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.