Been trying to post this question for a week now, but I keep get side track down the rocketry forum rabbit (or is that rabid?) hole of other threads recently purchased a LOC 4" Phoenix. I plan on building it for a L1 cert attempt at LDRS 42. At least that is the current plan. This is my first step into a rocket of this diameter and with a payload bay to boot.
My version of the phoenix has three sections. Nose cone, payload bay and fin body tube. I understand that previous versions were 2 sections: Nose cone and one body tube (no payload bay). I also understand that this rocket will require some nose weight depending on the engine installed to shift the center of gravity forward more. I was thinking of acquiring the RNWS from LOC that came with the previous model but not with this one. It is my understanding that this is installed in the nose cone and take up that space. I have also been reading other posts in here about installing cross pieces / screws / expanding foam as positive retention methods for the nose weight. As a result I feel well informed what I can do with that area of the rocket.
In the instructions they completely skip over the connection of the nose cone to the rest of the rocket. I am assuming this is because there are multiple options from friction fit, shear pins, screws, printed parts to plain old gluing it in place. Depending on what you plan to do with your payload bay will rule out some options. Obviously a glued connection permanently seals off the payload permanently and basically turns the Phoenix into a two section rocket with an elongated nose cone.
When I did my dry fit the other night, I noticed that the couple tube butts up with the forward fin root where it barely protrudes through the wall. and the other end of the coupler tube butts up with the the bottom of the nose cone. This results in a total gap between 4" payload bay tube and adjacent section of 1/16" to 1/8" total. This can easily trimmed / sanded down for a proper fit, but was also a bit of an eye opener to actually how little space is available in the pay load bay section.
So that long window intro brings me to my question (I heard something say finally!):
What do people with this particular version of the phoenix missile (4" with payload bay) tend to use the pay load bay for?
Or conversely how do most people with this configuration of the phoenix tend to set up their rocket?
I have been considering the following:
Nose Options:
My version of the phoenix has three sections. Nose cone, payload bay and fin body tube. I understand that previous versions were 2 sections: Nose cone and one body tube (no payload bay). I also understand that this rocket will require some nose weight depending on the engine installed to shift the center of gravity forward more. I was thinking of acquiring the RNWS from LOC that came with the previous model but not with this one. It is my understanding that this is installed in the nose cone and take up that space. I have also been reading other posts in here about installing cross pieces / screws / expanding foam as positive retention methods for the nose weight. As a result I feel well informed what I can do with that area of the rocket.
In the instructions they completely skip over the connection of the nose cone to the rest of the rocket. I am assuming this is because there are multiple options from friction fit, shear pins, screws, printed parts to plain old gluing it in place. Depending on what you plan to do with your payload bay will rule out some options. Obviously a glued connection permanently seals off the payload permanently and basically turns the Phoenix into a two section rocket with an elongated nose cone.
When I did my dry fit the other night, I noticed that the couple tube butts up with the forward fin root where it barely protrudes through the wall. and the other end of the coupler tube butts up with the the bottom of the nose cone. This results in a total gap between 4" payload bay tube and adjacent section of 1/16" to 1/8" total. This can easily trimmed / sanded down for a proper fit, but was also a bit of an eye opener to actually how little space is available in the pay load bay section.
So that long window intro brings me to my question (I heard something say finally!):
What do people with this particular version of the phoenix missile (4" with payload bay) tend to use the pay load bay for?
Or conversely how do most people with this configuration of the phoenix tend to set up their rocket?
I have been considering the following:
Nose Options:
- Fixed weight to move CoG forward and permanently attach payload bay.
- LOC removable nose weight system to move CoG forward.
- Turn it into an ebay (altimeter, tracker/locator, Dual deployment electronics)
- Turn it into an ebay with Altimeter, tacker/locator
- Turn it into a recovery system bay for the parachute and second shock cord (loose nose cone). Essentially turning it almost into a cylinder ejection system
- Turn it into a dual deployment zone with ebay in the nose
- A smoke / chaff dispenser to highlight deployment
- secondary parachute
- Some other idea that I have not thought from the minds of the rocketry forum