Rocket Launch (Cairns area)

joeman · Postby **joeman** » Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:37 am

Well, launched really well. Chute worked well. A little bit of damage to the Piston...think it is probably re-usable. Will upload pic.
Probably walked about 8km in total getting launch gear out...for a 67second flight. Worth it though.

SpaceManMat · Postby **SpaceManMat** » Sun Nov 01, 2015 2:08 pm

Nice one Joe

Lister · Postby **Lister** » Sun Nov 01, 2015 4:07 pm

Nice work Joe. What caused the damage to the piston?

joeman · Postby **joeman** » Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:44 pm

Good question. Not sure what caused it. Thinking perhaps it was un-even ejection from the rocket tube. Can't imagine it being the cord or the impact with the ground. I've attached a picture of the damage.

Now to think of a way to repair it (or replace it).

SpaceManMat · Postby **SpaceManMat** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 9:10 am

Looks a little like it is the same size at the strap, if you pull the top and bottom strap does the piston kick sideways? Doubt it is charges, is it not pushed partly outward? Other possibility is landing damage.

october sky · Postby **october sky** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 2:19 pm

I think Matt is right, looks a lot like a strap did it.

I have had two Callisto's with dozens of flights on both over the years and this is quite common as normal wear and tear....I didn't even bother fixing the edges most times but with a bit of FG resin or epoxy glue another piece of cardboard on the spot and sand....good as new ! :wink:

joeman · Postby **joeman** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 9:07 pm

It has to be the strap... must be how I packed it perhaps...perhaps some way of making it less likely to happen.

All good. Thanks for your feed back

Lister · Postby **Lister** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 2:20 am

joeman wrote:It has to be the strap... must be how I packed it perhaps...perhaps some way of making it less likely to happen.

All good. Thanks for your feed back

Put a bulkplate on both ends of the piston?

joeman · Postby **joeman** » Wed Nov 04, 2015 10:07 am

That sounds like a good idea. I can only assume it isn't in the normal plan because of weight considerations.

If I had the piston around the other way, that might also solve the issue, without the addition of another plate.

Lister · Postby **Lister** » Wed Nov 04, 2015 10:19 am

joeman wrote:Well, launched really well. Chute worked well. A little bit of damage to the Piston...think it is probably re-usable. Will upload pic.
Probably walked about 8km in total getting launch gear out...for a 67second flight. Worth it though.

It might but as the shock cord passes through it at both ends I would think it would still be likely to zipper your piston.. if your worried about weight why not loose the piston all together and just use nomex? But for the extra poofteenth a bulkplate weighs why worry?

joeman · Postby **joeman** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 11:45 am

All will be good Lister. Will get it back looking almost as good as new.

No footage soaring high into the air unfortuately of launch, but got this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3cdHVWxjl4

See the toolbox? It has the Remote launch system in it. Big box was used to get the rocket to the launch site safely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4xWGuwLIRU

(Can you hear the tick-tock in the second launch? Taken from a watch camera)

Hope that all gives people good ideas.

Lister · Postby **Lister** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:44 pm

Another simple soloution.. use a FG coupler for the piston.. no more damage

Good footage from a watch cam.. what model is it? .

str8up · Postby **str8up** » Sat Nov 07, 2015 7:06 am

One other thing to check; with the piston fully out of the airframe can the piston hit either the rail button/ launch lug or the fins. I have had a case where the piston could hit a fin and this caused some damage to the piston skirt.