T' MegaBlast is me first High Power rocket o' me own design. Begad! Blimey! This is the "journal" o' its construction. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Hold your mouse over t' photo t' read the description. Begad! Ahoy! Click on t' photos t' view t' larger picture. Well, blow me down!

T' MegaBlast is constructed out o' LOC 4" tubing, shiver me timbers, and uses a single 38mm H motor. Original, me plans called for 1/8" plywood fins, but I could nay find any sheets that were nay warped. So I decided t' go with 1/4" plywood. Blimey! The fins were cut usin' a razor saw. Well, blow me down! Blimey! After all three fins were cut, it be time to do t' air foiling. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I marked where I wanted t' tapers t' begin, and used maskin' tape as a guide. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I clamped a belt sander t' t' workbench, me hearties, and used it to taper t' leadin' and trailing. Well, blow me down! I was impressed how well I did on the tapers. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I guess buildin' t' THOY Phoenix a couple years ago gave me a lot of practice. Avast, me proud beauty!

Once the fins were done, me hearties, it be time t' make t' motor tube. Blimey! I used VCP t' print out some fin location guides and wraps. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Since t' rocket features T3F, shiver me timbers, I marked the fin locations on t' motor tube. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I also marked t' locations on t' centering rings. Begad! I drilled holes in t' aft centerin' rin' for t' motor retention bolts, and a hole in t' forward centerin' rin' for t' shock cord anchor.

Then, usin' balsa strips, shiver me timbers, I glued guides on t' two aft centering rings. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' purpose o' these guides is t' ensure t' alignment o' t' fins, and to help hold them in place as t' epoxy cures. Begad! Ahoy! Apparently, matey, everythin' turned out great since it can hold itself together without any glue. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty!

I used 2 Ton Epoxy t' assemble t' mount. Begad! First I secured t' three centerin' rings. Well, blow me down! I had t' fins in position so t' rings would be aligned properly. While waitin' for t' epoxy t' cure, shiver me timbers, I went ahead and assembled to bulkhead assembly that will join t' two sections o' t' together. Aye aye! Avast! After the epoxy cured, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me bucko, I epoxied t' fins into their proper position

After all t' epoxy was cured, I attached t' motor mount t' t' airframe. Aye aye! Then I used angle bar t' draw t' slot lines onto the airframe. Blimey! I then removed t' motor mount, and extended t' lines t' 8". Then I used a razor blade t' cut out t' slots. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! When all three slots were cut, I test fitted t' whole assembly. Begad! I be pleased with t' results. Avast!

I then took t' whole assembly apart and concentrated on finishing the motor mount. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! I took some 100 grit sandpaper and roughed up t' motor tube/fin tab joint. Begad! I then cut out some fiberglass strips and epoxied them to the joint. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! While lettin' t' undercoatin' o' epoxy t' soak in, shiver me timbers, I applied epoxy fillits t' all remainin' joints, arrr, and installed t' shock cord anchor. Epoxy was used t' set t' nuts on t' eye-bolt. Blimey! T' fiberglass be then coated with another layer o' epoxy. Blimey! Ahoy! When t' epoxy be cured, I used trimmed away any "hairs" that be stickin' out from t' fiberglass. Then I attached a piece o' tubular nylon t' t' shock cord anchor. Arrr! T' motor mount/fin unit is now finished. Avast!

I then took some two ton epoxy, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and smeared it 16” inside the rear end o' t' tube, ya bilge rat, and smeared some more epoxy just above t' fin slots. I then inserted t' motor mount assembly into t' airframe tubing. Ahoy! After the middle centerin' rin' entered t' tube, I added some more epoxy t' t' end of the tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Then I slid t' motor mount all t' way into t' airframe. Begad! I then used t' remainin' epoxy t' saturate t' leadin' and trailin' edges o' t' fins to make them less prone t' denting. Arrr! Ya scallywag!

After the epoxy cured, I sanded all t' epoxy on t' fins. Begad! I then used tissue paper and a pointed pencil t' fill any gaps betwixt t' tapers o' t' fins, me bucko, and the square ness o' t' fin slots. A mixture o' 2 ton epoxy and microballons was then used t' create fillits on all t' fin and body tub joints. Blimey! After the fillets dried, matey, and sanded, I applied t' first coat o' Bondo glazin' and spot putty t' t' fin fillets. Arrr! I also used t' Bondo t' fill t' spiral on the airframe tubes.

After several application o' Bondo, with sandin' betwixt each application, the MegaBlast was ready for priming. Ahoy! I used Rust Oleium Grey Automotive primer. T' rocket was coated several times with primer, me hearties, shiver me timbers, with sandin' betwixt each coat. Aye aye! T' rocket be now ready t' paint, but what colors should I paint it?

At this time, me hearties, I began t' think about usin' this rocket t' obtain me Level 2 certification flight. Well, blow me down! I passed t' written exam at a recent CMASS meeting, and the MegaBlast would make an ideal vehicle t' fly on a 38mm J motor. Ya scallywag! It will go a little over 4,400 ft with a J350 motor… a bit high for t' CMASS launch site, but doable for t' field in Hallifax, arrr, me hearties, MA. Begad! T' next Frontier launch was May 25th, shiver me timbers, matey, 2002. Arrr! Aye aye! T' date was set. Avast, me proud beauty!

