Assemblage:

Assembly:
Toose Dager is a 2-stage rocket design which incorporates all o' t' latest technology and special features that are seen on t' flyin' range today. Arrr! From t' stagin' timer mounted in t' sustainer t' t' tubular nylon and high quality Rocketman parachutes t' Toose Dager is designed t' perform and last. Ahoy! T' parts list is complete except for t' electronics package. Begad! There are many brands o' altimeters and timers on t' market today and any combination o' them can be used. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Most will fit into a standard 3inch airframe 6 inches long.

Construction is straight forward and similar t' most high power rockets.

Fins, me bucko, Centerin' Rings and Motor mounts:
T' thru-the-wall fins are bonded t' t' motor tube, two centerin' rings and filleted t' t' BT both inner and outer. Aye aye! Blimey! A third centerin' rin' is near t' top o' t' MMT inside t' coupler section. T' fins are laminated with 3/32 plywood for stiffness and airfoiling. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! There is no fiberglass cloth used anywhere. Begad! Blimey! T' airframe sections are all short and stout and most are strengthened by internal couplers. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! There is a fourth rin' added t' t' aft end o' t' sustainer MMT used for motor retention (BloomBolts) and igniter terminals.

Zipperless Design Features:
Both t' booster and sustainer incorporate t' zipperless features seen commonly today. T' booster is motor ejection charge recovery only so therefore has holes in t' upper bulkhead. Ahoy! T' upper bulkhead in t' sustainer fin can is solid. Begad! This coupler compartment be t' timer electronics bay. Blimey! T' timer bay has a floor in it t' also. Ya scallywag! An all-thread rod is used t' attach t' top o' t' timer bay with a win' nut. Begad! Blimey! A U-bolt is mounted in this bulkhead for strong recovery tether attachment.

Key Construction Steps:
When installin' t' couplers, several o' them bottom out on a bulkhead. Therefore, it is critical t' bond them in t' proper sequence with epoxy only in t' right places.

T' Stagin' coupler:
This coupler is bonded t' t' upper end o' t' interstage airframe and butts against lower CR (at t' base o' t' fin tab) o' t' sustainer. Ahoy! Avast! For ultimate strength o' this airframe junction, it is critical t' have t' coupler positioned so it makes contact with t' CR simutainiously with t' BT pieces meeting. Aye aye! T' accomplish this, t' coupler is slid into t' sustainer until it makes contact with t' CR. Ahoy! Then epoxy is smeared all around t' inside o' t' interstage airframe. T' airframe pieces are joined together and immediatly pulled apart makin' sure t' extract t' coupler without it movin' in t' interstage airframe. T' coupler is now positioned in t' interstage airframe precisely.

T' Altimeter Bay:
T' altimeter bay is nay a weak link in t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! It is held in place with all-thread rod and sandwiched betwixt coupler rings and perforated bulkheads. Aye aye! Blimey! This is done by assemblin' t' altimeter bay, coupler rings and perforated bulkheads as a unit which positions them properly for bonding. Arrr! Ya scallywag! With a 1/2 inch rin' o' BT bonded t' t' midline o' t' AB and t' all-thread rod extendin' 1" beyond each end, 1" rings o' coupler material are sandwiched betwixt t' AB bulkheads and t' perforated bulkheads. T' perforated bulkheads have 1"long coupler nuts bonded into them. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Epoxy is then applied t' t' inside o' t' airframe segments which bonds -only- t' perforated bulkheads and coupler rings. Blimey! When dry, t' AB is twisted and unscrews from t' airframe.

Notes: T' eyebolts extend 1/2" into t' coupler nuts. Aye aye! Begad! T' all thread rod goes in t' t' middle from t' other direction. T' red squiggly lines represent t' bonded area. Avast! Epoxy is smeared on t' inside surface o' t' BT t' bond only t' area shown. Ahoy! T' left hand (brown) bulkhead on t' AB is bonded on. Arrr! T' one on t' opposite end is removable and held in place with a win' nut. Avast! T' end bulkheads are perforated with 1/4 or 3/8 inch holes t' allow t' ejection charge t' pressurize t' appropriate area (arrows).

T' altimeter is housed in a coupler with one bonded bulkhead (left) and one which is removable (right end). On t' left airframe section you can easily see t' threaded coupler nut and washer in t' perforated bulkhead. Aye aye! An eyebolt is threaded into t' opposite end o' t' coupler nut.

Also visible be t' rin' o' phenolic coupler material which can be seen down by t' perf. bulkhead. Well, blow me down! When t' altimeter bay is threaded into t' BT it stops when; T' threaded rod bottoms out in t' coupler nut; T' bulkhead o' t' altimeter bay hits t' phenolic coupler rin' section; And t' BT airframe (white) makes contact with t' BT band (white) on t' altimeter bay. (which needs 3 3/16 holes)

T' Booster:
T' booster is just long enough t' handle a J350. T' fins are thru t' wall t' t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! Avast! Nay shown be t' rail button which is screwed into t' aft CR. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Also, BloomBolts have been added t' t' aft CR for positive motor retention. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! (see sustainer)

Finished Rocket:
It's about 8 feet tall when all put together. Aye aye! I plan on a first flight May 7th at our local club launch. Avast, me proud beauty! An I300 in t' booster and a G80 in t' top half will keep it under 5000 feet out at Monroe. Later in May, me bucko, me hearties, in Oregon, I'll let it air out a bit more on an I300 t' I161 or so. Then, arrr, ya bilge rat, down in Blackrock, matey, why nay a J350 t' J350?

T' Launch!
I had t' strap on a couple o' 1/2 inch launch lugs because I don't have a rail. Begad! Blimey! I did all t' prep at t' house except igniter insertion and final chute packing. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! My buddy Mike Kallgren met me at t' farm and we packed t' chutes, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, checked off on t' electronics, loaded it on t' 3/8ths rod and installed igniters. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Mike took t' photos while I checked t' range, skies and continuity. "SIG Cap'n Scarlet", all systems go!

T' igniter caught fire and t' nozzle emmited a small orange flame just a split second before t' purple Blue Thunder boost o' t' H242S sent it off t' pad. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' launch be straight up, vertical. Well, blow me down! Blimey! At 2 seconds t' Olsen EZ Timer lit t' upper stage G80 FWL and all Mike and I saw was a cloud o' smoke. I watched t' booster arc over and saw (and heard) t' chute deploy. T' sustainer kept climbin' until a gradual arc at appogee triggered t' Adept Alts2 drouge charge. Avast! Begad! I was really happy at this point but even more pleased when t' main deployed at it's programed 600 feet AGL and t' rocket landed safely out in t' grassy field. Avast! Perfect first flight! T' altimeter be beepin' out 1511. My first 2 Stager!