I agree -- stacking the tubes up and taking that picture really gives you a "WOOOOOW" moment.

We all know how much fun it is to watch a big project launch -- and we all also know (most of you better than I) how much MORE fun it is when it's YOUR project. Allow me to remind everyone of Warren's post back on Jan 19th:

"I'd just like to say that Steve Mashburn took on a bare L1 (me) when he proposed the Delta II project. I had some skills, but had never been involved in anything like that level of size or complexity. He knows how to execute a large project and I highly recommend it as what may well be one of the seminal experiences of your rocketry career - it certainly was for me. I learned a LOT and had a great time along the way. When it finally flew, my heart was in my throat and I was jumping up and down like a 5 year old. An experience not to be missed."

As a bare L1 myself (just got it at Oktoberfest 2011), having worked on the Proton for the last 4-5 weeks, I can attest to the good vibe that Steve instills, and his patience with a noob like me. Scott is letting us use his great hangar (heated, very well lit, every tool you can think of) for the project. And I've been bringing sodas, and sandwiches for lunch.

So, don't let Steve and Bear and me (with help from James and Kevin and my neighbor Joe) have all the fun. It's a great way to spend your Saturdays. And at the end, you can share in our jubilation as we watch it fly.

And, I'd think that this project has a good chance of being in Nadine's 2013 rocketry calendar. And maybe even in Rockets magazine (anyone here know someone at the mag???)

I'm driving up from south of Parker each week, so I can be chauffeur for the Southeast metro carpool (PM me if you'd like to come along), and Bear has volunteered to carpool with those from the north side.

Please come help! And please donate a little if you can at Steve's web site (www.smashrocketry.com)!

Warren: Steve's current plan is for 3 stages, though we may not install a motor in stage 3 for the first flight. Steve determined that the rocket needed to break apart around there any way for recovery, so he figured: why not put in a small, showy motor like a blackjack? The current plan is:

Stage 1: 3 M1300 (75/6000) and 6 K550 (54/1750)
Stage 2: 1 L1000
Stage 3: 1 K

Ken: No flip-out fins -- too complicated and failure prone (as illustrated by the project at Plaster Blaster). Steve's still working out the details, but it appears the stage 2 & 3 fins will be fairly small. Given the 6 outboards and the 3 fins on stage 1, I think we'll be OK on CG/CP. We can always add some weight to the nose, too -- it shouldn't take much, since it's such a tall rocket (stage 2 will be 10' tall, and even stage 3 is 6' tall).

On the Delta II project, we had underfigured the required nosewieght and at the pad on launch day we spent substantial time with Ed Wranowsky tearing down the nose to access the weight compartment throwing in a LOT of lead shot. Can't remember the figure, but north of 10# as I recall.

It was *at least* 10 pounds. The good thing is we had planned and built a compartment at the very front in case we needed some noseweight.

Edward

Hey Guys! I'm back .. pretty much ..

Rich .. awesome pic .. looks great! and BIG! 🙂 and thanks for the help .. and kind words .. and call for action. We still have a lot to do and can always use help .. and will need money as we progress.

Ed and Warren .. this design is a lot different as we are building an internal framework all the way up the middle that is the support for all weight .. basically the sona tube is just a skin going along for the ride. The spars and rings will be the strength .. and also that will distribute weight more evenly throughout the rocket. We'll still need to add some weight up front and we will build in that option as well. we'll also be able to get exact, or very close, weights on the motors so we can balance it well before we get to the site.

Be building again this Sat in Longmont .. same Bat Time .. same Bat Channel! that's for you old farts like me! Bif! Bam! Pow!

We'll be in Longmont working on the Proton again on Sat, 10am to whenever .. usually around 2 or 3pm. Lots of cool stuff to do.

We've been doing these builds on Sat as it seems the better day for most folks. However, if you'd like to help out and only have Sun free let me know as I am flexible or can do both.

Thanks!!

I would be willing to go Sunday. Let me know. I have to work Saturday.

I would be willing to go Sunday. Let me know. I have to work Saturday.

