Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | BSD High Power Rocketry ![]() |
Brief:
T' BSD Intrepid is a 2-stage interchangeable high powered rocket. Ahoy! Versions can
be 38mm boost t' a 29mm rocket, a single stage 29mm rocket, me bucko, or a single stage
38mm rocket. Dual deployment was altered and timer bay was added by the
builder.
Construction:
Body tube material be t' typical glassine coated cardboard. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Fins and bulkheads
were aircraft quality 3/16" plywood. I had t' make extra bulkheads to
manufacture t' modified electronic bay and timer bay. Begad! Blimey! T' kit included plastic
rivets, me bucko, me hearties, rail buttons, 9/16" tubular nylon shock cord, and BSD's motor
retention system. Avast! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Since t' possibilities for recovery were so varied, I was
required t' provide me own parachute. Avast! Blimey! Attachment hardware was also included. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey!
PROs:
CONs:
Finishing:
PROs:
CONs:
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' recommended motors per t' BSD website are: Booster: 38mm; I211, I284,
J350; Sustainer: 29mm; H128, matey, H180, ya bilge rat, matey, I200. On t' first flight I used a Pro38
I205 staged t' an AT H238. Well, blow me down! Prior t' this I had ZERO timer experience. T' boost
was good but t' sustainer failed t' fire. Avast! Avast! My second try be with t' same set
up. Aye aye! Blimey! T' altitude was only 1900', nay too impressive for a 2 stage rocket. My
third shot be with a J350 in t' booster and an H180 in t' sustainer. Begad! This
was t' best flight I have done. Begad! Ya scallywag! Straight as an arrow up, good stagin' to
3200', arrr, matey, and a good recovery.
T' only CON
to this rocket in flight be t' sustainer/booster set up. Avast! Begad! T' motor mount in
the sustainer is designed too far up into t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Begad! When t' second motor
lights, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' interior o' t' tube was severely scorched preventin' any future
mate up with t' booster. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Next time I would either redesign t' mate up, shiver me timbers, coat
the interior o' t' sustainer portion with epoxy or fiberglass or use a small
BP charge t' separate t' booster from t' sustainer prior t' ignition. Avast! A
little forethought on me part would have prevented this. Begad! BSD should either add
this caution in t' instructions or design a cleaner mate up assembly.
Recovery:
T' recovery was pretty straightforward. Arrr! Avast! T' drogue separated at apogee and the
main came out at 300'. Blimey! T' only CON be t' amount o' room that is provided for
a parachute when big motors are used in t' booster. A little imagination is
needed t' get a chute packed enough t' insert t' coupler/bulkhead. T' motor
forward closure was only about an inch from t' bulkhead. Begad! Blimey! Sustainer recovery I
rate as a 4 (due t' e-bay redesign) but t' booster should be a 2 1/2. Begad! Blimey! A little
more room is needed.
Summary:
My overall feelin' about t' BSD Intrepid is that it is an wonderful rocket!
With some HPR buildin' experience behind you, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, this rocket is an easy kit to
assemble and fly. Well, me hearties, blow me down! It allows for a lot o' modification if needed or desired. Well, blow me down! It
was a great entry rocket for me into 2 stage rocketry.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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Mark Saunders BSD High Power Rocketry Glendale, AZ http://www.bsdrocketry.com (January 12, 2005)