This is the Madcow Squat rocket. I've wanted one of these since the Lake Lucerne LDRS but they were out of production. For the next 18 months I bugged Mike at Madcow about once a month about the Squat. Finally about three months ago, Mike told me he had found a stack of fin blanks and that the Squat would be in Black Friday sale. I couldn't wait and bought one before the Black Friday Sale. It's everything I hoped it would be.
The Squat is not exactly a beginner's rocket as there are some modifications required to get get the center of gravity where it belongs and there's also the issue of having only a couple of inches between the top of the motor mount and the base of the unmodified nose cone.
Using the review found here on MyRocketReviews.com as a guide, I cut the base of the nose cone off, added 70 grams of BB's and epoxy in the tip of the nose cone. I used short lengths of bamboo skewer inserted through the nose cone to hold the epoxy in place. I also added a 3" diameter 1/4" plywood bulkhead in the nose cone to mount the recovery train attachment point. To insure that it wasn't going anywhere, I also used small wood screws though the nose cone into the bulkhead for security.
The finished rocket weighs a bit...okay 12 ounces more than the suggested weight of 30 ounces. Then again, I like a glossy fluorescent pinkpaint job with metallic black trim and clear coat over it all. It does add weight.
Flight Date: | 2013-04-13 |
Rocket Name: | Madcow Squat |
Kit Name: | Madcow Rocketry - Squat {Kit} |
Flyer's Name: | K Sonesen |
Motors: | I218R-7 |
Expected Altitude: | 1,600 Feet |
Wind Speed: | 1.00 mph |
Launch Site: | SARG - Amoruso Field |
Totally dead air at the time of launch. The big 36" Fruity Chutes CFC-36 hung the Squat for a good three minutes before dropping into the ONLY puddle on the field. 20' in diameter on a field that is a mile in any direction from the launch pads.
As noted in previously recorded flight, the Madcow Squat flies better than it swims.
Stage | Motor(s) |
---|---|
1 | Aerotech I218R-7 |