NTP2
Well-Known Member
What you want me to lose my savings? Or do you want to be stupid?Aw, shucks.
What you want me to lose my savings? Or do you want to be stupid?Aw, shucks.
My advice - as someone who would never, ever stoop to making a bad pun - is whatever you decide on, don't do it half-heartedly.That's good advice. I've had my heart set (no pun intended) on these fins, so I have to think about whether or not I'll take that good advice.
UPDATE: Regarding the Apogee Level-2, you ain't kiddin' with that "It's not cheap" statement! At $435 it's WAY more than I intend to spend on this. Everybody knows that Apogee's prices are somewhat high, and I buy from them sometimes anyway in return for Peak of Flight and other things that they do for free, but I'm not spending that much.
So, you're saying I shouldn't use the custom fins.[W]hatever you decide on, don't do it half-heartedly.
Thanks. Good luck with yours. The Iris should work for you. I'll keep an eye out at LDRS.Yes, too late. Thanks all the same. Nice rocket, and congratulation on the cert.
If you've got the experience with dual deploy, are confident in your construction techniques, and perhaps simply don't ascribe to the 'low and slow' mindset, why not go 'full send' for your L2? See https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...4-x-rated-phenolic.179157/page-2#post-2580584 for an example.You don't need fiberglass rockets or fins for an L2 cert if you chose your motor's power correctly*. Your L2 should be the start of your L2 journey, not the pinnacle of it.
*Don't be using a K1100 , or it's J little brother for example, and don't use fins you would need to fiberglass.
If you've got the experience with dual deploy, are confident in your construction techniques, and perhaps simply don't ascribe to the 'low and slow' mindset, why not go 'full send' for your L2? See https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...4-x-rated-phenolic.179157/page-2#post-2580584 for an example.
Indeed. I've chosen three motors, so I have options depending on availability, with low to mid J impulse, and middling average thrust for that impulse range but a decent initial thrust (that is, not progressive burn). I don't have the list here at work. I'll be siming the rocket with all three motors and will have the sim results with me.You don't need fiberglass rockets or fins for an L2 cert if you chose your motor's power correctly*. Your L2 should be the start of your L2 journey, not the pinnacle of it.
*Don't be using a K1100 , or it's J little brother for example, and don't use fins you would need to fiberglass.
Oh, hell no. I don't have dual deploy experience, so I won't be using it. I'm confident in by building techniques, up to a point; a point that's sufficient for this if I don't push the limits. And even if I were very experienced with dual deploy, and totally expert in all aspects of construction, I wouldn't go "full send" of a cert flight.If you've got the experience with dual deploy, are confident in your construction techniques, and perhaps simply don't ascribe to the 'low and slow' mindset, why not go 'full send' for your L2? See https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...4-x-rated-phenolic.179157/page-2#post-2580584 for an example.
i made this mistake with not ordering motors in time for a launch weekend. now i make arrangements in advance, and LDRS to have motors there.You want to certify at LDRS... which is in three and a half weeks... and you haven't even ordered a rocket.
Your gumption is impressive.
LOC Warlock with 54mm motor mount. You could probably even build it with wood glue and skip the epoxy, which should speed things up.
When I got my L1 many moons ago, I had a plan set in my head on what I wanted to do for my other two certs if they ever happened. Over the years, I learned that for certifications, it seems best to go the simplest route possible for the actual certification flight in order to help keep your stress levels down, then once you have the cert, you can have fun with the other stuff you want to do. Just my $0.02.That's good advice. I've had my heart set (no pun intended) on these fins, so I have to think about whether or not I'll take that good advice.
I'm also going to order a motor for on field pickup. Good luck with yours.i made this mistake with not ordering motors in time for a launch weekend. now i make arrangements in advance, and LDRS to have motors there.
i'll be going for my L2 at LDRS 42 with my 4" Nike Zeus which is ready to be finished (building completed), and i've been going through the test Q's.
r-
<snip>
The only reason I've been talking about fiberglass for this rocket is if I use my half-heart fins. They're 1/8 thick and surface mount, so I'd glass them and their fillets just to be on the safe side. The glass I added to this order is mainly for a different rocket, and ordering it now saves on shipping. (Plus I'd like to fly that one at NYPOWER, which is even sooner than LDRS, but that one is mostly built.) The plywood on this order is to make a special fly-away rail guide for Слава Україні, also in time for NYPOWER.
