The distinguishing feature of this rocket, like all the kits from New Way Space Models, is that the body tube is square instead of the traditional round body. This is a D-powered payload rocket, capable of flying with larger E and F motors as well as a smaller C power. My particular rocket had the payload bay modified to carry a small HD video camera and an altimeter/accelerometer.
I chose this rocket to carry the camera because it can have considerable excess rocket thrust to compensate for the heavy (47 gram) camera. It also was somewhat short and has smaller fins which I suspect / believe will be more stable with the heavy noseweight. My previous camera booster was overstable, which I suspect contributed to somewhat blurry images from the motion, and a tendency to wind-cock and fly at a angle. As a bonus, the square sides of the payload made it easier to install a flat glass window. I had hoped that the clear plastic would be optically clear, but it blurrs and distorts the camera's view. Another bonus is the plastic screws that secure the bulkhead ("connector" according to New Way) and prevent a loss of the electronics. To this I added Nylon screws to secure the nose cone on top also.
With its additional weight, it now is carried by two parachutes: a 19" and a 9" Nylon parachute. (The 9" is only for a redundant backup chute.)
I modified the suggested black/white paint and used red and white to make it more visible in the air and on the ground, to help prevent the loss of a rather expensive payload. I did not use the gold foil supplied by the kit. The construction followed the stock kit, however I modified the clear plastic payload tube to carry a small glass window for the camera to "look out of", because the plastic created too much distortion of the image.
I have not 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 the additional payload weight. New Way was not helpful in providing any altitude estimates of 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: | 391 Feet |
Second flight was planned pretty much the same as the first. For starters, it was confirmed that the -5 delay was the best choice.
The second motor appeared much weaker than the first. It lit fine, but seemed to accelerate slowly – giving me ample time to track it with a hand-held camera. Peak acceleration measured only 7.3 Gs which was the lowest of all 4 flights so far. The average was only 2.4 Gs – also the lowest. Burn time was nominal at 1.8 seconds, so it was not a slow burning motor. It seemed more like a motor without a full charge.
The trajectory up again turned about 30 degrees due to the stronger upper winds, and the weak motor still was able to push this rocket to 94 mph. After 3.3 seconds of coasting upwards, the rocket turned over after hitting an apogee of 391 feet, and then continued downwards for the next 2.5 seconds due to a long, 5.8 second delay charge.
Ejection was at 340 feet, having descended 51 feet below apogee. This time both parachutes deployed fully and finally brought this rocket back the way it was designed to return. The payload remained mostly vertical and there was plenty of horizon pictures taken in the descent, which was only 12 mph, making for a 26.7 second flight.
This was the lowest and slowest flight of the C-Thru, but also the first with a perfect recovery. It landed in the grass about 200 feet away.
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