Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | BSD High Power Rocketry |
Brief:
The BSD Intrepid is a 2-stage interchangeable high powered rocket. Versions can
be 38mm boost to a 29mm rocket, a single stage 29mm rocket, or a single stage
38mm rocket. Dual deployment was altered and timer bay was added by the
builder.
Construction:
Body tube material is the typical glassine coated cardboard. Fins and bulkheads
were aircraft quality 3/16" plywood. I had to make extra bulkheads to
manufacture the modified electronic bay and timer bay. The kit included plastic
rivets, rail buttons, 9/16" tubular nylon shock cord, and BSD's motor
retention system. Since the possibilities for recovery were so varied, I was
required to provide my own parachute. Attachment hardware was also included.
PROs:
CONs:
Finishing:
PROs:
CONs:
Construction Rating: 4 out of 5
Flight:
The recommended motors per the BSD website are: Booster: 38mm; I211, I284,
J350; Sustainer: 29mm; H128, H180, I200. On the first flight I used a Pro38
I205 staged to an AT H238. Prior to this I had ZERO timer experience. The boost
was good but the sustainer failed to fire. My second try was with the same set
up. The altitude was only 1900', not too impressive for a 2 stage rocket. My
third shot was with a J350 in the booster and an H180 in the sustainer. This
was the best flight I have done. Straight as an arrow up, good staging to
3200', and a good recovery.
The only CON to this rocket in flight is the sustainer/booster set up. The motor mount in the sustainer is designed too far up into the body tube. When the second motor lights, the interior of the tube was severely scorched preventing any future mate up with the booster. Next time I would either redesign the mate up, coat the interior of the sustainer portion with epoxy or fiberglass or use a small BP charge to separate the booster from the sustainer prior to ignition. A little forethought on my part would have prevented this. BSD should either add this caution in the instructions or design a cleaner mate up assembly.
Recovery:
The recovery was pretty straightforward. The drogue separated at apogee and the
main came out at 300'. The only CON is the amount of room that is provided for
a parachute when big motors are used in the booster. A little imagination is
needed to get a chute packed enough to insert the coupler/bulkhead. The motor
forward closure was only about an inch from the bulkhead. Sustainer recovery I
rate as a 4 (due to e-bay redesign) but the booster should be a 2 1/2. A little
more room is needed.
Summary:
My overall feeling about the BSD Intrepid is that it is an wonderful rocket!
With some HPR building experience behind you, this rocket is an easy kit to
assemble and fly. It allows for a lot of modification if needed or desired. It
was a great entry rocket for me into 2 stage rocketry.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
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Mark Saunders BSD High Power Rocketry Glendale, AZ http://www.bsdrocketry.com (January 12, 2005)