What did you do rocket wise today?

[OverTheTop]

Machined and turned a little brass piece to mount the Tx to the PCB disc, for the VTS.

It was held in place on the PCB using a titanium bike spoke I had handy. That was clamped to the bench to hold the part down, then soldered.



Here it is mounted. I still need to strap the grounds to the ground plane and add some decoupling caps for EMC mitigation. Being a 500mW Tx I don't want any of the RF worms getting into the other electronics.


Note the Tx has a 50ohm dummy load fitted. If I accidentally key up the Tx while I am mucking around with the assembly without an antenna, but having a dummy load, will not fry the final stage due to reflected power from not having a load.

Also wrote a script to disable the stabilise mode and switch to manual (fins centered) when a breakwire is broken. The breakwire is cut when the NC separates at apogee.

 

[RobertH3]

Flew with a scout troop here and did some demo MPR flights. Launched 2.6 Quark upscale on a G79W7 and G80T7. Quark displayed it's quantum tree dodging ability and landed in an old railroad yard in a thornbush and next to a park pavilion. 1750' and 2100' by Rocksim and 500mph on the G80. With 80+ kids there, no long recovery walks - they raced to recovery! Started out at 14 degrees so chilly morning.

 

[Mugs914]

I have the 18mm WAC by ASP with Tiny Tim booster. The one you show is it the 24 mm version by ASP? This is going to be a nice looking bird along with your other ones. The yellow version is nice.View attachment 447650View attachment 447650

Hey Arcon, good looking bird you have there yourself!

The one I'm working on is from Semroc. It's got an 18mm mount but it is a bit bigger than the ASP version Sustainer is just under 20" itself. (The Semroc version doesn't have the booster).

The old WAC is one of my favorites. I was never without the old Estes version when I was a kid. Got a four inch version all planned out too...

How did you like the ASP kit? I've been looking at several of their kits for a long time but haven't tried one yet.

 

[jqavins]

Started out at 14 degrees so chilly morning.

I'll say. When I read it that I thought you must ne in metricland where 14 is chilly. Isn't 14 called "cold" in Indiana.

View attachment 447708

Those fins look really big. Do you use tail weight to avoid weathercocking?

 

[RobertH3]

That's -14 and I am glad it hasn't happened this year! Makes farm life bad.

Not sure why the quark doesn't tip much in the wind but may be due to high sweep and the motor being close to unloaded Cg. Either way it's a nice sport flyer. The plywood laminated balsa fins and balsa nose cone are getting a little rough though. No room for a chute release.

Cheers / Robert

 

[arconhi]

Hey Arcon, good looking bird you have there yourself!

The one I'm working on is from Semroc. It's got an 18mm mount but it is a bit bigger than the ASP version Sustainer is just under 20" itself. (The Semroc version doesn't have the booster).

The old WAC is one of my favorites. I was never without the old Estes version when I was a kid. Got a four inch version all planned out too...

How did you like the ASP kit? I've been looking at several of their kits for a long time but haven't tried one yet.

Hi Mugs, thank you for the nice comment. You can make a Booster for the Saros if you like. That would make the build more challenging. When I was a kid,we also had the Estes WAC. A fun rocket to have and watch fly. I hope you post the 4 inch version. That will be nice to see. The Rocketarium Kits are fun to build and come packaged in their own box with a photo sticker of the rocket. I like how they have the Engine mount assembly and other assemblys packaged in small plastic bags. Nothing gets lost or mixed up and the instructions are well read. I also have the Skyflash model that is 24mm mount. That is waiting to be built. You should try one,they have some nice impressive birds from eRockets. I posted some of their kits for you.

 

[Long_Gone]

Flew with a scout troop here and did some demo MPR flights. Launched 2.6 Quark upscale on a G79W7 and G80T7. Quark displayed it's quantum tree dodging ability and landed in an old railroad yard in a thornbush and next to a park pavilion. 1750' and 2100' by Rocksim and 500mph on the G80. With 80+ kids there, no long recovery walks - they raced to recovery! Started out at 14 degrees so chilly morning. View attachment 447708View attachment 447709

Nice shots and the Blue Thunder flame looks amazing! Almost looks like the Dreaded Big Daddy! I have a Daddy and love the flights. Short and stubby rockets look cool.

LG~

 

[Old School Doug]

Ordered up a Flightsketch Mini and finished up on a couple of clone builds. Magnum D Hornet and Haymaker complete and ready for the pad.

 

[LakeWobegonMN]

Bought a $7 Husky tool box, so we have something to store the engines, igniters, plugs, and wadding in for our upcoming second ever launch with the kids.

 

[dhbarr]

Finally got around to putting pen to paper on my small sugar motor design.

 

[Nytrunner]

While watching Green Bay's rather depressing performance for the NFC title, I got some stuff done.

Moved the larger rockets back off the guest bed. Space is used pretty well now.

Put in some bamboo skewer reinforcement to the Starbiter and filled up the ebay.

Why am I doing all this nonsense to a Star Orbiter? Because a club friend and I are drag racing on I205s!

 

[boatgeek]

Why am I doing all this nonsense to a Star Orbiter? Because a club friend and I are drag racing on I205s!

View attachment 447797

What’s the sim altitude and speed on that?

 

[shawn_rocket]

Very cool kit. How much does it weigh built? I'm wondering if I should upgrade mine to a 24mm mount.

