If you want to add a ring this is what I did on my L1/2 rocket. I wanted a 3/8 bulkhead so I took two pieces of 3/16. I used a rounding router bit and used it on one edge of each of the rings. When I put them together it was a groove for an o-ring. I used that on top and bottom to seal it off.

Edward

Most of the reading I had done indicated more than one. So I
let majority rule. I put three.

It has worked every time. On two, three inch rockets and
twice on a five.five.

I watch a lot of rocket DVDs and a lot of videos over the net.
Looking close, most have more than one.

😯 ?

I liked the idea of having a port to stick a screwdriver through to turn on the electronics. I can probably put a few holes in it and still have a large enough one to get a little screwdriver into it.

Edward, that's a good idea. I might try to add a ring on either end for a seal. Or just make a notch in the existing bulkheads for a thin ring.

Thanks
Greg

It's all according to our experiences. On my GLR VA, my favorite rocket along with the one to the left, I used one port. It worked. One to the left, I used 3, but it was bigger. But three are good, too, for the VA. This is the learning process. I used my beloved GLR VA on both L1 and L2 certs. You made a great choice. 😉 BTW, gases through vent ports are negligible. The VA comes with the nice O-ring for the bottom of the avionics’ bay. If you want to add one on the top, cool. Do what Ed said. Either way you're good.

when I first started using electronics I was told that it is best to use 1 or 3. I have used 1 or 3 on 3in AF's and usually 1 on anything smaller. Most of the E-Bays I have made for 3in works out to be 3 holes at or a little bigger then 1/8. if you take a small pocket screwdriver it will fit in an 1/8 hole but some of them have a flair right were the flat part starts, if it does the you can grind it off to match the shaft and it will fit. There are other things you can do as well but I think there is as many rocketeers.

What James said. Make your port(s) the correct size, and grind that screwdriver down. A jeweler's screwdriver works. You can get those in really small sizes. There are so many ways to do this it's amazing. There is no wrong way... unless it doesn't work, and that's the learning process. 😉

Bruce,
Did you use removable pins to hold the ebay in place or epoxy the sleeve into the VA? I was planning on using the pins so if I do another 3" rocket I can use the bay in it too.

I'm off today, so I'm going to try and get it finished up. I'm heading to the garage to make a ring cutter for my router table like Mike B's..... That DC20 is going to fit nicely in that cone. This is the way I redid the unit. I used epoxy to hold the antenna base in that position and re soldered the wire. I've only tested it to about a mile so far, in houses.

here's the DC20 now.

By "sleeve," do you mean the coupler? If so, I epoxied mine in, because I wasn't going to use it in any other rocket. If you use pins or nylon screws to hold the e-bay section into the main chute airframe, MAKE SURE they don't shear when the ejection charge goes off! I just used 1/16" polystyrene on my nosecone, but 2-56 shear pins would work, too. Go bigger on the part you DON'T want to separate. Ground test before you fly.

I've used PML rivets to hold ebays in many (many MANY) times. They work great.

What JW said. I've used GLR's rivets successfully to hold things on that I didn't want flying apart. Forgot about those... I'm using three to hold my Beer Boost nose on for Oktoberfest. 😉

If you need some or want to try them I have some white and black ones to choice from.

Bruce,
Did you use removable pins to hold the ebay in place or epoxy the sleeve into the VA? I was planning on using the pins so if I do another 3" rocket I can use the bay in it too.

I'm off today, so I'm going to try and get it finished up. I'm heading to the garage to make a ring cutter for my router table like Mike B's..... That DC20 is going to fit nicely in that cone. This is the way I redid the unit. I used epoxy to hold the antenna base in that position and re soldered the wire. I've only tested it to about a mile so far, in houses.

here's the DC20 now.

How small a tube will that fit into now?

Scott e

Scott,
As it is now, the port in my nose cone is 1-7/8" diameter and it slides in with room to spare. It would easily work in a 2" nose cone, I just checked it against my Talon 2. At it's widest it is just under 1-3/4". Hope that helps.

I have a bag of the GLR rivets, Jeremiah told me I would need some sooner or later and I like to be prepared. I'm starting to lean toward just epoxying it in. The next rocket I do will be a scratch built 4" and I already have the bay for it.

Back to the basement.......

Greg

PS,
Scott, I will be in Longmont on Saturday, I could bring it with me if you wanted to check it out. I'll be at a birthday party near the reservoir on the east side of town. PM me and I'll give you me cell number.