Sounds great .. I'll call you tomorrow night and confirm.

Great day in Longmont. Thanks to Rich, Ken and Kevin for their help.

We got the booster motor/fin assembly built and it's awesome!!

So you're ready for booster electronics, then? Do you have a spot to incorporate a panel with altimeters and batteries for the booster cluster ignition? I can do it in one or 2 panels. I'm guesstimating now that it would be around a 2" x 4" panel for each altimeter, which would ignite 3 of the 3 outboards. Should I make 2 panels so you can mount them symmetrically, or do you want it on one? What's the plan for outboard ignitors? From an electronics perspective, nothing beats an augmented Q2G2 for sensitivity. But I can accomodate up to 16 V and 9 Amps on each channel with more batteries. Just let me know what you're using and I'll design the batteries around it.

So you're ready for booster electronics, then? Do you have a spot to incorporate a panel with altimeters and batteries for the booster cluster ignition? I can do it in one or 2 panels. I'm guesstimating now that it would be around a 2" x 4" panel for each altimeter, which would ignite 3 of the 3 outboards. Should I make 2 panels so you can mount them symmetrically, or do you want it on one? What's the plan for outboard ignitors? From an electronics perspective, nothing beats an augmented Q2G2 for sensitivity. But I can accomodate up to 16 V and 9 Amps on each channel with more batteries. Just let me know what you're using and I'll design the batteries around it.

Thanks Adrian .. yes, plenty of room. One of the good things about BIG rockets! 🙂

We're using a chute cannon to store and deploy the booster chute. Depending on final weight either a 6" or 8" tube about 12" long. Either way we should have plenty of room for the electronics between the chute tube and main body tube.

The plan is to work on it again next Sunday 3/18 (not Sat) and I should get the chute deploy worked out and get it weighed. I'll get some detail pics of the ebay area at that time. Feel free to drop by and see it up close.

I'll check with James to see if he has a preference on igniters for use with his motors.

It will be the same design on each stage with a framework running the full length of each stage with a chute cannon at the top. On stage 2 and 3 they will have to be dual deploy so will have 2 cannons, a drogue and main in each. We could go drogueless if confident it will fall flat, but I'd rather have some sort of drogue to moderate speed.

Thanks!

Steve,

Take a look at this chart -

http://www.alphahybrids.com/Media/TOROIDALPARACHUTEDATA.PDF

and let me know what looks in range. That way I can plan accordingly with fabric.

Edward

Edward, I'm thinking at this point the booster will be at least 50 lbs on descent. I'm building the chute cannon at the top, most likely an 8" tube 12" long. I assume that can easily accommodate a 10' chute .. would that be enough .. it looks close on your chart. I do want to bring it down slow to protect the outboards from damage on impact. I hope to finish all parts for booster on next Sun and will have a more accurate weight.

I expect the upper stages to be a bit less in weight, maybe 40 lbs each. We will need dual deploy on them but the booster should be fine w/ main at apogee .. maybe 3000'. I still have my 2 - 8' chutes from the Delta and 2 really nice 10' chutes from the DragonShip .. though I understand your design is FAR more efficient in comparison.

I'll keep you informed and drop by next week if you get a chance.

Thanks!

Man, I'm going to have to come down to one of the build sessions just to see this thing. I'm waiting with bated breath to see it fly.

I have a thread about this Project going on The Rocketry Forum as well, for those interested.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=32511

The 120" chute can do 58 pounds at 15 ft/sec. If you want to go slower, we need to upsize the parachute. The parachute is ~8 yards of fabric. I'm guessing the parachute would be between 3-4 pounds. I would say that you try and give as much room as possible for the parachutes - much easier to deal with more room and less chute than trying to stuff one in and increase failure chances.

If you want to go with something in the 10fps range we could do a 196" parachue. That one is ~17 yards of fabric. It would weigh between 5 -6 pounds.

For either of them I'll need a good month to get them made. Once we decide it would be awesome if I could come down and lay out all the material flat, cut it and hem it together there where there is room to lay it all out flat.

Edward