T' distinguishin' feature o' this rocket, me hearties, like all t' kits from New Way Space Models, is that t' body tube is square instead o' t' traditional round body. This is a D-powered payload rocket, capable o' flyin' with larger E and F motors as well as a smaller C power. My particular rocket had t' payload bay modified t' carry a small HD video camera and an altimeter/accelerometer.
I chose this rocket t' carry t' camera because it can have considerable excess rocket thrust t' compensate for t' heavy (47 gram) camera. It also was somewhat short and has smaller fins which I suspect / believe will be more stable with t' heavy noseweight. My previous camera booster be overstable, which I suspect contributed t' somewhat blurry images from t' motion, and a tendency t' wind-cock and fly at a angle. As a bonus, t' square sides o' t' payload made it easier t' install a flat glass window. I had hoped that t' clear plastic would be optically clear, arrr, but it blurrs and distorts t' camera's view. Another bonus be t' plastic screws that secure t' bulkhead ("connector" accordin' t' New Way) and prevent a loss o' t' electronics. T' this I added Nylon screws t' secure t' nose cone on top also.
With its additional weight, arrr, it now is carried by two parachutes: a 19" and a 9" Nylon parachute. Arrr! (T' 9" is only for a redundant backup chute.)
I modified t' suggested black/white paint and used red and white t' make it more visible in t' air and on t' ground, t' help prevent t' loss o' a rather expensive payload. I did nay use t' gold foil supplied by t' kit. T' construction followed t' stock kit, however I modified t' clear plastic payload tube t' carry a small glass window for t' camera t' "look out of", because t' plastic created too much distortion o' t' image.
I have nay yet given this rocket a test flight yet, so I have no idea how high and how well it will perform by itself or with t' additional payload weight. New Way was nay helpful in providin' any altitude estimates o' this kit. My hunch is that it will fly well.
| Flight Date: | 2014-05-24 |
| Rocket Name: | C-Thru |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Launch Site: | Fort Indiantown Gap, PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 427 Feet |
It be a beautiful day for launchin' rockets, although t' wind was a bit breezy. But it be a very good day for aerial photography – very clear and nay hazy. I decided t' launch me video camera in t' C-Thru before anythin' changed.
Previous flights showed that despite t' manufacturer’s suggestions, t' C-Thru would do better with a 5-second delay instead o' a -3. Both o' t' previous flights ejected about 1 second before apogee, which may have been a factor for t' parachute issues I experienced.
T' C-Thru was loaded up t' 190 grams, since it carried an altimeter and a video camera in a modified payload. T' payload weight alone made it surprisin' that it would need extra delay time, but it did.
This flight be t' first test with t' payload/recovery system re-configured so that t' payload & camera remains upright while descending, me hearties, thanks t' a shock cord attachment on t' nose o' t' rocket.
T' rocket lifted off with a healthy 11 Gs o' acceleration, but t' stronger winds turned it about 30 degrees into t' wind. Avast! It averaged 2.6 Gs for t' 1.7 second thrust time, ya bilge rat, and at burnout it was movin' 97 mph. After a satisfyingly long 4.6 second delay, ya bilge rat, it ejected t' parachutes, though still travelin' upwards a bit. T' ejection was measured at 405 feet, matey, with t' final apogee at 427 feet, so it gained an additional 22 feet in t' last 1/10 second o' t' flight up.
One o' t' two parachutes became a bit tangled in t' shock cord so it did nay open fully. T' other chute was fine and brought t' payload back at 14mph. It landed safely in t' grass about 150 feet upwind. It be a 25 second flight.
T' pictures were quite clear, although thar still was significant blur on t' way up and spinnin' on t' way down. Though havin' t' payload section suspended from t' nose thru a swivel helped, it was nay t' magic solution t' perfect videos. It still swung under t' chute too much.
On this clear day, me hearties, it was t' pixel resolution o' t' camera and nay t' haze that limited t' view. Since I could nay view or monitor t' video in t' field, I decided a second flight be needed t' ensure I took some good photographs.
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