Goin Stompin

[closet astronaut]

Originally Posted by spaceagent-9

why dont you make disoposable collars between the nose cone and the rocket body, if they are being smashed?

The nose cones on these are of a collar type design, they slide over the fusaledge and actually take some of the impact, sliding down over the main body. It's the tip of the cone that gets smashed.

Working on an idea right now to incorperate a parachute, I really think it's going to work. Will be posting pics soon.

[closet astronaut]

Finnished the Black Brant, this sure doesn't look like a stomp rocket, not sure but I don't think it was designed to be one, but it was sooo easy to convert. The nose cone was designed to be glued directly to the fuselage , no slip over collar, I will make this the proto type for the parachute recovery, the first stomp rocket with parachute . It has a twenty three inch psi tube. Technically I think we're going to have to come up with a new name, we're not stomping any more. Any ideas?

I made the cone a slip in, like an estes rocket. using an idea from Mr. Bauer but in a different capacity, run a piece of fishing line through it with a bullit weight tied to one end. The idea here is when the rocket noses over the weight falls off when the line pulls tight it snatches the cone out bringing the chute with it. The cone is going to have to be able to slide out with extreme ease. Just working out the kinks now.

[obwand10]

Great Work!!!

[mbauer]

Sounds interesting, hoping that it does work!!

Mike

[spaceagent-9]

i know that im not an expert on this stuff, but
it you go to the dollar tree,
and get plastic picnic plates
and a heat gun or some kind of no flame heat source,
and then heat up the plate and push mold a nose cone,
then tape it to the collar,
will that help it-disposable nosecones?

[Retired_for_now]

Don't know why it wouldn't work, though I try and include a page of just nosecones/collars when I draw up stomp rockets so you can print off and make a bunch (probably easier to print, cut, glue the paper than go to the trouble of shaping the plastic ...). For the simplest rockets (i.e. little hands projects) I usually don't even have them do a nose cone. Cut out the cylinder, color as desired (second most enjoyed part of the activity), then roll/tape up the cylinder and crimp/tape the top. Add fins and go stompin'.

Yogi

[closet astronaut]

Originally Posted by Retired_for_now

Don't know why it wouldn't work, though I try and include a page of just nosecones/collars when I draw up stomp rockets so you can print off and make a bunch (probably easier to print, cut, glue the paper than go to the trouble of shaping the plastic ...). For the simplest rockets (i.e. little hands projects) I usually don't even have them do a nose cone. Cut out the cylinder, color as desired (second most enjoyed part of the activity), then roll/tape up the cylinder and crimp/tape the top. Add fins and go stompin'.

Yogi

I would have to agree Yogi, the print, roll, and glue would be more feasable, considering also the cost. I'm now drawing patterns from the cones and taking measurments of body panels so I don't even have to print.

[closet astronaut]

Well...we have deployment, although the design is flawed.
More bugs to work out.

First off the chute I'm currently using is too small for the Black Brant.

Second, I'm not getting the height even at 50 psi. I've noticed the launch tube isn't prefectly strait so I'm getting some binding. I also noticed air seepage from the 2" to 1/2" adapter joint at 50 psi.

The weight also dosen't stay on very well, pulling the cone too early. I cut the cone down so the weight would seat just inside the cone but the take off velocity forces the weight down into the cone. This has been a good thing as it shows that the weight doesn't have to come out to pull the cone. This has inspired two more ideas to overcome these problems, I've got two more cone designs to try out.

The upper fuselage took some damage today so I will stick with ths rocket untill I can work out the kinks.

I tried to photo shop the pics to get the zoomed in views but to no avail, another project to work on later.

I noticed if you click on the photos after they come up you can get a closer view.

[mbauer]

Is the launch air pressure pushing the weight out? What would happen if you sealed the weight in the nosecone, and let it pull the nosecone off due to its weight.

Or is that your plan? Basically, seal the weight inside the cone, hold the rocket upside and see if the nosecone falls away on its own, due to the weight.

If the internal PSI tube is sealed properly the nosecone should ride ok until it is pointed at the ground, giving it a chance to fall away deploying your chute, once apogee is reached.

Weight wouldn't need to be very heavy, as it could travel up and down inside the cone using a "hammer" type effect. Nosecone would need to be a loose fit, ensuring the weight would slide it off the rocket.

BTW-I've tried to find the straightest PVC in the store. Got to thinking that mabee rubbing some wax-paper along the PVC and or spraying with silicone spray as well. The PVC just isn't very straight! No issue as long as the Rocket is fairly short, but, as they get longer it does become an issue.

I've actually made the internal PSI larger in diameter to get rid of the binding. Using Yogi's idea of wrapping some cardstock around the bottom inside of the PSI tube to help seal the larger diameter, that way the "shim" is the only thing that touches the PVC as it accelerates.

PVC LauncherAir Launcher.JPG
Noticed you have a few trees in the way...
Frisbee/Rocket Retrieval System....
Rocket Retrieval Sys.JPG
Frisbee Retrieval Sys.JPG

Mike

[ashevilleangler]

The weight is probably simply jostled loose due to uneven aerodynamic and vibrational forces at launch, especially if the launch tube isn't perfectly straight. A tube inserted thru the bullet weight, glued in place and then inserted into the nose cone might help keep it in place until apogee. The bullet weight would need to be drilled out to accept the tube which of course would be as narrow as possible. Something like 1/8th brass or plastic tubing might work. Also a paper skirt glued to the wide end of the bullet weight would add stability during launch and would help eject the nose cone and parachute by "catching air" much like way a drogue chute works. The skirt would make a loose fit to the nose cone.

Curt