They fly great on a D16 with a cool whistle to it! It does need a touch of weight in the nose. Same with the Lil' Fusion.

 

[Nytrunner]

What’s the sim altitude and speed on that?

9.7 oz w/o the T3, so call it 11oz dry. In a BT-60

Thrustcurve is real optimisic calling it 7k' at 1275 ft/s
Openrocket is perhaps more realistic 5.5k', but 1400 ft/s

What it shall be, only time shall see!

 

[GrouchoDuke]

Got my 3D printer working again...time for more avbay printing!

 

[arconhi]

Got my 3D printer working again...time for more avbay printing!

Got my 3D printer working again...time for more avbay printing!

Can you make different types of rocket parts with 3D?

 

[RocketTree]

Sanded a previously painted 4" Goblin and started Sputnik 1 payload.

Does anybody else deploy model satellites as payload?

 

[jqavins]

Can you make different types of rocket parts with 3D?

Heck yeah. And no. You can make really complex shapes with great precision by 3D printing them. Things that one might make with card stock (if the strength sufficient) or by carving wood, or a vacuum forming rig (which means making forms by one method or another) or by other means. Those methods are harder; that kind of wood carving, for example, is a highly skilled and time consuming hobby all its own.

So are these parts impossible to make by other means? No. Yet they are as good as impossible for a lot of us who are interested in building rockets and not very interested in mastering other crafts to do it.

Here's a different take: one might say the same about many model building skills. If one wants a body tube of a non-standard diameter then one must roll it oneself. Each of us must make his/her own decision about where rocket making ends and some other craft begins. The CAD work that comes before hitting the "Print" button is a also a new skill to be learned. 3D printing is a very powerful tool. Still just one of many, yet such a powerful one that it opens doors that are otherwise closed for many (most?) of us.

I could glue two body tubes side by side, but there's no way other than 3D printing for me to make this nose cone.

 

[GrouchoDuke]

Can you make different types of rocket parts with 3D?

As far as rocket parts go. I make mostly fin guides and avbays. Works great!

 

[boatgeek]

9.7 oz w/o the T3, so call it 11oz dry. In a BT-60

Thrustcurve is real optimisic calling it 7k' at 1275 ft/s
Openrocket is perhaps more realistic 5.5k', but 1400 ft/s

What it shall be, only time shall see!

What's the betting in finding the speed of balsa? You might have mentioned fin reinforcement, but it's slipped my memory if you have.

 

[Nytrunner]

What's the betting in finding the speed of balsa? You might have mentioned fin reinforcement, but it's slipped my memory if you have.

A certainty! The stock fins are marginal on a G80 (seems to be assembly technique dependant, some work, others shred)

I laminated 1/32 Basswood on each side with TBII pressed flat between textbooks. Super stiff and light!
Same thing I did to my 3" BMS School('d) rocket fins for flying on Pro24 6 grain motors

 

[neil_w]

Why am I doing all this nonsense to a Star Orbiter? Because a club friend and I are drag racing on I205s!

When is this scheduled to take place? Sounds like a lot of fun, and should be some good video.

 

[Nytrunner]

When is this scheduled to take place? Sounds like a lot of fun, and should be some good video.

When we're both ready which thanks to the rain could be our February launch. (14th?)

I'm doing electronics and tracker with the basswood laminate, he's going barebones and just using a streamer with light glassed fins.

Video? Probably just a blink-and-miss 'Pzhoot!' and then blue sky

 

[DanDrehmer]

Getting ready to use my new toy.
Entry level airbrush.
I’ve watched several videos and I’m hoping for the best.

 

[Funkworks]

Finished shaping the nose cone to fit and took this first picture of the complete Smurf rocket as such. Remains to be done: aesthetics and recovery system.

 

[H. Craig Miller]

Got really lucky with USPS...

No internal damage.

 

[arconhi]

Got really lucky with USPS...

View attachment 447935​

No internal damage.

Box did get banged up , atleast the Max survived. I ordered some F motors via internet on December 4 from Hobbylinc in Georgia . I live in Virginia and it took 30 days to get them and the box they came in didn't have a single scrstch or dent in it.

 

[tsmith1315]

I laminated 1/32 Basswood on each side with TBII pressed flat between textbooks. Super stiff and light!

I've thought about laminating fin materials in order to create a constrained damping layer. I wonder if that PVA would have any effect in damping flutter.

 

[Long_Gone]

Can you make different types of rocket parts with 3D?

I like to make centering rings, nosecones, engine blocks and couplers.

LG~

 

[jqavins]

I've thought about laminating fin materials in order to create a constrained damping layer. I wonder if that PVA would have any effect in damping flutter.

What an interesting idea. Never mind PVA, what about laminating, off the top of my head, 1/16 plywood over 1/16 hard rubber? Or, when more strength is needed (i.e. and higher speed) 1/16 plywood in the center, 1/16 rubber sandwiching that, and then FG or CF on the outside? And while rubber is quite lossy, there are certainly better damping materials, and maybe one could get ahold of some. (There's a material called SMRD [pronounced "smerd"] that was invented by GE for damping of acoustic frequency vibrations in spacecraft structures; I don't know 1) if it's effective at lower frequencies [which I bet it is] or 2) if it's available to the public [which I bet it isn't].)