New Tracking Transmitter - Check!

Some time back I had the opportunity to pick up a used Walston Retrieval transmitter and receiver. Everything works, but the transmitter is huge compared to my original transmitter.

My original transmitter was purchased for use with the receiver owned by one of my fellow Idaho rocketeers. Unfortunately that transmitter is not on a frequency received by my receiver, so it is of no use to me here.

The new transmitter, in addition to being huge, has the non-rechargeable batteries potted in epoxy and is controlled via a normally-open, magnetic reed switch. This means that a magnet must be attached to the transmitter at all times in order to keep it turned off. All this means that it will be very difficult to replace the batteries when they run out and I have no idea how much time is left on them since the equipment was purchased used. Additionally I have found the magnet detached on more than one occasion, burning more time off the batteries needlessly.

I attempted to contact Walston to purchase one of his smaller transmitters, like my original, at a frequency I could use with this receiver. Unfortunately he proved impossible to contact and rumor has it that his health is failing, so I was forced to search for another vendor that could supply me with a transmitter which would work with my
receiver.

After discussing the issue on one of the rocketry forums I contacted L.L. Electronics and purchased one of their transmitters. They were a pleasure to do business with with friendly, informative staff.

My new transmitter arrived yesterday and, as promised, my Walston receiver started chirping away when I turned it and the transmitter on. The new transmitter is more compact than my original Walston, thanks to my having selected the "loaded antenna" option. I know I've traded some range in exchange for compactness, but I suspect I was sacrificing range with the Walston because I was having to loop the antenna around to get it to fit in my nose cones. It isn't as if I'm one of the guys launching to +20k', so I think I'll be fine. If I should ever decide I want the non-loaded antenna for a bigger rocket they are available for a modest price. I just wish I'd thought of that when I ordered my transmitter so I could save on the shipping!

AltimeterTwo Charging - Check!

Digging into my rocketry gear I located my AltimeterTwo still installed in Flying Colors from the last time that I flew. I plugged it into a USB port and left it charging overnight. The next day found that it was still indicating it was charging, which I would not have expected. Still, after that long on the charger it should show me something if I turned it on, so I unplugged it and did just that only to discover that it wouldn't turn on. I contacted Jolly Logic support and they advised me that the Lithium batteries used in many devices, such as your cell phone, including the ones in their altimeters must be kept charged or they will discharge to a point that they can't be recovered. The only option was to have the battery replace, a service they provide. I shipped my altimeter off to California where they did a quick battery change and promptly shipped it back to me. I received it yesterday and was able to immediately turn it on and see the data from my last flight was still available. It is now fully charged and I have a calendar reminder to recharge it once-a-month.

Process Improved!

As promised, Amazon delivered my new scale and calibration weight this morning. I just got off work and decided to take another shot at applying Icing. I intended to mix a 5g batch, but wisely started by measuring the hardener, since this is a tiny amount compared to the putty. As careful as I was being, I still ended up with a 0.2g dollop of hardener, so my batch immediately became a 10g batch. The smaller batch was much easier to work with and I got most of it applied to the rocket and spread out thin, so I'll have much less sanding to do!

Process Refinement

As anticipated, my Icing order arrived yesterday. When I got off work I mixed up the smallest batch I could measure (49g paste, 1g hardner) and applied it to my rocket. Unfortunately the working time for this stuff is very short and it quickly started setting up on me, to the point that I got less than half of it applied to the rocket. What I did get applied ended up being thicker than I wanted in many places and got botched in one area, as I tried working it too long. The net result is I'm going to end up sanding off most of what I got applied! I spent a fair bit of time sanding yesterday, until my hands hurt too much for me to continue. More sanding this afternoon, time permitting.

Obviously I need to mix smaller batches. Since my current scale only measures in increments of grams I really have no choice but to purchase a new scale. I've had such a scale in my Amazon wishlist for a long time, as I'd already determined I needed one for weighing black powder ejection charges. I placed an order this morning for a scale, but not the one I had saved. The one I ordered has twice the range of the one I had saved, 200g, while having the same resolution, .01g. I should be able to mix very small batches now, if I need to.

To help ensure accuracy of the scale I also purchased a 200g calibration weight. I just hope the weight is accurate. While the vast majority of reviews on Amazon praise the weight, you will always find those that complain. If the complaints are accurate there are times these weights aren't worth using for fish sinkers! I'll just have to use my best judgement when it all arrives.

Waiting for supplies...

Earlier this week I went out in the garage to mix up some of the Icing filler, that I purchased while living in Idaho, and work on finishing my tubes. I don't know if it was just time or the high heat our goods went through while being shipped from Idaho to Texas but both the putty and activator were destroyed. Since I only got a single use out of that supply it was an expensive use. Tried to find a supplier locally, but nobody seemed to know what I was talking about, so I ended up going on-line and ordering through Amazon. It looks like it should be here tomorrow.

Getting Back On the Horse..Again.

I really can't believe it has been this long since I last posted. After a brief spurt of activity my rocket building went back into idle mode. Now I've set myself serious goals in order to give me a reason to get busy. I am planning on attending XPRS 2017 and BALLS 2017. To do so means I need to build rockets and get at least one ready that I can fly on a "K" or "L" motor, since the smallest commercial motor allowed at BALLS is a "K".

Last week I finally epoxied the fin can and motor retainer to my scratch built rocket. I applied a band of five-minute epoxy at the aft end of where I expected the fin can to mount and then slid the fin can up, twisting as I went to help distribute the epoxy in the join. I had to wipe off some excess epoxy from the front of the fin can, but it wasn't a major issue. I left that to set for 24 hours before using JB Weld to mount the retainer. I followed a very similar process for the application of the epoxy and sliding on the retainer. Clean up of excess weld was a bit more difficult. I ended up resorting to paint thinner in order to get the excess removed.

Next step is to mix up some of the filler to help smooth out unevenness in the epoxy on the airframe tubes and then sand, sand, sand.