Doug Gerrard

Warren, are you still the contest director is someone else?

I have done several projects by vacuum bagging the fins. But I have yet to do balsa or double wedge shaped. I usually start with a foam or honeycomb composite to start with and then vacuum bag more carbon and…   Read more»

Top Flight Recovery http://www.topflightrecoveryllc.homestead.com/ has the 1.1 oz very thin rip stop nylon. I’ve used them before when I need a big chute in a small space.Doug

has anyone, or does everyone, use KILZ for priming and filling the holes in composite weave?I have heard about it but have never used it.What I found that really seems to work well for fins is just epoxy with a…   Read more»

I might if you tell me what a PM is? I don’t care for acronyms.Doug

Thank you very much. I got the impression it should be HOURS not days or even weeks. I do have 1500 grit sandpaper and I was planning on wet sanding it. Its turning out OK for an amature and I…   Read more»

Conway, or anyone, Am I suppose to buff the clear coat “soon” after applying? I thought I heard someone told me to do that to remove imperfections. How soon is too soon?, Can I wait?By the way, I wimped out…   Read more»

Thanks Conway, I thought it was you that worked with the paints. I’ve only recently begun to work with the automotive paints and I’m learning by screwing things up. I still have time before I’m applying the clear coat the…   Read more»

Thanks everyone for your comments. I use Martin Seymour which does use a hardener but it too has a thinner. I figured that would be the problem, any type of thinner/alcohol could dissolve the vinyl. I’ll probably play it safe…   Read more»

Thanks for the link Edward, I had not seen that site. Not only do I think his analysis and assumptions are full of Cr*p even his so called test video is misleading. He statesNote the rattling that the unstable piston…   Read more»

Never once have I had a piston jam. Same here, I’ve never had a piston jam. I do prefer the “looser” fit and I was wondering, what is the problem with a loose fit? I still use some kind of…   Read more»

I have used pistons on the 6″ OD BDCR on every flight except its first flight when I thought all I needed was a deployment bag. The bag came out of the rocket but the parachute stayed in the bag….   Read more»

I saw Doug’s video, and he didn’t use a chute.

I did use a chute in the 2 gram test which was to deploy the main. I didn’t use the chute in the separation at apogee test.Doug

I planned on a 36″ drouge chute with roughly 55 to 60lbs of rocketI have debated myself on the use of a drogue at all. I prefer not having a drogue except for one thing. I have seen drougeless dual…   Read more»

I will probably use a small chute on the flight, just left it out for the test. For the drouge compartment I have 5″ for chute space but another 9″ for the coupler. When I tested at 0.3 gms it…   Read more»

oops, I did forget to mention that I use a piston. That will affect the charge required, all the more reason to do ground testing. Just thought you should know.Doug

Bruce, if you haven’t check out the video I put on my site you should look at it before you test. I have 24″ of 6″ tube and the online calculators said I needed at least 3 grams just to…   Read more»

Actually when I ground test I do a net/catch assembly with a large blanket or 2Absolutely, always rig something to catch the potential projectile. Many ask a couple friends to hold the blanket in front of the rocket. That works…   Read more»

I always like Davey Fires but as I mentioned I just can’t find them anywhere. I picked up Quickburst at LDRS and they are in just about everyway comparable to Davey Fires. They list their spec on the package (and…   Read more»

My tests were done with Quickburst. Mostly because I have a hard time finding any others.Doug