I posted an e-mail on t' CMASS mailin' list, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, askin' if anybody had any J350’s that they can sell me for me L2 flight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Nobody responded about the J350, but Tony Brock-Fisher replied that he had a J570 load, and asked if I could use that. I loaded up me RockSim file again, selected t' J570, “launched” t' rocket on t' computer… and t' software predicted that t' rocket would go over 5,650 feet… OVER A MILE!!!! Blimey! I accepted t' motor offer. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I then gave a call t' Magnum and ordered a Transolve PK Altimeter kit, a new tube coupler, me bucko, a 45” parachute, and a couple bulkheads. Ahoy! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I also went t' a local hardware store and bought some threaded rods, bolts, me hearties, nuts, and other various hardware. Avast! Blimey! It was time t' build me first rocket that uses Dual Deployment. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Fortunately, HobbyTown USA in Plaistow NH offered t' sponsor me L2 project, so some o' me expenses was covered. Now I have a paint scheme t' color me rocket with… t' HobbyTown colors :-). Ya scallywag! I painted t' body o' t' rocket white, the nose cone blue, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and t' fins red. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I used black vynal letterin' t' mark the name on t' rocket, arrr, and I used a HobbyTown decal t' advertise t' sponsor. Aye aye! Now I must admit that I am a beginner at usin' electronics in rockets… I have no experience mountin' electronics in t' rocket, shiver me timbers, and this be t' first time I used Dual Deployment. I decided that I wanted t' altimeter t' go in an enclosed central modual that can be interchanged easily betwixt 4” diameter rockets. Both recovery systems will attach t' t' module, ya bilge rat, so strength is important. So I built an assembly that consisted o' three threaded rods connectin' two plywood bulkheads. Ahoy! Avast! T' rods will support t' stresses o' both recovery systems. T' assembly then slides into a tube coupler, where it is fastened down with four screws. Begad! Ahoy! I was concerned that t' wood used for the bulkheads be on t' thin side, ya bilge rat, but I decided that it was good enough.

Once t' altimeter module was built, it was time to balance t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I put t' rocket together like I was goin' t' fly it. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I loaded t' recovery system, and installed t' loaded J570 motor. Well, blow me down! I hung the rocket on t' ceiling, me bucko, me hearties, and started addin' weight t' t' nose cone until the center o' gravity be where I wanted it t' be. Blimey! I ended up installin' almost a pound o' clay into t' nosecone, arrr, but t' rocket was now balanced. Begad! It now weighed close t' 6 pounds empty, shiver me timbers, matey, a little on t' heavy side for a H. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' flight profile o' t' MegaBlast with a J570 is as follows. At ignition, t' rocket will accelerate off t' launch pad quickly. At 300 feet, shiver me timbers, t' altimeter will start keepin' track o' t' current altitude and engage a 5 second timer. Arrr! This is called t' mach inhibiter, and it prevents the sudden increase in pressure o' t' shock wave caused by a object breakin' the speed o' sound from foolin' t' sensor t' fire t' parachute charges. Well, blow me down! This rocket is subsonic, shiver me timbers, matey, matey, so this feature is nay mandatory. Begad! Blimey! After 5 seconds of flight, arrr, t' mach inhibitor is turned off, me bucko, and both charges are armed. When the rocket reaches apogee (over 1 mile with t' J570), t' altimeter will deploy the drogue chute. Begad! T' drogue chute allows t' rocket t' freefall in a controlled manner. Avast! When 600 ft is obtained, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me bucko, t' altimeter will fire t' last charge t' deploy t' main chute.

May 24th came, and I loaded me car with me MegaBlast, and a few other rockets. I drove 50 miles t' Marlbourgh, where I spent t' night at a friends house. Begad! The next morning, arrr, we traveled t' additional 50 miles t' t' Frontier field in Hallifax… but I was sick. Begad! I only launched one rocket… I decide to test t' altimeter in me EZI-65 with a H242-10T. Begad! Avast! By t' time I got t' rocket back after me first, me hearties, and successful two stage recovery, me bucko, I be too sick t' fly any more rockets.

T' next opportunity t' launch t' MegaBlast came on August 24th, me hearties, me hearties, 2002. Avast, me proud beauty! NARRRRR decided to accept t' Canadian certification o' t' Pro38 J class motors. Begad! I traded me J570 for a Pro38 J285 load and borrowed a case. I also made some minor modifications to t' recovery system. Blimey! I replaced t' 22” Aerotech chute that I was using as a drogue with a RocketMan 28” X-form chute. Avast! I also added a nylon rope backup t' both bungee cords in case they snap. Blimey! Aye aye! Finally, me hearties, I bought a $25 Transolve Trans Beep sonic beacon from Magnum t' aid in trackin' and recovery. T' new altitude estimate for t' MegaBlast with t' Pro38 J285 is 3,800 - 4,200 feet. Begad! Avast!