What stops you?Oh how I miss being able to drive the 6-1/2 hour trip to NyPower.
What stops you?
MARS (hosts of NYPOWER) is my home club. This year's LDRS is even closer to my abode.
I don't understand. When LOC does their design of a rocket, and picks the appropriate parachute size, wouldn't that be based on the maximum expected descent mass, including the empty case? And, one would assume that the empty case weight to be a quite small fraction of the whole anyway, would one not?I had thought about mentioning that just a few minutes ago. The added weight of the motor cases could be an issue on landing.
Good call on the Iris! Did my L2 on an Iris with a J350 and it was a great visible flight. Have flown it several times since on several I's a few J's and even a couple K's. It's a versatile rocket and capable of more than you would think being made from cardboard tubing.So, you're saying I shouldn't use the custom fins.
UPDATE: I just pulled the trigger on a LOC 4" IRIS, screw-on motor retainer (and some fiberglass cloth and plywood for different purposes) and two day shipping. I still haven't decided about the fins.
Thanks all for the help.
True, you always need to make sure the chute is appropriate for you over engineered bird.The chute is based on the finished kit weight. Build weight will vary depending on build techniques. Motor weight varies significantly, so a need for a larger chute is not uncommon.
It may also need a different size based on the landing terrain (soft field vs rocky field) and wind conditions. I upgraded my Mega Initiator to a 42" chute to guarantee a softer landing on the swept fins, not knowing what the field conditions were like at a new field.The chute is based on the finished kit weight. Build weight will vary depending on build techniques. Motor weight varies significantly, so a need for a larger chute is not uncommon.
The chute is based on the finished kit weight. Build weight will vary depending on build techniques. Motor weight varies significantly, so a need for a larger chute is not uncommon.
True, you always need to make sure the chute is appropriate for you over engineered bird.
The build will either be stock or nearly so, as I'm not glassing the tube, and glassing the custom fins is only to reinforce the underweight plywood, and the payload will be trivial, a JLCR and an Eggtimer GPS tracker. I won't be doing any overengineering, just building as directed except maybe those fins. The field is grass. I'm really not worried. If I'm wrong, well, I guess I'll find out and try again another day.It may also need a different size based on the landing terrain...
J500 is a fabulous 38mm motor, and what I used for my L2. Fabulous green flame on that thing.I loved my scratch 4-inch Iris @jqavins !
It was made from LOC cardboard tubes , a very light Ace nose cone and a 54 mm motor mount and weighed 3,400 grams dry.
I flew it a lot -- until I landed drogue-only on a rock pile at a 1990-something Turkey Shoot and snapped off the lower corner of a fin.
Blush
LOC says their Iris weighs 5.5 lbs which seems a little light but maybe that's just me and mine with an Av-Bay and TTW fins with the 12 filets I applied ?
As for nose weight -- mine didn't need any, even with 1/4 inch thru the wall fins flying RMS 54/1706 motors.
There are a few good J-Motors for your level 2 -- like maybe the AT DMS J435WS ... or ... if you have access to AT RMS 54/852 motor hardware, an AT J460T looks good too !
Either motor would have pushed my old Iris safely off the rail up to around 3,000 -to- 3,500 ft.
Or, if you make a 54-to-38 mm adapter, an AT RMS 38/720 J350W looks pretty good too for an easy flight to 2750 ft ot so.
YMWV
HTH and Good Luck Joe !
-- kjh
P.S. My trusty old Iris is up in my 'rocket loft' waiting for a new fin ... maybe someday ...
This is an old RASP-SUM listing from 1998 for a few motors I might fly in my old Iris:
EDIT: I could not keep my columns aligned, even with \<code\> tags and-or Courier new.
Here is a pic, instead:
View attachment 645423
Shucks, no colors here ...
Yes !J500 is a fabulous 38mm motor, and what I used for my L2. Fabulous green flame on that thing.
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