B's Ballistics - Rocket Program

G3 update

2011-07-25T18:21:00.001-07:00

Shown here with the help,Basic assembly of airframe is complete. Just needs some sanding and painting and a few finishing touches.
Assmembly of the av bay next. stay tuned...........................

Big Bertha

2011-05-04T06:04:00.000-07:00

Did a quick build of the estes "BIG BERTHA" that my wife bought me for my birthday.
It was a nice break from the high power build i am working on.
I tried to build it with my 3 year old son, but he still is a bit young as his attention quickly wore off.
built it in a few hours just needs paint.
will post pics soon ...

Estes Quark MIA

2011-05-01T17:12:00.001-07:00

4-30-11
Attempted to launch the tiny quark in a friends backyard. It flew quick and straight but dissapeared quick and all eyes lost contact. Landing spot unknown, no recovery possible.
RIP
this is the second lost estes level rocket lost in our program.

Video to follow..

Pics of the new project.

2011-02-20T12:05:00.001-08:00

The Kit

Mocked up it's long......!

A comparison to my last build. this is definately the next level!

L2 Rocket planned for spring time!!!

2011-01-12T13:11:00.000-08:00

!!Happy New Year !!
It's been awhile. Job has gotten in the way of building and flying :(
But I have started on a L2 Dual Deployment project.
All i have for now is a G3 Kit from performance rocketry.
All for now More info and Pictures to follow....

Metra 5 JUN 10

2010-06-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

Successful launch of the Cert- a - Flyable rocket on a h128w to about 2000 ft event just after apogee as rocket began to layover and a nice soft landing. Picture Perfect Mission.

In a SAD note we lost the Taser rocket _My first rocket_do to a high altitude flight into a heavy gust of wind.
when the chute came out the wind grab it and it wouldnt come down it just drifted out of sight never to be seen again ....... R.I.P. TASER

Sorry no photos available.

Metra 5-1-10 Level ONE Certification FLight

2010-05-03T06:57:00.001-07:00

Launch

and 3 2 1 push the button

Pose

Attach the Ignitor Leads

Installing the Ignitor

Rail Buttons SLid Nicely

Metra 4-10-10

2010-04-12T06:53:00.001-07:00

Montage of the first flight for intimidator. The only flight on a very windy day for rockets.

Flight went well. Flew on a F24-7w to about 1000 Ft. event at apogee and landed only a short walk away from the pads. Although the flight was successful and the rocket was recovered successfully upon inspection it was found that the motor retention failed and the motor casing and adapter were ejected at altitude. So those are gone and we neeed better retention.

We have video of the launch but technical issue are holding up the posting of it.

Xcalibur project gets a name

2010-04-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

CERT- A - Flyable its still needs a coat of clear and some rail buttons so it won't fly this weekend but it will go on display. Intimidator rocket scheduled to fly and maybe metalizere and taser.

i'll post pics and video after this weekends launch.

2010-04-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

Basic colors are done! now for some art and a nice clear coat.

2010-04-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

Rocket primed and prepped for paint. 1 week till the first club launch hope it's ready to be test flown if not next month

jb weld fillets

2010-03-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

2010-03-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

A Few Photos of the Build so far....

Going Smoothly just waiting for a part and it should be done in a weekend.

A little more involved than an estes build But that much more fun.

HOPEing to FLy it and the intimidator at the first launch for METRA April 10/11

2010-02-20T10:10:00.000-08:00

The new Rocket . A size comparison against the blackhawk 29.

The new rocket is a 2" diameter with a 38mm motor mount.

2010-02-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

Rocket Program just took a big step Forward today with the arrival of our new PML X Calibur Rocket kit!!!!!!!
This is the kit we will use to gain Certification Level 1.
The Ballistics Team is very excited and anxious to start building. Pics to come shortly
Thats all for now.

Happy New Year!!

2010-02-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

Winter has been quiet for the ballistics facility. which accounts for the lack of updates. Sorry.

We have been inspecting cleaning and making minor repairs to all rockets.

We built a estes quark model rocket in our down time. Just for fun! not sure if it will ever be flown just a display model really but i'm sure i'll buy a 3 pack of the tiny motors for it so it should fly at least 3 times then retired and put on display if it survives.

