Simple Rocket TUT. Fast and easy!

[ghost808]

Hey Guys.

Im not exactly great at pyrotechnics... But i have been working with rockets for the past 2 years. Anyways this is a pretty simple tut. On how to make a fast easy Rocket using ESTES motors.

WARNING! : THIS KINDA TAKES THE FUN OUT OF THE HOMEMADE PART.

 

The main reason you would wanna make a rocket like this is mainly for a nice header, or if you just can't fly your rockets like you want too. Ok

 

Supplies

-Estes Rocket Motors

-Headers/Stars. ETC

-Stabilization Stick

-Tape/Glue Gun

-Ignitor/ Fuse

 

Step 1.Getting the engine

Make a fast stop at the hobby shop to purchase some rocket engines.

ESTES TABLE (from my experience)

Prices: Commercial price is 9-11USD from estes.

 

- Class A Engine

Height : 50 ft high

Max header Size : (about 15g)

Tip: Great for salutes and small star tests. Etc.

 

-Class B Engine

Height : 100-175 ft.

Max Header Size: (My max is about 40grams)

Tip: you could add more weight but it reduces height and reduces speed.

 

Class C Engine

Height : Really high.(I think about 400ft)

Max Header Size: About 100g+

Tip: Great for larger shells and also getting some height in there

 

Class D+

Never Tried atm.

 

Step 2. Reducing Delay (optional)

Drill a really small hole into the top of the rocket.

Drill into the clay to reduce delay time etc.

The only reason you would want to drill into the top is to reduce delay time

TIP: I only use this step with A size rockets (I put a heavy header ontop of the rocket and

It came strait back down)

 

Step 3: Attaching the header

You can use ball shells, tubes, or even medicine bottles. ETC.

What you want to do is fill some of the excess space ontop of the rocket with some black powder

This will help ignite the header.

Next you may want to dab the headers fuse in some black powder (and make a small cut into the fuse)

Now your header is ready!

Just get the hotglue or tape and insert the header ontop of the Rocket and glue the edges.

TIP: You may want to do this step or not. The rocket does have a charge at the top

for parachutes so it will atomatically light the fuse. The black powder just helps.

 

Step 4:

Get the stabilization stick. Whether its bamboo or sticks you want to glue or tape them on.

With your finger you are going to use basic stabilization tricks to balance the rocket.

Put your finger by the nozzle and well.. have the rocket balance. If it falls towards the stick

then you want to trim the stick. You want it just balanced.

 

Step 5:

Insert the fuse or ignition system. Stick it in the bottle and light it!

 

 

Sorry this is a kind of obvious tut. But just take it easy on me! Simple for begginers and just

to have some fun!

 

Anyways GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SIMPLE ROCKET!

[Pyropow3r]

This kind of defeats the whole purpose of this hobby. How about you try to replicate or improve the performance of an estes style rocket motor (end burner) with homemade tubes powder and tooling. That would be a lot more challenging and satisfying.......

[Updup]

Not bad! I happen to have a few motors left over from when I shot my rockets, and this would be a fun way of using them up.

 

Thanks, and this is a very well put together TUT, might I suggest placing it in the members TUT section?

[mabuse00]

Thanks for the tutorial, although it reveals nothing sensationel.

 

This kind of defeats the whole purpose of this hobby. How about you try to replicate or improve the performance of an estes style rocket motor (end burner) with homemade tubes powder and tooling. That would be a lot more challenging and satisfying.......

 

Of course it is. But on the other hand building proper, reliable engines with constant quality is not easy.

And as with a lot of other things, DIY is seldom any cheaper.

 

 

For the purpose of rocketry, the engine is the most challenging thing (at least for me) and i'll continue to work on my Sorbitol Rockets.

 

But for shooting homemade stars and salutes in the air i'm about to order some Estes or Weco engines and put my effort into the effects.

 

 

 

 

Ghost, have you ever tested a C-Class engine like C6-3 with +100g payload? That seems to be rather optimistic...?

Maximum recommended take of weights for such engines lay between 100-120g...?

[Updup]

Made one with a B motor, I'll be sure and post the results after I shoot it week after next.

[dagabu]

Seems kind of odd to use premade motors, why not make your own?

[Updup]

Seems kind of odd to use premade motors, why not make your own?

 

 

Had these on hand and dont have tooling, or patince at the moment to prefect a rocket motor. Working with can shells right now

[Juiceh]

Ghost, have you ever tested a C-Class engine like C6-3 with +100g payload? That seems to be rather optimistic...?

Maximum recommended take of weights for such engines lay between 100-120g...?

 

I've fired off D and E series engines with payloads over 150 Grams and they have gone pretty high. I never bothered trying the smaller engines. Go big or go home. Now I'm making my own BP engines and they put the E engines to shame.

Edited September 23, 2010 by Juiceh

[mabuse00]

D and E series engines

Can't get them in germany without a license;)

 

20g fuel ist the limit.

 

For Bigger ones DIY is the only way.

[dagabu]

I have a drawer full of Estes motors from the four boys doing rockets but we all gave up on them when we started pressing our own. A 3# Universal Tooling Hybrid chocked motor in a 40" rocket is just un-freaking believable!

 

I have already told this story but when we launched one in the park (it was an Estes rocket with a shorty 3# BP motor) a while ago, a cop came running up to me and we all had a serious sphincter pucker but when he stopped, he asked where we got a motor like that?

 

I told him it was homemade and he was really impressed with the tail and the performance. It went up about as high as an Estes motor but it was a far cry from the store bought ones.