Today was a momentous day - I finally got around to putting primer on the Estes Skylance.
Skylance in primer (Click to enlarge).
Doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is. After having several unfinished rockets lying around for months (years), I made a vow that I would attempt no new builds of significance until I cleared the backlog - and the Skylance is the last of that lot. I'm pretty good at finishing off rockets once they hit primer, as the bulk of the sanding is behind me at that point. Where I suck is the procrastination between the construction and the start of finishing - that twilight zone is where the rockets can remain trapped for many moons.
However, the Skylance has left the workbench and is now well on its way to the final decor of white with gold fins and nose cone. I even worked on the decal, grabbing the name from the plan sheet. All is good - I can hear the Astron Delta parts calling me from their bag, ready to be assembled into a 2 stage masterpiece for lofting my old Estes Camroc.
Skylance decal (Click to enlarge).
Except the Delta may have to wait a little bit longer, because I have been distracted by the evil Bill Eichelberger. An expert at creating clones and facsimiles of old rockets, it was he who asked for information concerning the old Centuri Sabre on Ye Old Rocket Forum. It was he who instigated the posting of the plans, parts list and decals for that kit. And it was he who uploaded pictures of the Sabre on the pad, ready to fly, in a recent Facebook post. And so I succumbed to the lure of the Sabre, putting the Delta off to another date.
Sabre face card (Click to enlarge).
It's an easy build - plastic PNC-20N nose cone, 9.75 inch body tube, forward raked fins, etc., etc. I'm not a big fan of forward raked fins - they just don't seem natural - but this model has an appeal. And the best thing is that I can start the build this weekend without suffering pangs of guilt over unfinished birds. The Delta is just a pile of parts in a bag - it can wait.
In my post about this month's HARA launch, I talked about the NRC B eggloft altitude flights that Doug and I made. As well as providing great help and the use of his launch gear, Brian was also the score keeper and contest manager. He submitted our scores up to the NAR contest folk, and they appeared on the scoreboard a couple of days ago. We are not yet ranked, as the NAR contest director has not certified the flights, but as it stands now Doug is #8 and I am 5 points behind, at #9. This is out of 11, so it's not a colossal achievement. However, I am reasonably excited to make my first "official" return to contest rocketry since NARAM 30 (1988).
NRC National Scoreboard for B eggloft altitude as of 2022 February 19. (Click to enlarge).
The scores in NRC altitude events are computed rather simply - one corrects the altitude reading for the temperature and the score is the corrected altitude in meters. The FlightSketch Comp altimeter gave a peak altitude of 263.4 feet (80.28 meters) but the temperature was 51.2 degrees Fahrenheit, about 8 degrees colder than the 59 degrees used by the altimeter algorithms. This means the reading was on the high side, and when we correct for temperature we get 79.1 meters. So my score is 79.
I'm eager to try to better this score, but I made a major faux pas in painting the Eggstravaganza - adds weight, and I want as light as I can get. So I'm sketching out my own design, built around the lighter Apogee vacuform styrene egg capsule and a BT-20 body tube. Only problem is the altimeter placement; there's no room to put it in the egg capsule. It looks like I'm going to have to create some sort of pouch to protect the altimeter from ejection gases. This pouch will be attached to the shock cord up at the parachute connection and I'll punch a couple of small vent holes near the top of the body tube. I figure I can get a significant weight reduction and more altitude with this approach.
HARA held its monthly launch this past Saturday. The day started off well, sunny and reasonably warm for mid-February, but the wind picked up dramatically in the afternoon. By the time of range closure at 3 PM, it averaged 14 miles per hour, with gusts up 18 - so severe that we had to take down the RSO/LCO canopy to prevent it from being damaged. Despite the wind, 46 flights were made, some of which were pretty spectacular. John Kraieski's upscale Mars Lander returned, wowing everyone with a dazzling performance on a L motor. Chuck flew a couple of his Dynasoar rocket gliders - the U.S.S. Orion and a delta-shaped "Man in High Castle" bird. There were also the usual certification attempts, and Brian brought out his tower and gear for a few NRC flights.
Brian's scratch NRC egglofter (Click to enlarge).
Vince's reassembled Outlander heads skyward on a Q-jet (Click to enlarge).
I packed 4 rockets - 3 of which were virgins, ready for their maiden voyages. Turns out only those 3 would fly, but more on that later. Let's start with my first flight of the day, that of the Estes Olympus.
Estes Olympus (Click to enlarge).
My Olympus lifts off on a D12-5 (Click to enlarge).
