Edmonds Deltie B

This Edmonds Deltie B was a pleasure to build. Rob Edmonds is a smart man to make a high performance boost glider so simple. I will fly it at the SEARS June 2nd launch. We are having a Deltie B duration contest.

Gizmo Build

I bought this Gizmo rocket From Wildman at the Winter Nationals. It is all fiberglass.


The good side.

Launch lugs are PML linear ones.

Slimline Retainer

Note I replaced the stock motor tube with a longer cardboard one because it was to short to add the Slimline on the bottom. Also I needed more length on the top for the 38/54 adapter that I already have.

The nosecone has a threaded rod with some washers and nuts on the end, anchored into epoxy at the tip. The threaded rod has a nut at the aft end to hold a bulkhead which has a u-bolt for the shockcord.

I have an idea to use Testors paints since The Gizmo is not that big. I'll make the nose chrome, the body Metal Flake Red and two fins Metal Flake Blue and one Metal Flake Green. You don't see that combo very often.

It weighs 4 lb 10 ounces with the adapter installed. Now I have started thinking about putting the strap on Helmet cam on this rocket.

Mighty Mo - The Movie

I just can't seem to stay away from the computer. Here is a new movie I made with my copy of Ulead Video Editor.

Southern Thunder Launch Plan

The Southern Thunder 2007 Launch will be June 9 & 10 2007 in Manchester, TN. Here is my launch plan:


Mighty Mo on an AMW M1480 Red Rhino expected altitude 4400 feet.


Applewhite Stealth Beta on a K550. This will likely be the lowest K flight.


Bob's Big Boy on an F21-4. The kids love it.


Tubular Crayon on an H242. I'll likely have the only Tubular Crayon.


Giant Leap Firestorm 54. Either a J350 or a J570. I usually chicken out on this one. The J350 will exceed a mile. The J570 will exceed 8K and approach mach.

My Dad will attend with me so he will get to see the Mighty Mo on an M motor.

Mighty Mo On-board Video

I would like to have an on-board video of a Mighty Mo launch. I believe I can strap this Oregon Scientific ATC 2000 camera around the airframe just above the fins. I have one on order.

The AstroVision is coming

As listed on ehobbies The $55 price is not too bad. The specs are better than the Oracle. I think on-board video rockets spark a lot of interest in rocketry. It from Estes and it is due out in August.



Get ready to take fantastic movies or photos from over 300 feet with the AstroVision Ready-to-Fly camera rocket. Select Movie Mode and take a 12 second digital movie while the rocket is in flight. Switch to Photo Mode and take a digital photo of your neighborhood. The AstroVision rocket and camera nose cone are factory assembled so you can be out launching and shooting movies or photos just minutes after setting up the launch pad. The AstroVision RTF Launch Set comes complete with camera rocket, launch system, camera software, USB cable and camera batteries (including a spare set). Requires one AAA alkaline battery (not included). Resolution: 640 x 480 Pixels (CIF). Minimum System Requirements: Microsoft WIN98/2000/NT/ME/XP, 125 MB Hard Disk Storage, 32 MB RAM, USB Interface, and CD-ROM Drive. Also requires Estes model rocket engines, Estes igniters and plugs, and Estes recovery wadding.

Steve Jurvetson has many excellent rocketry photos including this Q motor launch.

New kits from Quest

I discovered these on ehobbies today. They will be out this summer.




Flutter recovery.







Spin recovery. Like the Gyroc

YouTube and Rockets

The two go together nicely. I set up a YouTube Group called The Rocket Stage. It has collected a lot of Rocketry Videos. This is the most recent



Some of my SEARS Chat buddies and I have YouTube videos. You can play them below:

Greg

CHAD Staged Snitch Experiment

At the May 5th SEARS launch I decided to try different combinations of motors to CHAD stage an Estes Snitch. CHAD means Cheap and Dirty. To CHAD stage you put the open end of a booster motor directly against the nozzle end of another motor and tape the two together with transparent tape. When the booster motor comes to the end of its burn it will ignite the next motor. Note a booster motor has a delay of zero, like C6-0.

The first combination I tried was a C6-0 to a C6-3. The C6-3 is on top and it is the last motor to burn. To do this, I needed to leave the motor retainer off. So I friction fit the C6-3 into the motor tube by wrapping masking tape around the motor.





The next picture shows the C6-0 to C6-3 boosting. The C6-0 is burning.
















































The next picture shows the C6-3 burning after the C6-0 has dropped off. The benefit of the CHAD stage is a longer burn time and extra altitude.


















































I tried a C6-0 to C6-0 to C6-3 and unfortunately the Snitch turned horizontal for the second C6-0 and turned toward the ground on the C6-3. See video here. If Snitch turns horizontal or turns over you won't be any extra altitude. I then tried a D12-0 to C6-3. The Snitch turned over after the D12-0 and powered to the ground on the c6-3.

The bottom line is the C6-0 to C6-3 is a great combination giving the highest altitude and the others ended up turning before the boost was done. No Snitches were harmed in this experiment.

Very Funny!

Scratch Saturn Rocket

Very cute, See post from brainc on TRF