Robert DeHate, Olga Glotova, and Mishka (Olga's friend visitin' from Russia) helped me prep t' rocket for flight. Arrr! We placed t' rocket on t' launch pad, installed t' igniter, shiver me timbers, armed t' altimeter, me hearties, and moved back a safe distance. Robert and Peter Chestna were t' witnesses.

5 …. 4 …. 3 ….. Aye aye! 2 ….. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! 1 ….. KAPLUNK!!!!

T' Pro38 motor detonated. Avast, me proud beauty! T' casin' o' t' motor shot into t' drogue compartment, wedgin' t' recovery system into a tangled mess inside t' tube, matey, causin' major damage t' t' airframe, and completely destroyin' t' Trans Beep buzzer. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' altimeter bay assembly was ripped from the tube coupler, me hearties, which confirmed some fears that t' thin centerin' rings and tube coupler would nay hold. Arrr! Ahoy! T' catoin' motor also destroyed t' motor retention system, me hearties, damaged t' motor tube, and blew apart t' aft centering ring. Begad!

Bob Krech and Robert DeHate suggested that we repair the altimeter bay, matey, me bucko, and use t' EZI-65 as a booster, me hearties, arrr, t' try again at achievin' Level 2. Blimey! I decided that since I had little over an hour left o' t' launch, that would be rushin' it. I did nay want t' rush it. Aye aye! T' much loot is on t' line. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I told them I did nay want t' rush it. They agreed. Blimey!

Robert DeHate offered t' fix t' booster for me, and he gave me a J350 reload to replace t' blown J285. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! He coated t' damaged section o' t' body tube with fiberglass, arrr, arrr, and use Keelhaul®©™® to repair t' motor tube. I sent t' Trans Beep back t' Magnum for repairs, shiver me timbers, and ordered a LOC 4” Electronics bay. T' solve a concern that t' shockcord anchor on t' nosecone was nay strong enough, I took a pice o' tubular nylon, ran it through t' cone, tid several knots in it, me hearties, arrr, rammed t' end o' t' nylon into t' clay, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, then filled t' cone with expandin' foam. Well, blow me down! There is no way this shock cord anchor is goin' t' fail. Avast! I was hopin' that t' MegaBlast would be ready t' launch again for t' September 14th launch. Ya scallywag! However, t' order from Magnum did nay arrive till t' 16th, me bucko, which be t' Monday after t' launch. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty!

Missin' t' 14th launch probably worked out for t' better anyway. Begad! Blimey! It gave me time t' repair t' rocket t' way I wanted to. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I built t' LOC electronics bay and added some bevels so t' bolts have somethin' t' screw into besides paper. I also replaced t' nylon rope that I used t' back up t' bungee cord with tubular nylon. This stuff is stronger, and less likely t' tangle. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I also took advantage o' t' extra time t' get some replacement grains for me J350. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! The J350 I had had t' 7/16” core in t' propellant grain, arrr, arrr, matey, which has been known t' cato. Avast! Blimey! So I called Aerotech and they ordered me a set o' the ½” core grains. Arrr! Blimey! I also ordered two inert sets so I could make two I161 reloads out o' t' older J350 grains. I managed t' get t' grains a week before t' Oct 27th CMASS launch. Avast! Blimey! Perfect timing. Aye aye! Blimey!

The weather on t' October 27th be perfect. Aye aye! T' club be nay expectin' that many people t' show up t' this launch, shiver me timbers, so they did nay set up a launch site for a J motor. Aye aye! So I set up me Super Pad at t' High Power C site, ya bilge rat, and set up t' wires and battery for t' site. Once that be completed, shiver me timbers, I launched me Electronics bay on me EZI-65 rocket with an I161-14 motor t' test out t' altimeter, which reported 1,500 ft. Begad! T' flight was perfect, me bucko, but t' Trans Beep buzzer was damaged durin' recovery. Aye aye! Then t' moment o' truth, My L2 flight :-D. Steven Boy (same guy who did me L1) and Robert DeHate as a witness. Begad! T' J350 came t' life, and t' MegaBlast left me launch pad in a hurry, ya bilge rat, trailin' behind a thick white smoke trail, and a very loud thunderous roar. T' Drogue deployed on time at 2,500 ft, ya bilge rat, but due t' inertia, matey, t' main was also deployed. Aye aye! However, t' rocket was recovered, and I passed me Level 2 Cert flight!

Overall, me hearties, this project be a success. Ya scallywag! Arrr! This was me first High Power rocket o' me own design, me hearties, me hearties, and it achieved its purpose. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I now have my level 2 license. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! What is me future plans. Well, t' MegaBlast is a perfectly good launch vehicle, so I plan t' get many more launches out o' it. Blimey! Regarding my L2? I am thinkin' about buildin' a LOC Magnum that will air start its outboard motors. Avast! I also might get into t' hybrid motors offered by t' various companies out there. Avast! I feel that this is necessary due t' t' increased regulations on our hobby. Blimey! When I get me Level 3, I may have t' use a hybrid, since it may be a long time before I can get t' unnecessary LEUP t' store those larger motors. Begad! Avast! And if things go t' way they are, ya bilge rat, maybe even for the stuff I currently use… but that is another story…. Arrr!