install the mount so the bolt heads don't line up with the fin slots. I checked it in a dry-fit and it works fine.

I used the casing to make sure everything lined up properly and sized the screws so they just engage the Nylon lock ring but still allow the retainer cap to screw down all the way.

I'll need to watch the effect of the exhaust jet on the Nyloc nuts, but I've never had trouble with that before and it's probably at least as tough as the plywood ring. Last resort is simply replacing them with standard nuts and lock washers with a dab of Loc-Tite.

Tomorrow night I'll fit the fins temporarily so I can mark the location of the middle ring, then glue that and the forward ring in place.

Lotta work to do before NERRF - might just have to fly it au naturel!

 

[blackjack2564]

Glad to see you got started.

I didn't use the inserts on the Aero-Pac either. Too much meat taken out of the CR's for my liking.

I just screwed the allen bolts right into the wood CR. Guess I got a little lazy there,but it ain't come off yet .LOL

 

[troj]

VERY NICE! I should be getting mine by way of UPS or FedEx in the next few days! Nice to see the fins pre-beveled! Man, that thing is HUGE! Gah...Better start clearing out space in the 'workshop' for when it arrives!

Hey, Jon, I'll be a nice guy and make a sacrifice for you -- you can store it here, right next to mine.

-Kevin

 

[troj]

I didn't use the inserts on the Aero-Pac either. Too much meat taken out of the CR's for my liking.

I just screwed the allen bolts right into the wood CR. Guess I got a little lazy there,but it ain't come off yet .LOL

My 3rd CR is G10 instead of wood, so I'm not as worried about the screws pulling through.

The AeroPack should be here in a day or two, then I can get started on mine, too.

-Kevin

 

[GaryT]

Glad to see you got started.

I didn't use the inserts on the Aero-Pac either. Too much meat taken out of the CR's for my liking.

I just screwed the allen bolts right into the wood CR. Guess I got a little lazy there,but it ain't come off yet .LOL

Yeah I'm not a fan of those inserts either, I use SS wood screws epoxied in, Have never had a problem with 54-98mm flanged Aeropack retainers holding in anything from I's to N's.

Good Luck on the Build.

 

[Pantherjon]

Hey, Jon, I'll be a nice guy and make a sacrifice for you -- you can store it here, right next to mine.

-Kevin

What a keen idea Kevin! I will head down right after work tonight! Of course you won't mind me knocking on your door at 4am... :roll:

 

[troj]

What a keen idea Kevin! I will head down right after work tonight! Of course you won't mind me knocking on your door at 4am... :roll:

...as long as you leave the kit, we're good.

If you decide to linger, I have friends to deal with that.

-Kevin

 

[jsdemar]

...as long as you leave the kit, we're good.

If you decide to linger, I have friends to deal with that.

-Kevin

That rocket will have a better chance of getting an L3 if you DON'T leave it with Kevin. Statistically speaking, of course.

-John

 

[Toyguy]

A little more progress finally! Real life sure has a way of getting in the way

Got the middle CR on after measuring and marking carefully to make sure the fins fit snugly in between so they don't leak when doing the injected fillets later. Since I can do part of it on the upper side, I applied that fillet now.

Once that dried, I did a dry fit of the mount assembly to the booster airframe, and had to sand the rings down a bit to get a nice fit. Everything goes together well, so on to the forward ring once the rest of the recovery supplies come in.

 

[cjl]

That's a heck of a centering ring fillet (of course, I'm one to be talking, but still...)


Looks great so far.

 

[troj]

Lookin' good, and your fillet is much prettier than mine!

-Kevin

 

[Rocketman248]

Very nice. I'll be watching this thread closely. I should be starting my build next week or so. I'm going to talk to a few TAPs this weekend about my plans before I start anything.

 

[Toyguy]

That's a heck of a centering ring fillet (of course, I'm one to be talking, but still...)


Looks great so far.

Thanks! Yeah, I think I need a spoon with a slightly smaller radius

On the plus side, it ain't going anywhere!

 

[pmlkid]

lets see the E-bay mine looks like a birds nest