Activity

The kind of valve your describing is a boiler relief valve. Problem is they are heavy, and the smallest size they usually come in is 3/4″Another possibility would be a pneumatic solenoid valve. They would handle the pressure but I’m…   Read more»

Adrian: Like most water rockets built as a kid, the “thrust” is mostly the water pushing agianst the ground pushing the bottle up. In this case the steam should expand and if the diameter is small enough actually create thrust….   Read more»

I wouldn’t consider myself an engineer, but I like to day dream.for the valve: how about a round ball resting against the bottom of the boiler tank as it sits on the pad. It would have to melt/flash at the…   Read more»

Hey everyone,I have quite the engineering question that I need some ideas on. In my Engineering Projects class, we have started our final year project. I convinced my group to try to make a steam powered rocket motor. Here is…   Read more»

Thanks John that helped immensly

Three words: “Strap on boosters”. I say we weld some 98mm casings to that Bessie and really move things along.No need to thank me – I’m glad to help 😀

I’m an engineer..to bad it’s on a fire engine.Anyway. One of our old club memebers used to fly steam rockets and at one point he brought a steam powered go cart. I watched as heated up the water and remembering…   Read more»

While it is difficult sometimes to know exactly where private land and public land boundaries are, it is pretty critical to make the effort to contact nearby ranchers before going onto land you’re not sure about. Consideration and politeness towards…   Read more»

Goes to show that politeness helps, as the rancher to the east, Nathan, actually found my rocket. He intercepted Mike and I as we were meandering around their private lands. We explained what we were doing and Mike invited him…   Read more»

Nose cone – 1/3 of shock cord – chute – 2/3 of shock cord, rocket… works for me every time so long as I have enough charge to push things out with a little authority and the chute is fluffed…   Read more»

OH! Thanks so much for posting these. You actually caught a good picture of the recovery failure of my Hyperloc 1600 on slide 65. I had thought the parachute didn’t pull out but it did it just didn’t open. Looks…   Read more»

I agree 100%, I had a great time, even with 2 failed “A” attempts. Great pictures Mike, thanks for posting.

not planned..now that you mention it..they do look cool. Good eyes! I ran short on my 1.063 mandrels and poured 2 of the grains for the “red” motor with 1″ cores. I drilled them out before assyembly.Tony

Hey, I even like the red, white, and blue motor casings. How patriotic!Did you plan that, too? :)(Are those those tapered cores, or is that just my eyes?)

John, It will be out at BR. I’m also putting up my KestreL on an Ex load in the CTI 54 6GXL case. This might be the first time a CTI case has been used for Ex. Below are the…   Read more»

Great looking rocket. Great colors.

Tony, that really looks great! Keep us posted. I love that fin “look” – a number of my rockets have resembled that.Where are you flying it on 8/5? Is that a Black Rock launch?

Here’s the finshed rocket. 72″ long and just under 8 pounds ready to fly less motor. It has an ARTS2, G-Wiz LCX, Beeline GPS and a Walston. It is dual deployment with 30 feet of 3000# Kevlar and a small…   Read more»

It’s good to hear that you guys are enjoying the videos. I got started on doing the tip to tip fiberglassing of the fins. The method that I use is the 1/3 – 2/3 – Fullhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtYYsX3VEmcI went with all fiberglass….   Read more»

You bet we’re watching. Thanks for posting!Makes me want to head to the shop and build something.