Nice build. Couple of tips that I've learned working with epoxy over the past couple of years. Heat is your best friend. Warm the parts slightly with a hair dryer or heat gun and the epoxy will thin out when it makes contact and soak into the materials making them much stronger. For fins, I typically do my external fillets first to seal the openings then go back with warm epoxy and do the internals. It's interesting to do this as you can actually watch the epoxy creep into the materials and watch them change color as the epoxy penetrates. The down side to this is you need to do the internal fillets with the rocket laying on it's side level and only do them two at a time as the epoxy will want to run everywhere. One other thing I learned the hard way after losing two motor retainers. Placing epoxy on the outside of the motor tube doesn't make a strong bond as 99% of the epoxy is pushed away when the motor retainer is pushed in place. I sand the inside of my motor retainers with something like 40-60 grit then add epoxy to the inside of the retainer and work the epoxy into the grooves and scratches left by the sanding. These grooves hold epoxy in place when the retainer is pushed on. Just be sure to wipe away any excess that gets pushed into the motor tube with alcohol. I really enjoy your builds. Keep it up.
Thanks for the comment. I've found that just about any epoxy works fine. This particular rocket has flown many times without any signs of retainer problems.
Nice build. Couple of tips that I've learned working with epoxy over the past couple of years. Heat is your best friend. Warm the parts slightly with a hair dryer or heat gun and the epoxy will thin out when it makes contact and soak into the materials making them much stronger.
For fins, I typically do my external fillets first to seal the openings then go back with warm epoxy and do the internals. It's interesting to do this as you can actually watch the epoxy creep into the materials and watch them change color as the epoxy penetrates. The down side to this is you need to do the internal fillets with the rocket laying on it's side level and only do them two at a time as the epoxy will want to run everywhere.
One other thing I learned the hard way after losing two motor retainers. Placing epoxy on the outside of the motor tube doesn't make a strong bond as 99% of the epoxy is pushed away when the motor retainer is pushed in place. I sand the inside of my motor retainers with something like 40-60 grit then add epoxy to the inside of the retainer and work the epoxy into the grooves and scratches left by the sanding. These grooves hold epoxy in place when the retainer is pushed on. Just be sure to wipe away any excess that gets pushed into the motor tube with alcohol.
I really enjoy your builds. Keep it up.
Thanks for adding your experience.
You might want to use JB WELD for the retainer. Its meant for hi temp applications.
Thanks for the comment. I've found that just about any epoxy works fine. This particular rocket has flown many times without any signs of retainer problems.
Dave, I've seen where other builders install the Eyebolt so the eye opening 90° of yours so if you want to replace the shock chord.
@@terryperrott9913 that’s fine, and not a bad idea, as long as it doesn’t interfere with motor mount installation.
Thanks for sharing. 🎉
Great video. Suggest cutting out the hideous sound during fast forward.
I think a video on the basics of motor selection would be good!
Check out this video from Apogee Components: th-cam.com/video/DEg1xnaL0k0/w-d-xo.html
@@REAR_rockets Thank you! I never thought about using masking tape to space the motor mount centering rings.
Bah! Wood glue for HPR!!!