6 replies to this topic

[Hi-Fi.re]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to create a hole new post for this but ive searched the Forums, Passfire and Google with no luck, im trying to put a nice simple tail on my rocket and heard that rockets with tails have comets on them but where do you put them on the rocket? My only idea is in the picture below but im really unsure.


Thanks Ryan,

Edited by Hi-Fi.re, 05 August 2008 - 04:37 PM.

[Mortartube]

Your picture would probably function but it is a lot of work.


Most rockets with tails contain metal powders such as Titanium in the rocket mix, Sometimes the first increment is pressed without any metals to help give an added thrust at the start. They need pressing, NOT ramming and drilling.

If you can't press them, make a normal motor and then you can make up a pillbox star (one end sealed), with a mix such as tigertail or brocade and fix this to the outside of the rocket case near the mouth of the rocket on the opposite side to the stick. Make sure it is well glued on. Run a piece of fuse to this star timed so it will light about when the rocket will take off. It only needs to burn for 3 or 4 seconds.

Some Spanish flight rockets had a colour star fixed on like this so you might see a red or green dot travelling upwards before it burst in flight.

Edited by Mortartube, 05 August 2008 - 04:39 PM.

[dr thrust]

hello the simplest rocket tail is the inclusion of extra charcoal to the rocket comp firstly mill your desired comp depending on what size of rocket and if its a core burner or end burner after milling just add 5% extra charcoal by screening into the comp, ram or press and there you have it you'll get a lovely long orange spark tail this is well in the realms of first rocket experiments.

much much later on when you have experience in reliable motors and making stars, shells, bp match, you can build rockets like this with a comet on top of a shell fused to the mouth with quick match heres a pic its not my work but i have built a few of these and its worth the effort , timings a bit of an issue with the comet igniting and burning before the dam thing gets off the ground

[Hi-Fi.re]

Thanks Guys,

Looks like ill start with extra charcoal first, then like you say start adding effects when the motors become more reliable. I made my first serious rocket on Sunday night. Even i was impressed with its performance. My parents and aunty and uncle where watching and expected a few sparks from a paper tube but it was brill, went higher than most rockets we buy and had a the lift off sound to match, put the biggest grin ever on my face.

Does the comet on top of the shell act as a delay or is the shell ignigted from the motor?

[dr thrust]

the delay grain is under the shell built into the motor, the comet and its fusing are independant and dont effect the motor or shell, read up on the" rockets with headers" posts, a lot of reading!

Edited by chris m, 05 August 2008 - 07:29 PM.

[Hi-Fi.re]

Ok got it, For a simple comet what leaves the longest thickest tail chrysanthemum #6,
chrysanthemum #8 or Tiger Tail ?

[dr thrust]

there all very similar in performance, try a comet comp like this by Lancaster 55kno3, 15 sulfur, 25 charcoal, 5 dextrin pumped and left to dry for about three weeks