Some confirming data. Looking at the plot from the MAWD, ejection happened at 7sec. instead of 10. At that point, the altitude jumped up a bit (nose section briefly getting popped ahead of the rest), then WHAM, the profile flatlines and starts decending. I guess this is why people stop trusting manufacturer's delay numbers and use electronics 😥 .

I believe I had the fireball set at about 1/3 sticking out, to put the bulk of the ball at the edge. I think next time it should be 1/2 to 2/3 out.

Still looking at it, shaking my head...

Ken

Sorry to hear that Ken. Bring the bird to work this week and I'll take a look at it if you like. Almost anything is fixable if it's still largely in one piece.

Warren

I guess this is why people stop trusting manufacturer's delay numbers and use electronics.

Yep. Plus delays are static; you need the variability of electronics (if it weren't for the reliability of MWC, I wouldn't have achieved L3). Ken, I have an old 4" LOC IV I'll be flying at the next September launch with a camera in it. After that launch, depending on how it goes, you can have it for pieces. I built it 12-15 years ago for a circuit adaptation I made to a Rabitt transmitter that transmitted signals from TV-to-TV inside a house, only 300 foot in a house (not line of sight). Since the improvement in electronics, according to Moore's Law, I can now put a camera w/xmitter in the hood, which I did. I shouldn't need it after that. It will have at least a coupler for a piston, and I think I still have an extra piece of airframe and coupler that you can have after Warren surveys your rocket, just let me know, and I'll have what you need. Personally, after L1 and L2, I only trust G-10. I tend to blow things up. Though nothing's indestructible. Carbon fiber and fiberglass are in your future, dude. You can't put a piston past a coupler though; any and either way, I can give you the pieces you need to recreate your bird. Beats sitting up on a shelf in the garage, right? Nice thing about this club. No one asks for credit or repayment. Pay forward. And that means, give someone else MORE than you've received. Comes around, Ken. Pistons work great with fiberglass, although I've never used them. I'm not a piston authority, but JW and Warren are. 😉

Sorry to hear that Ken. Bring the bird to work this week and I'll take a look at it if you like. Almost anything is fixable if it's still largely in one piece.

Warren

I brought it in today, Warren. I'll try to catch you at lunch.

Bruce, thank you for your offer. It's not really that bad. It could fly right now with a couple wraps of duct tape if I didn't care about looks! If I patch it, I will probably need a coupler to wrap with waxed paper and back up the zips for epoxy and glass. I'd love to take the LOC-4 off your hands if it needs a good home. My son would go nuts to have a big rocket of his own (hasn't done anything over D yet). I don't know yet if I'll be at the Sept. launch.

Ken

Ken, it needs a good home. I'll bring extra parts for it (a full coupler and about a half of one, plus a 17" piece of body tube, and extra nosecone), so your son can do what he wants to it, re-paint, etc. to make it his own. If he keeps the upper section, his rocket could be a little over six feet, if not, then shorter but solid, with a 29mm motor tube, ready for an H, when the time comes). If you're not at the next launch, can I give the rocket and parts to Warren? He could pass it on to you at work. Warren?

Bruce,

I probably won't be up this weekend. I'm trying to reach Warren to see if he'll be there and can pick this up for me.

Thanks a bazillion!

Ken

Cool. If Warren can't for whatever reason, I'll bring everything for you to Oktoberfest on Saturday.