three of what size chutes? 24"?

just got this kit and was thinking about adding more chutes

thanks!

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I asked for a car, I got a computer. How's that for being born under a bad sign?

The distance a rocket drifts is determined by the wind speed and time it takes to descend, not by the type or number of parachutes used. So, if you have one, a single larger parachute would be better than three smaller ones. There would be less tangling of the shroud lines and one 'chute would be easier to pack into less space.

-- Roger

I'm still waiting to receive the Maxi Alpha III I ordered from Hobbylink.

I flew my original 1983 vintage MAIII so often I wore it out. The motor mount tube had a burnthrough from all those AeroTech 24mm 'E' motors. I used quite a few D12s, also.

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

Is that Mile Square Park and is that me at the picnic table?

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-Fred Shecter NAR 20117 (L2)
Southern California Rocket Association, NAR Section 430

The REGULAR Maxi-Alpha was much better than the Maxi Alpha 3 as it had WOOD fins instead of those DUMB easily breakable ring-lok plastic jokes.

The best would be to offer the ORIGINAL Maxi-Alpha (not 3) with either basswood or ply TTW fins that can take some REAL power.

Shredded the fins off my buddy's Maxi Alpha 3 on its 2nd flight with a Compsite Dynamics 24mm Pro-Jet F something in 1988. He was displeased with the 125' on a D12-3 and I handed him the Composite Dynamics 80 n-sec F that stuck out of the mount bottom by like 4". Fins shredded off at about 250' but kept going up fairly straight.
His response was "Geez, thanx !". I told him to GLUE some REAL fins on with epoxy and quit whining.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.

That's how I plan to finish my MA3, replacing the lower section with TTW wood fins and my interchangeable motor mount system. It'll still have the look of the MA3, but not the plastic fin can. Wood type TBD. Maybe aircraft ply, maybe balsa ply.

Doug

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YORF member #11

I have never seen Balsa ply before, just regular Spruce Aircraft Ply and Poplar Lite(useless) Ply.
Is that something one can order or is it some sort of home-brew balsa ply ?

I think I may turn my MA3 I ordered into a Colossus instead with an additional tube and wood fins for strength.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.

A company called Mach-1 used to make balsa ply. It was available from them and also thru BMS.

It's long OOP, but I still have a some left from a purchase I made years ago.

I also roll my own. I use two outer layers of 1/32" balsa over an inner layer of 1/16". I glue it with yellow glue, then clamp it for a couple days between two very carefully eyeballed (for planarity) pieces of birch. Some aluminum foil makes a good release layer to keep from glueing your balsa to your birch (which is not quite as bad as glueing your hand to your special purpose )

Doug

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YORF member #11

Well that's what I did, and I also ended up changing the paint scheme as well. Flies great on an E15-4.

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John
YORF #003
SAM #004

The picture was taken at Mile Square Park. I still miss that flying site.

I'm not sure that is you sitting at the table, Fred. I'm pretty sure that is Martin standing behind whoever is sitting at the table.

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Bob
S.A.M. # 0014