ROY'S LEVEL 3

This is a tale that almost did not happen.  I had resigned to myself that I was going to have to postpone my L3 until 2009.  Finances were tight since Dawnna had spent just over 3 months out of work and my ex-wife, whom also lost her job, decided that I needed to help her out more, which resulted in my child support doubling, all of this happening in the same week.

Then on or about August 16, 2008, when I was informed by members of the Arizona Rocketry Team, that they were bored and they wanted to watch me build a rocket! 

I told them that I was willing to talk about the possibility, but no guareentees and then I was told in "NO UNCERTAIN TERMS", that I was going to build my Level 3 and Fly it at Plaster Blaster.  I was also told that I needed to get things figured out and put together a list of what I needed.

We all sat down and looked at the plans and came up with a plan!  Since I had a design on the board since last year, the basics were not hard.  We changed a few small things.  Instead of cutting the nose cone from 1 pound EPS Foam and glassing it, both Ken and Jay had 10" nose cones from Whats Up Hobbies laying around in their garages, we decided on using on of them.

Once we had a plan, we came up with a list of parts that I had and another of what I needed.

Items that I had:  2 - ~4' x 10" Air Frames from Whats Up Hobbies, 1-Perfect M.A.W.D, 1- Missile Works RRC2, I also had a bunch of 20 ga stranded wire, connectors, nuts, bolts, screws, and other little bits and parts.

Items I needed: Nose Cone (Jay Dennis), Wood for Fins - Bulk Heads - Centering Rings (Dean Smith), Motor Mount (Guy Smith), Motor (ALL), and the motivation (KEN).

Friends like this is what makes the hobby great!

The following weekend everyone showed up in force with the items that were needed.  Dean showed up with plenty on very good grade 1/2" aircraft ply.  and I had a table saw ready to cut the fins.  Off to work we went.

Rough Blank                                                    Trimed Up Fin

Putting a nice 45 degree angle on the fins

Since the router was out and useful I took care of cutting the bulkheads and centering rings.

On the next build session, I worked on cutting the fin slots - Once everything was marked, I went to work on cutting the slots.

After cutting all of the slots, I found that I was off by about 1/8" too short.

 So I trimmed it up just a little.

Jay questioned how I went about this - maybe the saw was too small!!!

This is how I really trimmed up the slots

Once the slots were all cut the proper length, we did a dry fit just to see what it looked like!

Mock Up Done - now just sit and reflect.

Then it was time to start installing the fins, but first we needed to trim the thru the wall tabs to the correct length.  Then level every thing up, so I can make sure the fins are straight.

First and Second Fin Done! It's easier to work on opposing fins.  Once they were done, I had some time to relax - A few days later with the assistance of my Lovely Bride, Dawnna, I was able to get the third and fourth fins installed.

Had to take an angled picture to show that it is there!

I did not get any pictures or video of the ground testing, but it was done.  Ken and I tested it and come to the conculsion that 5 grams would be the right load!

Well, I have even have had a little time to get some paint on it.  The paint is not quite done in the pictures and it shows, but it gives an idea of how it will look.  Maybe tomorrow, I will assemble it and take a few pics.

Between now and the next update, I need to finish the electronic sled and finish the paint. I know that the center picture is "upside down" but it puts it in the correct prespective for the pictures.

OK Here we go!

I went to Plaster Blaster the first weekend of October to Fly my L-3 and the event was basically blown out on Saturday.  No way I was going to fly in 12 - 20 mile per hour winds.  The weather was much better on Sunday, but since most of the people that were responsible for this day were not there so I brought it home.  I figured that there was another launch window the last weekend of October at the G. Harry Stien Launch in Phoenix. 

I arrived at the launch and unloaded things on Friday night, met with some old friends and then went to my mother-in-laws with my wife to visit with her and sleep.  I headed back out to the field on Saturday Morning.  Upon my arrival I began to set up the prep area and launch pad.  The it was off to prep the rocket.  I did not get alot of pictures of this because everyone was getting other things ready.

We headed out to the pad and then were told that the range was going to close for lunch, so we turned around and went back to the prep area.  I took this time to check over a few things and then grab a bit to eat.  Then it was back to the pad.  once on the pad off she went !

On The Pad Ready To Go

Outstanding Boost on an M1315

Arrow strught with NO roll at all

No this picture is NOT Upside Down

The Safety Charge finally opened it up !

The chute came out at 1700 feet and it seperated.

I was able to salvage the fincan and altimeters. 

The Post Mortem

Here is the fndings of the Post Mortem

I wanted a little better fit between the upper and lower air frome so I wrapped a piece of tape around the out side of the airframe at that joint (see the blue tape in the picture on the pad.  We punched holes evenly around the tape to act as a perferation line where it would tear when the charges went off.

It seems that the 5gram charges that I had on the Perfect Flight MAWD and the Missile Works RRC2 Apogee and redundant Apogee were not enough to seperate it.  The 10 gram charge that went off at 1700 feet was enough.

The result was NO Cert.

The bummer was that the tape was not needed because it would not have drag seperated!

I have already ordered the parts to repair it and I will be flying it again soon!

I will keep updates on this site.

Until next time - Safe Flights and Soft Landings