Finally...Some Decent Paintin' Weather!

I've had these two models, an EAC Viper and a Cherokee-E, built and waiting since the end of January to get their primer coats.
Yesterday, Castle Rock finally enjoyed a day of 60 degree weather, minimal wind, and NO SNOW!
I grabbed the models and a can of primer, running out to the back yard to get the task accomplished before anything changed!

Whew ...made it!

This has got me pumped and ready for the upcoming flying season...

A New Toy

Today, I stopped into the local Hobby Lobby and picked up a new Estes altimeter for 30 bucks.  Not too hard on the wallet with the prevailing discount.
Even though the device features only basic peak altitude display, I can think of a lot of applications for its use.
One that readily comes to mind is mounting it in specially built boost/glider pop-pods for the purpose of calculating a glider's sink rate based on glide duration from a given altitude.
Another project application is to marry the device up with a keychain video camera to get an idea of which point in the video corresponds to max altitude reached.
If nothing else, the device can be used merely for assessing altitude performance of my favorite sport birds.
Whatever the project, this device will see a lot of use.
Later on, I will likely spring for a more advanced altimeter that is capable of rendering complete flight profiles, but for now the Estes offering will do nicely.

Some Thoughts On Flying The Estes Solo

On Sunday, January 26th, I launched a recently-built Solo on its maiden flight.  The kit face card and instructions specify only one motor for flight: a C6-3.
Not knowing what to expect with this model in terms of altitude and glider behavior, I was reluctant to shove a C motor in it for flight at the particular field which I frequent.
Instead, I chose to go with a B6-4. This was not the best selection for a B motor.  The model boosted nicely, turned over, and started streaking downward for at least half of the delay period.  Here is a picture of its ballistic descent:

By the time the ejection charge popped, the model was traveling at a pretty good clip:

All turned out well, however - the booster parachute deployed while the ring glider separated and settled into a good steady glide.

On my next outing with the Solo, I plan to switch to B motors with a two second delay.  I will likely fly the model twice - once on a B4, and again on a B6 to determine which would give the optimum performance.

One thing is for certain: the Estes Solo is a fun rocket to fly, and a real crowd pleaser!

Launch Date: January 26th, 2020, Part 3

This is the third and final post covering this event.  Let us jump right in....

Jim Gazur was the only rocketeer on the field going with high-tech flights.  This is a D12 powered test rocket for a dual deployment system he is working on.  The model carried a Stratologger Altimeter set to activate the main parachute at 100 feet.

This unusual model is a Quest DC-Y
built by Mike Goss.  The model turned in an excellent flight, returning in two separate parts.

Jesse Ulibarri concentrates on hooking up his scale D-Region Tomahawk.  The model was powered by an E12-6 motor.  Jesse may very well be the first rocketeer to fly an E motor at Dove Valley!

The start of a perfect flight for the Tomahawk

My Estes Lynx ready to go for its tenth launch.

Straight as an arrow on an A10 motor.  The model turned in a perfect flight and recovery.

Other models flown not shown in this post series:

Estes Mini Brute Hornet- A3-4T, Ed Mitton
Estes Ricochet, A10-3T, Lee Reep
Super Alpha, C6-5, Jesse Ulibarri

Thanks for looking!

Launch Date: January 26th, 2020, Part 2

Another set of pictures from this most excellent Colorado winter launch:

Jim Gazur's Micro Enerjet 2250 with 3 B14 motors blazing!

Another B14 flight!  Lee Reep flew this two stage model with a vintage 1969 B14-0 in the booster 

and a B6-6 in the upper stage.

Another impressive liftoff.

The model came down fast on a streamer and took a 'core sample'.

No worries, though, the landing spot was the soft sand of a nearby volleyball pit.  No damage!

Mike Goss's Quest Icarus takes to the skies for a very nice flight.

A whole lotta' preppin' goin' on...Left to right:  Jim Gazur, Mike Goss, Jesse Ulibarrii, Ed Mitton, and Lee Reep.  

Serious rocketeers doing serious rocketry, indeed!

Jesse Ulibarri launched an Executioner for a very nice flight on a D12-5 motor.

My Griffin-2 and Estes Firefly parasite glider set to take off.

The tandem lifts off for a very nice boost on B4-2 power.
The Firefly separated and flew beautifully, but could not be found after an extensive search.  This was the only model lost this afternoon.  The Griffin was recovered successfully.

Mike Goss flew a beautifully built Estes Sizzler
on a B4-2 motor.

Perfect lift-off.....

...and recovery!

STILL MORE TO COME.

CHECK BACK AGAIN FOR PART 3.

Launch Date: January 26th, 2020, Part 1

A little over a week ago, I was joined by several Colorado front range rocketeers to get out and take advantage of some excellent weather conditions. The event took place at Dove Valley Regional Park in Centennial, and was attended by Jim Gazur, Lee Reep, Mike Goss, and Jesse Ulibarri.

The weather was perfect for January - temperature in the high 50s and little to no wind. With the conditions being so favorable, several of the participants bravely flew several models with higher impulse motors.  All of the flights were recovered nearby, and a good share of them landed in the launch pad area!

All in all, 27 flights were launched in a two hour window.  Since my PC blog-writing time is rather sparse these days, I will be presenting this launch in multiple posts.  Rather than write a lengthy text about the meet, here are a number of captioned photos.   Enjoy:

Mike Goss flew a LOC Magnum on three successful flights.

The Magnum in flight.

My new Estes Solo ready for its maiden flight on a B6-4

The Solo boosted nicely.  Surprisingly the ring glider turned in a smooth flight.

Lee Reep's Mini Marz Lander set to go on A10 power.

Start of a great flight for the Lander.

What could be more fun than a flight on a vintage B14 motor? Try a cluster of three of those babies!  Jim Gazur did just that with a Micro Enerjet 2250.  The bird leapt to over 500' in no time.  Jim had flown the bird earlier on a cluster of B6 motors.

Jesse Ulibarri turned in a superb flight of an Estes STM-012 on a D12 motor.

My Satellite Inerceptor performed very well with B6-4 power.

Lee Reep readies a model on the pad on this perfect January afternoon.

Mike Goss flew a nicely-built scale Aerobee 300 from Thrustline.

 

The Aerobee 300 flies high on A8-3 power.

My young grandson , Tyler, launched an Estes Bandit.  The model flew very high on an A3-4T and recovered successfully via streamer.

Jesse Ulibarri's Rising Star turned in a great D12-3 powered flight.

Lee Reep launched a Recruiter for a great flight on a C11 motor.

A Mini-Bertha, courtesy of Mike Goss, is set to go on a 1/2A motor.  The model turned in a nice flight.

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2.......

A Shorter Hornet...

This past Sunday, January 26th, I participated in a launch session with several Colorado front range rocketeers.
The first flight of the day was my old flagship, the Estes Hornet.  This would be the bird's  49th flight.

The model boosted nicely, but at ejection there was...no parachute.
Lawn Dart.
Upon recovery and failure analysis, I found that the motor had ejected without pushing anything out the front.
And here's what that front looked like:

The impact had completely jammed the nose into the payload tube about 1/4 inch.
It took a bit of effort to remove it.
The damage to the tube was substantial, so rather than attempting to glue it all back together, I chose to amputate the whole mess.

The old bird is now ready for its 50th and final launch.  It's just a tad bit shorter than before.

That aside, I will be posting about Sunday's launch session when I get all the pics and info sorted out.
Stay tuned....