Ye Olde Rocket Forum - SAI Mini Bat

#11

03-13-2018, 10:15 PM

blackshire blackshire is offline

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Quote:

Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum

It's gone to the field with me twice the last two weekends, but I can't seem to get a reliable ignition from the Estes "starters". Fresh batteries and clean clips, but more often than not, no joy. If and when it flies, I'll be sure to write a little something about it, I'm sure.

Thank you! I sent Andy a heads-up about your project (including a link to this thread), so that he'll be aware of it. Also:

Ironically, the %&^##* "starters" (the two "##'s" stand for "t's"--the adjective should be readily "divine-able" :-) ) may result in widespread breakage of the NAR's Third Commandment ("Thou shalt launch thy rockets with an electrical launch system and electrical motor igniters [I guess the stone tablets haven't been re-engraved to say "starters"...]. Thy launch system shalt have a safety interlock in series with the launch switch, and shalt use a launch switch that returns to the “off” position when released."), with the "heathen fire-rope" (green cannon fuse: http://www.google.com/search?ei=UIO...1.0.pcLor791fgs ) being used instead...

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#12

03-13-2018, 10:18 PM

A Fish Named Wallyum A Fish Named Wallyum is offline

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Quote:

Originally Posted by blackshire

Thank you! I sent Andy a heads-up about your project (including a link to this thread), so that he'll be aware of it. Also:

Ironically, the %&^##* "starters" may result in widespread breakage of the NAR's Third Commandment ("Thou shalt launch thy rockets with an electrical launch system and electrical motor igniters [I guess the stone tablets haven't been re-engraved to say "starters"...]. Thy launch system shalt have a safety interlock in series with the launch switch, and shalt use a launch switch that returns to the “off” position when released."), with the "heathen fire-rope" (green cannon fuse: http://www.google.com/search?ei=UIO...1.0.pcLor791fgs ) being used instead...

On Sunday afternoon I was seriously considering heading out to one of the local fireworks shacks, picking up a brick of Black Cats, and going "old school".

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On the build floor: Centuri Stellar Hercules, Semroc SLS Scorpion, Semroc Squire, RDC V-Max

Ready to fly: Canaroc Green Hornet, Estes Astron Farside X, FSI Eos, FRW Magnum Spartan, Centuri Stellar StarLifter, Estes World Federation Star Probe, Estes Astron Apogee

#13

03-13-2018, 10:23 PM

blackshire blackshire is offline

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Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

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Quote:

Originally Posted by A Fish Named Wallyum

On Sunday afternoon I was seriously considering heading out to one of the local fireworks shacks, picking up a brick of Black Cats, and going "old school".

You're lucky; we have a few fireworks shacks (run by Christian private schools, which are partly funded by the fireworks sales), but by law they can only operate for just a week or so before New Year's Eve. If I ever become an active rocket flyer again, a length of green cannon fuse will be in my range box.

#14

03-13-2018, 10:31 PM

blackshire blackshire is offline

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I was just thinking--the lousy "starters" could result in new 12-volt "hot-wire" nichrome igniters and ignition systems. Today's new high-capacity rechargeable batteries would make such ignition systems practical and portable, not needing to be "chained" to big lead-acid car and motorcycle batteries (but for "drive onto/up to flying field" situations, the classic 12-volt launch controllers [and DIY 'clones' of them] are perfectly usable), and nichrome wire, for making the igniters, is readily available.

#15

03-13-2018, 11:01 PM

ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline

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That "heathen fire" green cannon fuse gives a much higher success rate than commercial "initiators".
Most decent gun shops carry it.
Useless for clusters, but I don't think I have ever seen a misfire using cannon fuse for single-engine ignition. Even when not touching BP grain it spews firey sparks into the grain.

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#16

03-14-2018, 12:10 AM

blackshire blackshire is offline

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ghrocketman

It has never let me down, either. There is a way that it could be used for cluster ignition, though, by being the initiator for reusable, black powder-filled igniter "pans" (the full-scale Soyuz rockets use these as well). There are videos of these being used on YouTube, often to ignite Saturn I scale models; they direct discrete jets of flame up into all of the rocket motors' nozzles.

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