Finally figured out a shock cord and motor retention setup that i feel comfortable with for the Blackhawk 29 "intimidator" rocket so if all plans go well it will fly in april this year hopefully at the first metra launch. This is the first reloadable higher power engine for ballistics! it will go up on a f24-7w which has been run in rocksim and will fly around 2000 ft. We're all excited and waiting to see what happens.

Big plans this year are to build a new rocket capable of acheiving a level 1 and 2 certification with tripoli. We'll keep you posted as this develops...

Metalizer update

2009-11-06T06:18:00.000-08:00

11-5-09 Metalizer booster section repaired and reattached to rocket. Ready for next mission.

2009-11-02T05:39:00.000-08:00

11-1-09 Metra -Pine Island, NY
squeezed in a launch of the two estes rockets at metra's last launch of the year. Sorry no photos or video team to cover this event.

Metalizer's flight was good but chute melted and tangled together and it fell straight back from where it took off but wound up in a ditch ,luckily someone nearby pulled it out before the tube got soaked. had the chute opened it would have drifted nicely into the field. NOT ENOUGH WADDING! lesson learned. also the motor got wet and swelled in the rocket and i broke the fins off the tubetrying to get it out, needs to be repaired. - estes c6-7

Taser had yet another perfect flight flew high and fast almost drifted into the river but landed safely on the edge. - estes c6-7

all rockets to be flown in spring time.The INTIMIDATOR should have it's maiden flight on a small motor. weather is fading for our area, although if we have a nice day we have scouted a possible small rocket field near home base.

My Three rockets

2009-10-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

Got the vinyl stickers in for the Blackhawk intimidator rocket.

thought i would take a few photos of the fleet.

they are all scheduled to fly next spring.

Newest build

2009-10-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

10-8-09 bought and built the Estes MeTaLiZer kit.

Estes builds are so quick fun and easy!

not sure when i will be launching any rockets if at all this year. Probably will shoot them all next year.

Blackhawk update :

awaiting decals so rocket can be sprayed in a clear to make it smooth. also haven't chosen a motor for it yet so this rocket won't fly till maybe the first metra launch next year.

Thats all for now. no other big projects till next year maybe.....

Mercer Park

2009-09-09T06:31:00.000-07:00

9-8-09 - 16:30 hrs

Another succesful launch of the Taser on another estes c6-7 engine, though this launch hit a few snags ....

while the fins were being fixed after the last launch i made a few adjustments to the launch lugs and tower. these improvements all worked in favor of the rocket and it came off the stand beautfully, but it went up so fast we lost sight of it in the low overcast clouds all we heard was the ejection charge and it wasn't spotted till about 100 ft off the ground , falling fast, with no open chute. the chute had deployed it just never opened. Further inspection found the plastic chute had gotten heated and stuck together.... not good this issue will be addressed before the next launch which is the next snag of the day. After the first launch we were approached by a park ranger vehicle who after a few questions about what we were doing and after watching the first shot in awe told us to pack it up and that we couldn't do rocket launches at this site. So now we have to find a new location for our local small rocket program. TO BE CONTINUED................

Scrubbed

2009-09-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

9-6-09 launches scrubbed due to excessive wind gusts and weather.

Fin bonding problem taken care of rocket is in launch configuration and awaiting the next clear day. will post after next launch day.....

Taser Finally in the Air!!

2009-09-05T20:56:00.000-07:00

TASER FINALLY FLIES !!! 9-5-09 -11:00 hrs -Mercer Park

On a beautiful september morning we had a successful launch and recovery of the estes taser on a estes c6-7 engine. though the mission was successful some minor damage due to a glue defect in the fin root area of one of the fins scrubbed two more planned missions in fear of losing any fins. Rocket is under repair and is scheduled to launch september 6 2009 around 1100 @ mercer launch field. two launches are scheduled.

2009-09-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

But before it was even launched i witnessed NERRF5 and was addicted to building somthing bigger and badder....To the next step the WIlDMAN Blackhawk Kit!

Taser Build

2009-09-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

In The Begining there was the Estes TASER!!!!

Initial launch still pending .......

B's Beggining

2009-08-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

This is my first blog for my new rocket program i am starting.