The Olympus is one of those "Hobby Lobby exclusive" kits Estes produced a while back - I picked mine up with a 40% coupon, finding its Greek mythology decor very much to my liking. Powered by 24 mm motors, it is about 1.8" in diameter and features a large payload section, big enough to easily handle an egg or a PocketLab sensor. I built mine many months ago, and it has patiently sat on a shelf, its bronze and white paint scheme trying to grab enough attention to be chosen for flight. Saturday was the day, and an Estes D12 motor kicked it off the pad into the blue sky above. The Jolly Logic Altimeter 3 riding in the payload section reported a peak altitude of 635 feet, followed by gentle landing in the field 40 seconds later. I was a bit surprised at the altitude - it's kinda heavy, and so I expected something around 400 feet or so.
Altimeter 3 altitude profile for the Olympus (Click to enlarge).
Next up was the Mini-X, a two stage rocket built according to Estes Industries Rocket Plan #20. Dating from 1964, the Mini-X uses the old school method of staging, in which the booster and sustainer motors are held together by a wrap of scotch tape. While not as elegant as Passport or "Plug N' Play" staging, the tape joint will hold long enough for hot particles from the booster motor to ignite the upper stage - I have found this technique to be quite reliable over the years. I prepped the Mini-X with an A8-0/A8-5 motor combination, figuring a) the booster stage would fall close to the pad making it easy to find/recover, b) it would not fly high enough to drift very far and c) it would grab enough altitude to provide decent data to the FlightSketch Mini altimeter riding in the payload section.
Mini-X on the pad (Click to enlarge).
The Mini-X clears the rod (Click to enlarge).
I was right on 2 out of 3 - The booster did indeed fall close to the pad and the sustainer of the Mini-X soared to 470 feet, making for a good data take. However, the wind had begun to pick up and the rocket drifted downwind... drifted some more... and more... until finally landing near the eastern edge of the field. Duane generously recovered it for me, but it was quite a walk. Part of the problem was that the red mylar parachute was a bit too large, bringing the rocket down at a very slow 7 feet per second. It should have descended at twice that speed. I made a note to use a smaller parachute next time. The distance the Mini-X drifted caused me to can the flight of my 2-stage Estes Savage, which was set to go on a D12-0/C6-5 combo. Given the wind, that thing would have ended up crossing the Atlantic!
Yeah, I know - I'm a wimp. At least I still have the rocket. It'll fly on a calmer day.
My last flight was that of the ASP Rocketry Eggstravaganza 18. Loaded with an egg, a FlightSketch Comp altimeter and a Quest Q-jet B6-4W, it was my first official NRC flight. Even though the Eggstravaganza was a competition kit, I had committed a major faux pas in its construction - I painted the fins and lower body yellow. Paint is a no-no in competition - it adds lots of weight and yields very little benefit (other than increased visibility). Because of this - and my checkered past in competition egg lofting - I was hoping not to embarrass myself and to turn in a qualified flight. I felt more than the usual amount of pressure because Doug was also making his first NRC launch, using the same kit and motor.
Brian helps load my rocket on the piston (Click to enlarge).
The Eggstravaganza leaves the piston (Click to enlarge).
Brian helped me load the model atop the piston attached to his spiffy tower. We stepped back, and after a quick 5 count, Brian launched the model. The piston kicked it up into the air nicely, but I was disappointed to see the model arc into the wind - a loss in altitude. Ejection seemed to occur a little late and the parachute only partially deployed. Brian ruled it a safe landing, but I was sweating as I opened the egg capsule - scrambled eggs are quite common when I egg loft; I should probably bring a camp stove and skillet. Fortunately the egg was undamaged and I had my first qualified NRC flight, a B Eggloft to 263 feet (not corrected for temperature). I am waiting for it to appear on the National Scoreboard - I wonder if I will rank with the kiddos (A division). We shall see. But I can tell you this much - Doug beat my altitude by 16 feet. Pretty good for his first contest flight ever!
And so Saturday's HARA launch saw my return to NAR competition. A unremarkable return, but a return nonetheless. It felt kinda good.
Girl scouts watch as the rocket they prepped heads skyward (Click to enlarge).
The John Paul II TARC teams had scheduled a TARC practice for this past Sunday, which provided a perfect excuse for some of us to drag out rockets eager to be flown. We assembled at Pegasus around high noon - me, Duane, Brian, Doug and family, Vinny and Jeannie (Duane's neighbors), the two JPII teams and one of the Girl Scout TARC teams. After setting up the range, Duane shifted into TARC mentor mode, spending most of the launch showing the girl scouts how to prep and fly mid-power rockets and heckling the JPII TARCers with unsolicited commentary and advice, some of which was actually useful <smile>. He must have anticipated being very busy, as he only brought one rocket - an Estes Mammoth.
