24 replies to this topic

[adamw]

The power station near me, I dont know who its owned by now... one day it's British, then its American, then its another European, and back to Brit again...

[Robbie414]

Hey Bernie

Yeah I am still amazed that no one get skewered by one or two...hmm "its raining wood...halleluiah" i'm sure there is a song there!

Thats why my rockets don't have sticks...i like the look a a nice crisped launch pad, sounds cool too! I also use chutes for the big stuff, which fail about 1 in 10 and its always the 1 with the digital cam in!

My next project is a three stage baby! Anyone built one with any luck???

[kamikazi_watermelon]

i made my first rocket from paper tower rolls, alot of glue, and foam disk's .

[zanes]

i'm experimenting with rokets, should they be fin stabilized or stick stabilised (there very small!)

[phildunford]

I've had no luck with rockets!

I'm using a 'traditional' cored design, 1/2" by 4". 1/4" clay choke.

First I tried a BP mix (from weingart I think) - not enough omph (if that's the correct technical term!). did not get off the launch pad.

Then saw somewhere to use BP for small rockets, so tried some of my best BP -

BIG BANG

small bits of rocket dust over a large area!

Clearly I need something between the two... John Bate (circa 400 years ago) suggests 80% BP 20 fine charcoal. Will try that next unless anyone has a better idea.

[Mortartube]

Try this, this is how I do it.

http://groups.google...ve.co.uk&rnum=1

[Rhodri]

Good stuff Mr Tube, good stuff!

[Matt]

I have recently started using chrysanthemum #6. I use it for a crapload of things now. If I make a rocket oh lets say 12mm ID 8cm long with a 5mm core with chrissy #6 the rocket will shoot up then keep on going and going and going and going, really cool things to watch but they wouldnt be able to take anything up with em.

I also make 12mm ID rockets with a core of about 4 cm with chrissy #6 and these take up film can size shells with ease! Im sure there are more efficient fuels out there for the job but everything i make now i am amazed by because I now have a ball mill, I have trouble getting a rocket not to take off!
Adios.

-Matt

[BigG]

The simplest fuel to start with is BP, since you should have plenty laying around anyway for other compositions. Even without good tooling, you should have no problem constructing a simple Rocket that goes up. Payloads is where accurate tooling improve performance - but even without, small rockets with small payloads should be an easy thing to master.

Matt, I am not sure I understand you ? you are using chrysanthemum #6 for both stars and fual?

BigG

[Matt]

Spot on, it makes nice stars and has a great burn rate for rocket fuels and so on.

-Matt