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. Versions can
be 38mm boost t' a 29mm rocket, matey, a single stage 29mm rocket, or a single stage
38mm rocket. Aye aye! Dual deployment was altered and timer bay was added by the
builder.
Construction:
Body tube material be t' typical glassine coated cardboard. Well, blow me down! 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! T' kit included plastic
rivets, rail buttons, ya bilge rat, 9/16" tubular nylon shock cord, and BSD's motor
retention system. Ya scallywag! Avast! Since t' possibilities for recovery were so varied, I was
required t' provide me own parachute. Attachment hardware was also included. Arrr! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty!
PROs:
CONs:
Finishing:
PROs:
CONs:
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' recommended motors per t' BSD website are: Booster: 38mm; I211, ya bilge rat, I284,
J350; Sustainer: 29mm; H128, H180, I200. Arrr! Blimey! On t' first flight I used a Pro38
I205 staged t' an AT H238. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Prior t' this I had ZERO timer experience. Begad! Blimey! T' boost
was good but t' sustainer failed t' fire. Avast! Blimey! My second try was with t' same set
up. Begad! Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! T' altitude be only 1900', me hearties, nay too impressive for a 2 stage rocket. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! My
third shot be with a J350 in t' booster and an H180 in t' sustainer. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This
was t' best flight I have done. Straight as an arrow up, me hearties, good stagin' to
3200', and a good recovery.
T' only CON to this rocket in flight be t' sustainer/booster set up. Aye aye! T' motor mount in the sustainer is designed too far up into t' body tube. When t' second motor lights, me bucko, 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, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! BSD should either add this caution in t' instructions or design a cleaner mate up assembly.
Recovery:
T' recovery was pretty straightforward. T' drogue separated at apogee and the
main came out at 300'. Ahoy! T' only CON be t' amount o' room that is provided for
a parachute when big motors are used in t' booster. Ahoy! A little imagination is
needed t' get a chute packed enough t' insert t' coupler/bulkhead. Avast! T' motor
forward closure be only about an inch from t' bulkhead. Avast, me proud beauty! Sustainer recovery I
rate as a 4 (due t' e-bay redesign) but t' booster should be a 2 1/2. 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, matey, arrr, this rocket is an easy kit to
assemble and fly. Arrr! Blimey! It allows for a lot o' modification if needed or desired. Blimey! 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)