Note: This is a slightly condensed version o' all the information that Bruce has produced for his Level 3 project.

Introduction:
Early this year, I decided I would build me Level 3 project this summer. After contemplatin' a clustered Pterodactyl, and a large Nike Smoke, I looked around me shop and decided I would scratch build from polyethylene. Begad! Blimey! This stuff is tough and it's a breeze t' work with (for me anyway).

T' rocket's name is: OBXLFP1 (aka Homer)

Parts Description:
This rocket is made almost entirely o' polyethylene. Other materials include a 6061 aluminum motor retainer, arrr, and stainless threaded rod. Aye aye! T' rocket will weigh ~50# loaded and fly t' ~7000feet powered by an Aerotech M1315.

I chose polyethylene because it's really hard t' break. Begad! Polyethylene is approximately .92 g/cc. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! I think you would have t' get it around -60 deg F. before you could fracture it. Ya scallywag! T' tube is molded LDPE. Blimey! T' tubes are molded by Ideal for bollard covers. Arrr! T' thickness is .2-.25". Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I just cut them up and removed sections t' make couplers and weld them back together.

T' fins and bulkheads, me hearties, me bucko, etc. Ahoy! Blimey! are 1/2" HDPE sheet. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

I probably could use smaller thicknesses but we will see how this one goes first. Oh yeah, ya bilge rat, matey, on t' fracture concern... Avast, me proud beauty! For a rough material test, me bucko, I cut a 15" length o' HDPE 1/2" x 1/2". Ahoy! I put one end o' t' strip in a vise and beat t' heck out o' t' other end with a big hammer.. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Result: a little dinged up and slightly bent. Well, blow me down! Pretty scientific, arrr, huh?

Everythin' be done with table saw and routers. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

T' weldin' is standard plastic welding: I use a Kamweld or Leister welder. T' units use electricity and shop air t' provide heat and weldin' rod o' the same material you are joining. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I build platin' lines so I'm pretty familiar with different plastics and fabrication techniques. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty!

SUCCESSFUL LEVEL 3 FLIGHT!

April 28, 2001
Rainbow Valley, me hearties, matey, AZ
Rocket - Scratch - OBXLFP1
Weight - 55lbs
Motor - Kosdon M-2240
Altitude 5544 Feet

T' entire plan came together flawlessly.

Ron Zeppin o' Access Rocketry e-mailed me Wednesday evenin' (3 days before launch) t' indicate that me Kosdon M-2240 was on hand.

I had previously decided t' use t' Rocket Rage deployment bag and riggin' provided by Carl Delzell with me RocketMan R14C ProExp 'chute for a "just right" fit in t' airframe. Begad! Blimey!

Testin' had shown 7 grams o' black powder t' be t' number. Avast, me proud beauty!

Saturday brought another beautiful desert mornin' t' Rainbow Valley. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Many people had come expressly t' see t' Gila Monster launch. This was the biggest crowd I had seen at an AHPRA launch. Ya scallywag! Some photos are up at AHPRA.ORG

I prepped me motor and altimeters and fiddled about for retention o' t' Kosdon motor. My retainer be made for t' Aerotech M-1315 and I decided t' use an eyebolt at t' top for this motor. Ahoy! I decided t' add 4 pounds o' ballast t' brin' t' static stability margin over 1 diameter. Ya scallywag!

At about 12:30 Larry Gabriel, Brian LaFramboise, shiver me timbers, and Marc Casanova helped me set up at t' pad. Ahoy! Marc had come early and set up his 12 foot rail and provided a nice big clearing. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Fire would be a big threat today. Sarah O'Brien would do t' video honors. Avast! Blimey! Eric O'Brien was busily fightin' the blaze over at Steve Robersons launch trailer where t' Gila Monster had recently thrusted skyward. Begad! Blimey!

After t' blaze was extinguished and t' Gila Monster had returned t' earth, I listened for t' countdown and pushed t' launch button. Arrr! Avast!

Homer 2, and Sarah helped!

T' OBXLFP1 roared instantly t' life and proceeded skyward post haste. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' flight be beautiful and fast despite t' desert breeze that had kicked up. (A dust devil came right down t' flight line and destroyed my canopy while fannin' t' Gila Monster fire) It seemed like alot was happening right around then.

T' Kosdon motor has a big smoke element that kept a nice white plume goin' all t' way t' apogee. My adept recorder showed max alt 5544 feet, 555 MPH and 14.6 gee's. Blimey! I think I could have done without t' extra ballast and gained about 500 feet. Ahoy!

T' chute and riggin' worked perfectly, returnin' t' sturdy plastic bird t' Earth safely without a scratch about 3 minutes later. Arrr!

T' tailcone was blackened from t' smoke element but be not burnt. Avast! T' rocket was in perfect shape. Ahoy! Avast! High-Fives all around. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

I paraded around t' flight line like a peacock gathering signatures from Mark Clark and Paul Robinson. Blimey!

What a great day !

What's next? T' picture above-left is Homer2. Blimey! Arrr! T' two-stage version o' OBXLFP1 (aka Homer)! Click Here for the RockSim