Flock of KestreLs?

[SCOTT EVANS]

So I was doing some sim test……..
When going super sonic. 8) It seemed a conicle nose cone did better than a Von Karmen. 😕 Is my sim screwed up?
It was my impession a Von karmen was the badest, bestest, coolest most rigtchess nose cone in the land. 🙂 Maybe not in the air? 😕

[edwardModerator]

Read two posts above yours.

Edward

[SCOTT EVANS]

Read two posts above yours.

Edward

Well duh 😀 didnt see it

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

Guys, I still can’t believe JW is not only letting his altitude secrets out but putting them in kit form! Now, and only now, will this prove what the “build” can do! For those of you launching tomorrow, God Speed! … and take a warm coat and boots. See ya’ at MHM and the cleaning party!

[SCOTT EVANS]

SO….. Who has the Baddest as@#%$ Kestrel in the land. Was out wet sanding my final coat last night. Should be buffing and polishing it today! 8) Still looking for that 54mm “M” to fit in it. 😉 And when are those waivers? 🙂

[Chad]

My claim to the baddest KestreL in the land took a setback last night. I had just got the got my fins and fillets sanded just how I wanted them after several hours of hand sanding (and some blood I might mention, those fins are S-H-A-R-P). It was after midnight and I was out back with a headlamp and porchlight, so I decided to get ahead by laying down a quick primer coat before I went to bed. Only in my haste and the poor light, I grabbed the gloss white! I was half way through before realizing my mistake. I just spent an hour this morning sanding it all off, and then recoated it with real primer. But wait! what’s that? Massive crinkle! I didn’t get all the gloss paint off, and now my primer looks like a lichen.

Now I’ll have to wait several hours before sanding off all the primer and then wait another day waiting till the undercoat gloss white paint dries. Then more sanding. I’m now rethinking my complicated paint scheme as there isn’t enough time to get the whole thing finished with my work schedule next week. Drat.

We’ll see how this turns out. I made some “special modifications” as Han Solo would say. “She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts.”

I christen it the “Millennium Kestrel”

See you on the range, assuming the K300 motors from Joe come in when the are supposed to.

Chad Moore

[John A. WilkeParticipant]

Chad, my advice is to wet sand. And wet sand some more. And then some more…. My least favorite part of building a rocket 😯

My KestreL appears to be a LONG way from being done, but I intend to fly her at MHM (sans paint, of course). I am building one that is 100% stock for MHM. In July, I intend to fly the… modified KestreL. Much shorter, much smaller fins, that sort of thing. CG/CP will be a challenge on that version.

The original KestreL did 24K w/ a Loki K350 – and it had 3″ of the motor hanging out the back, as that motor is way very long. Fast forward to MHM and add a tailcone, no motor hanging out? Should be good for a whole lot more than 24K. You just never know. Your actual mileage may vary 🙂 BTW, I am flying w/o a GPS to save some weight….

[SCOTT EVANS]

Only in my haste and the poor light, I grabbed the gloss white! I was half way through before realizing my mistake. I just spent an hour this morning sanding it all off, and then recoated it with real primer. But wait! what’s that? Massive crinkle! I didn’t get all the gloss paint off, and now my primer looks like a lichen.

Now I’ll have to wait several hours before sanding off all the primer and………..
Chad Moore

Dont worry Chad, it wasnt you,… I had Snidley switch the cans when you were not looking. Ba ha ha ha.

And JW, No coller huh. Im training my Dog to fetch white rockets, and head for the border. 😛 “North to Alaska, Way up Nooorth! 😉

[Chad]

Managed to get some color on the rocket today after all my priming troubles. It’s about 30 grams heavier than I hoped, but not too bad (with a low thrust motor like the K300, it needs to be as light as possible). Will come in at 1315 grams with transmitter and avionics, or about 46.3 oz.

[John A. WilkeParticipant]

That is a nice weight, Chad – my proto weighed just a snitch more than that, and I built it pretty light (or so I thought!). I came in just a tick over 48 oz with all recovery and electronics but w/o motor. I also didn’t paint mine….

Did you build your kit stock, or did you take a bit off the length?

[Author]

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