Samantha's Estes Big Daddy |
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In building the Estes Big Daddy we decided to throw the elastic shock cord in the trash. Instead we used a length of 1/8" nylon rope. I also put some fiberglass on the bottom centering ring to make it a little stronger considering that we're not going to be using a "recommended" motor in this thing. We also omitted the motor hook to make it easier to use the 24/40 case from Rouse-Tech that we picked up. |
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View looking down of the top centering ring right before having Samantha epoxy it in. |
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Bottom centering ring epoxied and fin fillets. Next time we do a kit like this we're going to need to re enforce the fins with something to keep the balsa from cracking. |
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Launch lug on, just needing to attach the nose. |
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No time for paint, springfest was the next 3 days. |
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We launched at springfest naked on an E18W flight was good but I neglected to put enough tape on the shoulder of the nose cone so it wasn't tight enough and drag separated way too early. when it came down it had a little crack in one fin that I had to fix, but it's still in great shape and ready for paint now. |
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I painted the rocket white and sprayed some florescent paints on it. Samantha then put little ring stickers all over it. |
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This rocket looks huge compared to the little 8 year old girl that it belongs too. |
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1st coat of black top coat. |
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2nd coat. |
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removing the stickers, looks good so far. |
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Clear coat |
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Under black light, I didn't have a tripod for this shot so it's a little blurry but you get the idea. |
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Samantha with her rocket. |
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Rocket on the pad! |
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5,4,3,2,1.... |
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looks great at liftoff |
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this thing even looks cool coming down under chute. |
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Samantha launched again at the June local launch. The copperhead igniter shorted out twice before I found a real igniter and got it airborne. |
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Great flight, nice and straight, climbed high, arched over, and oops... |
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That something would be the ejection charge... The spotted big daddy came in nice and straight, every bit as aerodynacic nose down as it was nose up. The little rocket did a great impression of a lawn dart. I'm thinking that not only is this chapter of rocketry over, but I owe Sammy a new rocket... |
