Let’s Build: Estes Rocket, Part 6

8 thoughts on “Let’s Build: Estes Rocket, Part 6”

1. When the Queen of Shitty Robots successfully fires a rocket, you know the odds are stacked against you. Simone, did you swap the rocket engines?!

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2. Looks like your engine pack were bad, probably humidity. Just glad that as a kid I did not had such difficulty firing my rocket. You guys looked like the Big bang episode were Sheldon and Wolowitz blew up their model rocket in the desert. Very nice!

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3. Yeah, I guess that’s really the only possibility right? I mean, fire + solid fuel = normally fairly robust.

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4. Oh man this was some sad times, Failure is always an option.

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5. Ahh I feel bad for you guys. Either way, I don’t know if this is a democracy or not, but I vote for more Ryan and Joey in front of the lens. You guys are entertaining!

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6. Holy crap. “I might be doing this part wrong…”

   Did any of the BALLS organizers know you were launching? If you’d managed to hurt yourselves, it would have been very bad for them.

   And “Hey Clay…” take a look at item [2] in the NAR safety code.

   http://www.nar.org/safety-information/model-rocket-safety-code/

   2. Motors. I will use only certified, commercially-made model rocket motors, and will not tamper with these motors or use them for any purposes except those recommended by the manufacturer.

   Which means you cannot epoxy the motor into the rocket.

   Also, “peeling” a 24mm motor to make it fit in an18mm motor mount is not only “not recommended”, it is a dangerously bad idea.

   I am guessing Clay flies under a TRA certification and is less familiar with the low power stuff, but there were certainly lots of fliers out there who could have helped you out. Provided you registered for the launch and were willing to talk to the RSO.

   (I am pretty sure Tripoli launch guidelines would advise you not to run up to a pad fire and blow it out).

   By all means try again, guys, but don’t try to fly the Xarconian Cruiser until you get the (possibly) dud motor out — good luck breaking it loose from the epoxy — and take out about 5 yards of wadding (“filling” — one or two sheets would have been plenty and no it doesn’t “get incinerated”).

   The other rocket (QCC Explorer?) looks like it is might be repairable (how the heck did you get the igniter so badly misinstalled that you set fire to the OUTSIDE of the rocket?). At least you didn’t you didn’t try to murder it with a knife.

   And for goodness sake, find a NAR club launch. Get some adult supervision.

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7. you have my vote! i like them both individually, but they also seem to have a really good on screen chemistry together.

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8. Lol, NAR.

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