| | [Not displaying correctly? View web version.] | Peak-of-Flight Newsletter #589: | |
The HIMARS rocket, which is in the news currently, is something that many scale modelers might be thinking of replicating. The one problem is that it has curved fins. These folding fins, when stowed at launch, wrap around the perimeter of the rocket's body. This allows the whole rocket to slide into a tube. The folding fins saves space, and the tube also guides the rocket at launch. How do you make curved fins so that they aren't flimsy? Additionally, what if you wanted to use through-the-wall attachment so that the fins are securely attached? This is not a simple problem. In the newsletter which you can download now, Josh Frizzell will take you through the process of molding the fins using a two-piece curved mold. Both the fins and the mold are made using fiberglass. The important part is molding the through-the-wall fin tab at the same time. This assures a uniform part, and it is super strong. Also in this Issue: Tim's Messy Desk - The Past and the Future Tim looks back over the events that occured around Apogee during 2022, and then looks forward and lets you in on what the plans are for Apogee Components in 2023. He also answers the common queston: "Does Apogee do price matching?" You can read all about it by downloading the newsletter now. | | Read the rest of this week's article, either on a downloadable PDF for printing out, or on our website (great for viewing on your phone)! Previous issues of our newsletter are found at our archive page. |
| Check out the latest products to hit Apogee's shelves! | Conductive Starter Mix | |
Save those old igniter wires, as they can easily be reused to make new igniters! The Conductive Starter Mix from QuickBurst allows you to have the reloadable igniter so you save money. This updated mix works well with BOTH black powder and composite motors! Make your own motor starters from an ordinary two-conductor wire. NO bridge wire needed. And reuse the same wire over and over again. Just mix and dip. And dip again and again. |
| Quest E35 Single-Use Motors | |
The Quest E35W might become one of your favorite mid-power rocket motors that are 24mm in diameter. This is a FULL E-motor, being at the upper limit of just under 40 N-s of total power. It has great kick off the launch pad, which is what is needed for heavier rockets or those that are larger in diameter. At 95mm (3.75 inches) long, it is the same size as the Estes E12, but with more power, a huge white flame, and a deep throaty roar. And it still won't go so high that you'll risk losing your rocket. It comes in delays of 5, 8 and 11 seconds. It will be great in the Katana Jr, the LexxJet and the Super Big Bertha rockets (29mm adapter not included). |
| Aerotech I40N-P Motor | |
Aerotech continues to expand its line of single-use high-power motors. The latest DMS motor is the I40N-P motor. This is a long burn motor, with a thrust duration of 10 seconds. It utilizes the Warp-9 propellant in end-burn fashion to give this really long burn time which can allow extremely high altitudes for your lightweight rocket. But beware, it is plugged and therefore does not contain an ejection charge. So you'll need to use a dual deployment altimeter to kick out the parachute to bring your rocket safely to the ground. |
| Estes Super Big Bertha | |
The Estes Super Big Bertha is a mid-power rocket using 29mm diameter motors, that is over 3-feet tall and 2.6-inches in diameter. In this upscale of Vern Estes' design, the charm of his original Big Bertha model has not been lost, nor has the low-and-slow flight capabilities. This rocket could be flown all day on Estes E16s and recovered without breaking a sweat. But if you were in the mood for something more, it would fly nicely on any 29mm F motor around. |
| Katana Jr Dual Deployment - at a
Mid-Power Price | |
Do you want to try out dual deployment, but don't want to build a high power rocket that requires either certification or expensive rocket motors? The Katana Jr. is our "practice rocket" for this very purpose. It is a FULL dual-deployment rocket, with a ebay, two parachutes, removable rivets, mounting hardware for the electronics, and a on/off switch. Plus, it has easy-to-follow instructions that will walk you through the process of doing dual deployment if you've never done it before. It is a 1/2-scale version of our popular Katana rocket, which means this rocket will slice the air just like its big brother. |
| Gliding Parachute System | |
Gliding parachutes have the advantage that they can be steared. That means you can bring them back to yourself instead of having them just drift in the wind. Additionally, they are more efficient that a round parachute, so a smaller chute will give you a slower descent rate. This is an experimental system that includes a nylon cloth Rogallo-shaped parachute and the controller ebay. It also comes with a servo, battery, and a charger for the battery. You will need to provide your own model-airplane style RC receiver and transmitter and have experience using them. Three sizes are available: 24", 28" and 32". More information is available here. |
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Johnny Star Commander in Texas This week's simulation is of the Johnny Star Commander rocket kit. We ran the simulation from the Horizon City Rocketry (NAR #798) site near El Paso, Texas. For this launch we chose the Quest C12 motor. It has a big white flame, and makes rockets leap into the air. On this vast launch site, we probably should have used something bigger. What do you think? |
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“My vote for the number one rocketry supplier would be Apogee Components. Now, even though you sell at full price you do a number of things most other companies don't do. And that is you keep your word! Meaning if I order something you have it in stock. And better yet - even though I'm told I won't get delivery for 7-10 days I rarely have waited more than 4. You can't imagine how many times I've been lied too by rocketry suppliers about shipments that were never made, and had to wait a ridiculous amount of time because I bought from a sale they had. Who cares about a sale if you can't get delivery. Your instructional videos, the very nice staff when you call, and your delivery make working with your company a pleasure to work with.
Happy Holidays to you and all at Apogee.” -- Neil Brown | |
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| I'm now actively seeking writers for articles to appear in this newsletter. And I want unique and cutting-edge articles because that is what you want to read, right? I realize this, so to get articles from outside writers that have the same level of quality, I'm going to have to pay a lot of cash to make it worth it for them. So I've come up with a compensation package where I'll pay up to $350 for good how-to articles. Are you a writer, and does that interest you? That is a lot of cash! Far more than you'll get by writing for other magazines. And with over 23,000 worldwide subscribers, if you write for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter, you'll gain a lot of notoriety. Writing for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter is a great way to show off your rocketry projects and your technical expertise, at the same time as helping out other rocketeers. Imagine how great you'll feel knowing that you made a difference to the hobby. If you're interested in writing, see the guidelines on our site. | |
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