Dave Sullivan's PageAKA: Big Sully Location: Southern California Certification Level: None Club Memberships: None Favorite Rockets: F with Multiple D Pods Biography: Many, ya bilge rat, many years ago as a young man, arrr, I built and launched model rockets as a hobby. After high school however, it slipped away for t' normal reasons - work, school, military, family, career. There be always somethin' with a higher priority that kept me old passions away. I'm now approachin' t' mid century mark. A short while back, me son's scout troop built model rockets t' launch durin' one o' their campouts. Helpin' him and me daughter build their rockets for that trip reminded me o' t' joy I experienced way back in t' day. So I figured I would give it a go once again. Spend a little quality "me" time, workin' on rocket projects. And now that I'm older - it's go big or go home, right? Besides, I just can't let t' other Dad's in the troop show me up! So we'll see where this leads me....
RocketReviews.com Pages:
2014-07-27F with Multiple D Pods Build  . Build
My project be t' US Rockets “F with Multiple D Pods” rocket kit. T' kits I built back in t' day and t' most recent kits that I built with me kids were simple, straight forward Estes kits. So for me next project, me hearties, I wanted t' try a cluster motor kit with ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Final Product  Build Entry
And here be t' completed rocket, arrr, ready for launch (sans motors). Arrr! T' decals used were from t' replacement Saturn V Decal sheet from Apogee, with t' exception o' t' NASA emblem that I made. Blimey! T' large black trackin' marks just below t' American flag were made usin' ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Close up o' Finished SRB and lower main body tube  Build Entry
This is a view o' t' completed lower portion o' t' main body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! I added small pieces o' black MonoKote t' t' leadin' edges o' t' tailfins.
You can see at one point on t' inner seam o' t' left “C” SRB, me bucko, where thar was some bubblin' in t' epoxy fillet. Begad! ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Almost Done  Build Entry
Here be t' almost completed rocket. All four SRB’s have been mounted, t' main body tube completely painted, and at this point, I was in process o' mountin' t' SRB nose cones.
Once mounted and t' spaces where t' holes betwixt t' SRB and t' main body tubes meet ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - T' Final Touches  Build Entry
Here be t' completed main body tube, arrr, with t' plastic body wraps installed. T' body has been primed, ya bilge rat, t' upper portion has been painted with gloss white and t' bottom portion is ready for a final coat o' gloss orange paint. Aye aye! I also elected t' paint t' fins silver so ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Finishin' t' SRB's  Build Entry
Here is a picture o' an almost finished SRB tube. T' homemade decals worked out better than I had hoped, and their thickness actually gives each band a bit o' depth addin' t' its reality! I kept t' bottom o' t' SRB open t' allow t' application o' tape t' hold t' ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Body Wraps and Finishin' t' SRB's  Build Entry
When I started this kit, I decided that I would move away from t' normal kit look o' a white body with red trim, and do somethin' a little more interesting. I decided t' theme me rocket after more modern rockets includin' t' new Ares rockets, ya bilge rat, with a white main body, matey, orange ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Startin' t' Paint  Build Entry
T' final coat o' gloss white paint on t' external pods, their nose cones and t' main nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Once dry, I then decorated t' external pods t' make them look like SRB’s. Blimey!
[More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Still Building  Build Entry
Once t' payload bay was complete, I noticed t' pointy part o' t' threads o' t' eye screw significantly protruded into t' bay. Aye aye! This caused me t' wonder if it could damage anythin' that I might put in thar (say like me altimeter perhaps). Begad! So I found a really thick ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Beginnin' Assembly  Build Entry
After all o' t' prep work be complete, arrr, I began t' assemble t' rocket. Begad! 29mm motor mount, 24mm adapter, t' two couplers (one for t' main airframe and t' other for t' base o' t' payload bay). Arrr! These parts were assembled usin' wood glue, me hearties, and then reinforced and ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Prep Continued  Build Entry
After gettin' t' wood pieces squared away, arrr, I cut out t' holes that were called for in t' body tube and external pods (my first attempt at this type o' design). Begad! After usin' t' template in t' instructions that showed where your body tube lines needed t' be, I made me guide ... [More]
F with Multiple D Pods Build - Parts Prep  Build Entry
T' begin, I prepped all o' t' wood pieces usin' sandin' sealer and once dry I gave them a quick goin' over with some 120 grit sand paper t' knock t' roughness out. Avast, me proud beauty! Then I prepped all pieces with wood filler t' fill in any holes, voids, and t' body tube seams. Avast, me proud beauty!
I then ... [More]
2012-10-20CC Express Flight Wind kicked up a little, so at launch I gave it a bit more o' an angle. Wind didn't seem t' have an effect durin' flight - it just screamed straight up! Great launch, 2nd-stage lit clean, good deployment, however t' wind at altitude grabbed it and took it for about 1/4 mile down ... [More]
CC Express Flight Didn't think it would go any higher - and it did! Great launch, arrr, 2nd-stage lit without a hitch, shiver me timbers, good deployment. Recovery was entertainin' as what little wind thar be brought it almost back t' t' launch site. Aye aye! - D12-0/D12-7 - Anza-Borrego, CA [More]
CC Express Flight This thin' smoked! Fast straight launch, second stage lit off perfectly. Much higher than expected. Good deployment, no damage on landing. Actually found t' 2nd stage (always a plus)! - D12-0/D12-5 - Anza-Borrego, CA [More]
Pink Power Ranger Flight Second flight as perfect as t' first. Clean, me hearties, straight launch, good deployment and recovery. Well, blow me down! Blimey! - C6-5 - Anza-Borrego, CA [More]
Pink Power Ranger Flight Great launch, ya bilge rat, straight climb, good deployment and recovery. Arrr!
- C6-5 - Anza-Borrego, CA [More]
Alpha III Flight Arced approx. Begad! 30 deg at launch, good deployment and recovery. No guess t' altitude but much lower than previous flights. - C6-5 - Anza-Borrego, CA [More]
Alpha III Flight Great flight, straight climb, good deployment, recovery a bit further down range. Slight burning/meltin' o' fin tips. - C6-5 - Anza-Borrego, CA [More]
Alpha III Flight Perfect maiden flight, me hearties, straight, nice deployment, recovery wasn't far from t' launch site. Begad! - B4-4 - Anza-Borrego, CA [More]
| Dave Sullivan |
