[Not displaying correctly? View web version.] | Peak-of-Flight Newsletter #591: | A common question we get is which shock cord material is “best.” For those of you that know me, I abhor the word “best.” If there was one that was best, then why would we even bother to sell all the other types of shock cords? In reality, there is “optimal,” but it depends on the situation you find yourself in. The result is that you’ll find that there are several choices you’ll have to make. This article will be an in depth review of the different materials that people have used for the shock cord of a model or high-power rocket, and help you make a decision on what you should use in your next rocket design. | Read the rest of this week's article, either on a downloadable PDF for printing out, or on our website (great for viewing on your phone)! Previous issues of our newsletter are found at our archive page. |
Check out the latest products to hit Apogee's shelves! Quick Change Motor Mount Kits | Do you want to design your own rockets with a quick change motor mount system, like seen in the Quick Draw rocket (shown below)? We now have four different motor mount kits for BT-80 (or 2.6" diameter heavy wall tube) size rockets that you can swap out quickly. This will allow you to fly your design with a single 29mm, or as a cluster of 2, 3, or 4 rocket motors. You will need the Fixed Mount for each rocket you build, but the removable mounts can be swapped kit to kit! You'll have the versatility that you've never before had. Imagine one rocket that you can change out motor mounts to fly any combination of motors you want. Check them out! |
Quick Draw Rocket | New from Apogee Components is the Quick Draw model rocket kit. It is the ultimate in versatility and excitement. With its interchangeable motor mount system, you can choose to launch the rocket with a single motor for a thrilling ride, or go all out with a cluster of three motors for an epic launch. Comes with two quick-change motor mounts - a single 29mm motor, or a cluster of three 24mm motors. Plus you can get additional motor mounts for launching as a two or four engine cluster. |
LaunchMaster Control Battery | The North Coast Rocketry's LaunchMaster™ takes a special battery. And now we have them available here. This rechargeable 3000mAh, 7.2V battery has the capacity for hundreds of launches between charges. It also has the current capability to even handle some cluster launches. This product also includes a battery charger so you can use this recharable battery for years and years. This simple-to-use charger plugs into a standard household electric outlet, so you don't need anything extra to make it work. |
Conductive Starter Mix | Save those old igniter wires, as they can easily be reused to make new igniters! The Conductive Starter Mix from QuickBurst allows you to have the reloadable igniter so you save money. This updated mix works well with BOTH black powder and composite motors! Make your own motor starters from an ordinary two-conductor wire. NO bridge wire needed. And reuse the same wire over and over again. Just mix and dip. And dip again and again. |
Quest E35 Single-Use Motors | The Quest E35W might become one of your favorite mid-power rocket motors that are 24mm in diameter. This is a FULL E-motor, being at the upper limit of just under 40 N-s of total power. It has great kick off the launch pad, which is what is needed for heavier rockets or those that are larger in diameter. At 95mm (3.75 inches) long, it is the same size as the Estes E12, but with more power, a huge white flame, and a deep throaty roar. And it still won't go so high that you'll risk losing your rocket. It comes in delays of 5, 8 and 11 seconds. It will be great in the Katana Jr, the LexxJet and the Super Big Bertha rockets (29mm adapter not included). |
Estes Super Big Bertha | The Estes Super Big Bertha is a mid-power rocket using 29mm diameter motors, that is over 3-feet tall and 2.6-inches in diameter. In this upscale of Vern Estes' design, the charm of his original Big Bertha model has not been lost, nor has the low-and-slow flight capabilities. This rocket could be flown all day on Estes E16s and recovered without breaking a sweat. But if you were in the mood for something more, it would fly nicely on any 29mm F motor around. | | |
| The Minotaur XL Plan When we flew the Minotaur XL (plans are in this issue's download), it flew straight like an arrow. We found an open field in Alabama and pondered what the rocket would look like on an E28 motor. As you can see in this simulation, it was awesome! Being able to see the launch in advance of the real flight is always recommended because you can see where it might land. On this launch, did we do good or what? |
“Apogee is owned and run by Tim Van Milligan, a true rocket scientist who took what was once just a hobby and turned it into a virtual rocketry university. No one has labored over the rocketry "hobby" like Tim, supplying the highest level of pedantic material, supplies, and his instructional videos are the best you can find. If you love rocketry, Apogee is your place to learn all about it and Tim is your teacher.” -- Shmool Onzo | |
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I'm now actively seeking writers for articles to appear in this newsletter. And I want unique and cutting-edge articles because that is what you want to read, right? I realize this, so to get articles from outside writers that have the same level of quality, I'm going to have to pay a lot of cash to make it worth it for them. So I've come up with a compensation package where I'll pay up to $350 for good how-to articles. Are you a writer, and does that interest you? That is a lot of cash! Far more than you'll get by writing for other magazines. And with over 23,000 worldwide subscribers, if you write for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter, you'll gain a lot of notoriety. Writing for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter is a great way to show off your rocketry projects and your technical expertise, at the same time as helping out other rocketeers. Imagine how great you'll feel knowing that you made a difference to the hobby. If you're interested in writing, see the guidelines on our site. | |
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