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. Arrr! Blimey! Versions can
be 38mm boost t' a 29mm rocket, me bucko, me bucko, a single stage 29mm rocket, shiver me timbers, or a single stage
38mm rocket. Ya scallywag! Dual deployment be altered and timer bay was added by the
builder.
Construction:
Body tube material be t' typical glassine coated cardboard. Ya scallywag! Fins and bulkheads
were aircraft quality 3/16" plywood. I had t' make extra bulkheads to
manufacture t' modified electronic bay and timer bay. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit included plastic
rivets, me hearties, matey, shiver me timbers, rail buttons, 9/16" tubular nylon shock cord, arrr, and BSD's motor
retention system. Well, blow me down! Since t' possibilities for recovery were so varied, me bucko, I was
required t' provide me own parachute. Attachment hardware was also included. Blimey! Begad!
PROs:
CONs:
Finishing:
PROs:
CONs:
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' recommended motors per t' BSD website are: Booster: 38mm; I211, me hearties, I284,
J350; Sustainer: 29mm; H128, H180, arrr, I200. Aye aye! Blimey! On t' first flight I used a Pro38
I205 staged t' an AT H238. Arrr! Prior t' this I had ZERO timer experience. Avast! Begad! T' boost
was good but t' sustainer failed t' fire. Blimey! My second try be with t' same set
up. T' altitude was only 1900', me bucko, nay too impressive for a 2 stage rocket. Avast! Ahoy! My
third shot was with a J350 in t' booster and an H180 in t' sustainer. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This
was t' best flight I have done. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Straight as an arrow up, good stagin' to
3200', shiver me timbers, me bucko, and a good recovery.
T' only CON to this rocket in flight be t' sustainer/booster set up. T' motor mount in the sustainer is designed too far up into t' body tube. When t' second motor lights, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' interior o' t' tube be severely scorched preventin' any future mate up with t' booster. Ahoy! Next time I would either redesign t' mate up, me bucko, 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. Aye aye! A little forethought on me part would have prevented this. Arrr! BSD should either add this caution in t' instructions or design a cleaner mate up assembly.
Recovery:
T' recovery was pretty straightforward. Ahoy! Begad! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! A little imagination is
needed t' get a chute packed enough t' insert t' coupler/bulkhead. Begad! T' motor
forward closure be only about an inch from t' bulkhead. Aye aye! Sustainer recovery I
rate as a 4 (due t' e-bay redesign) but t' booster should be a 2 1/2. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! 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, shiver me timbers, this rocket is an easy kit to
assemble and fly. Aye aye! Aye aye! It allows for a lot o' modification if needed or desired. Ya scallywag! 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)