by Chris Kiekens

I had purchased a couple of Gemini DC kits to enter in this DesCon, but alas, holidays, sick kids and work seemed to drain the majority of my time..

I did have time to bang this one out howevera

I worked on this rocket obsessively(according to the wife), and was having a great love affair with ita

Parts List: 1-2.14. LOC Nose cone 1-13. 2.14. Fiberglass tube 1-9. 29mm LOC tube 3-2.14.-29mm Centering Rings (home made) 1/8. ply 1-pot scrubber(stainless) 2-3/16 eye bolts 2-machineing threads w/ bolts 20 feet Pratt 500lb Kevlar 1-LOC 18. parachute 1-1/8. Quick link

Construction:

Putting it all together was pretty basic, slap the centering rings on the motor mount, epoxy liberally.. add another CR attached with the eyebolts, and sandwich a piece of steel mesh in the space.

The fin slots were cut using a miter saw, to allow TTW construction.

The Kevlar was attached to both eyebolts, and epoxied with a nut into the nose(after cutting off the shoulder), both giving a solid attachment, as well as adding some weight to the nose.

The parachute was attached with a 1/8. quick link, to allow it to be transferred to other toys..

Steel machine threads were epoxied into the rear centering ring, to be used with washers for motor retention.

Flight Report:

Maiden Flight was on an Aerotech G75-medium delay, it leapt off the pad like a screaming mother-in-law, to an estimated 3561 feet, ejection was just after apogee, and deployment of the recovery system(parachute) was normal.

Apparently the chute was slightly oversized, as we watched it float away for some time, and I looked for it for about two weeks after..

Conclusion:

I will build another, and will fly it in a larger field, with a smaller chutebut the tube was free, and I have lots more of them, so I may build a 38mm version as well, because I can seem to lose enough of my rocket stuff!