The most interesting launches of the day were made by Brian, who brought a few of his FAI competition models, pistons, and a superb homemade tower. He made a couple of S9 helicopter duration flights - the first stayed aloft for a respectable 105 or so seconds before disappearing behind the Blue Origin building, while the second maxed out at 300 seconds (yay!). Unfortunately, both drifted way, way out of the field to the west and Brian was able to find/recover only one. He seemed unperturbed by the loss and went on to fly a S6 streamer duration bird, which stayed on the field - 40 mm diameter models don't drift very far on sub-A impulse.
Always cool to see pistons in action. I was timing the flights, so I don't have any pics to post - maybe next time.
Doug's V-2 gets going (Click to enlarge).
His Geezer TARC rocket starts its wacky flight (Click to enlarge)
Doug made several flights, starting with his red Estes V-2. The thing I like about him is that he is fearless - he has absolutely no problem cramming a C motor into a light rocket and letting her rip. My Geezer self doesn't do that anymore; I'm too old for chases and too fearful of the rockets drifting away. Anyway, the V-2 put in a flawless flight, which is more than I can say for the next bird to launch - Doug's Pringles can Geezer TARC rocket. Loaded with a single egg and an Estes E16, it lumbered off the pad and immediately went unstable, tracing a nice spiral in the sky. Surprisingly, the egg survived smack down with the ground - pretty good packing on Doug's part!
Another of Doug's rockets on a Quest Q-jet (Click to enlarge).
The Neon Tiger rises on a C6-3 (Click to enlarge).
The TARC rocket was followed by a four finned rocket I did not recognize, but it shot off the pad like a bullet, getting way up there before popping its parachute. An Estes Neon Tiger was next - the C6-3 carried it to a respectable altitude, whereupon the cylindrical glider detached for a nice circular glide in. I was jealous - my model's glider flies a straight path, making for long recovery walks (usually done by Duane).
The last image of Doug's Wizard before it became parts (Click to enlarge).
Doug's final flight of the day was a classic example of what happens when you pair a rocketeer who likes using the most powerful recommended motor with a contest rocketeer. Doug had brought along an unpainted Estes Wizard with misaligned fins and in not-so-good shape overall. Common sense would have it powered by a low impulse A motor - if it was to fly at all - but nooooooo... The two of them decided that cramming a composite Quest Q-jet C18W into the back end was a good idea, sure to achieve a spectacular altitude - if it held together. Which it did not; the model rekitted itself soon after leaving the pad, parts raining down on the field.
Alas, poor Wizard - its life was so short. And to think that its demise was celebrated by much laughter on the part of those on the field... A truly horrible ending.
Duane loads Jeannie's Ghost Chaser on the pad (Click to enlarge).
The last flight of the day was made by Jeannie's Estes Ghost Chaser on a Quest B6-4 - its first. Unfortunately I did not get a launch picture, as we were starting to break down the range and I was busy packing my stuff. The flight went well, with the parachute fully deployed for a gentle landing in the field. It should be noted that Duane still had not flown his Mammoth - indeed, it didn't fly on Sunday. I think Brian's helicopter birds sailing away on the breeze kinda spooked him a bit. I certainly can't blame him, as the Mammoth gets some decent altitude on Aerotech F motors.
And now for my flights...
The Star Traveler (Daffy Duck) lifts off on a C6-3 (Click to enlarge).
The first (and the first flight of the day) was that of my MPC Star Traveler, featuring Daffy Duck. Being somewhat heavy, the only recommended motor is the C6-3, which gets it to about 300 feet or so. My flight was fairly conventional and hohum - the parachute deployed near apogee and it touched down softly on the field. Boring, but it needed to fly. No shelf queens in my fleet.
Skyblazer II heads skyward (Click to enlarge).
And coming down under parachute (Click to enlarge).
My second and last flight was that of the Mad Science Skyblazer II rocket. An off-brand kit, it has plastic fins, couplers and nose cone; the latter is two piece, enabling one to put a small altimeter inside. This I did, loading a Flightsketch Mini, plus I strapped an Estes Astrocam to the side. I too was kinda spooked by the wind (too much electronics to lose), so I chose a B6-4 for the motor - turns out a C6-5 would have been a better choice as far as altitude, but I was playing it safe. Everything went well - the rocket struggled to 218 feet and was down in just under 45 seconds. I got good video and altimeter data, which I merged using RaceRender later that evening.
Frame from the Skyblazer II Astrocam video showing shock cord and wadding (Click to enlarge).
