Demise of Lil Johnny Outhouse

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Mark Simpson - 26 Aug 2003 00:03 GMT

Saturday, I attended a JMRC launch at the Michigan International
Speedway. Although I brought a lot of rockets, I spent more time BSing
than flying, but felt compelled to fly at least a couple of rockets
after driving 100 miles to get there.
First up was my 1/3rd scale FTBOD on a Pro38 2-grain H148SS. I chose
this combo because it was a little breezy and I wanted something that
was draggy.
Great boost, nominal flight and recovery.
For my second flight, I picked up a G38 from my buddy Bob and slapped it
in my Lil Johnny Outhouse. When I was putting it on a blackened rail, I
noticed that it stuck a bit. Instead of taking it off and not flying it,
I ran it up and down the rail a few times to loosen it up and clean the
rail a bit.
Well, I should have followed my initial instinct and pulled it off
because it came off the rod at too low of a velocity to fly stably, did
a couple of loops and then power dove into the rock-hard clay....POW!!
Pieces everywhere, not one reusable body panel or tube. User error 100%.
Serves me right for not taking the time to clean the rail and do it
right.

Mark Simpson
NAR 71503 Level II
God Bless our peacekeepers

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Chuck Rudy - 26 Aug 2003 01:44 GMT

>Saturday, I attended a JMRC launch at the Michigan International
>Speedway. Although I brought a lot of rockets, I spent more time BSing
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>NAR 71503 Level II
>God Bless our peacekeepers

My condolenses. Some of the blue liquid in the outhouse might have done
the trick on the rail. Does this mean you're going to build another?
Maybe even a two holer? ;-)

Chuck

Signature

Chuck Rudy

VooDoo Digital Productions

http://homepage.mac.com/wesrudy

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Mark Simpson - 26 Aug 2003 17:22 GMT

> My condolenses. Some of the blue liquid in the outhouse might have done
> the trick on the rail. Does this mean you're going to build another?
> Maybe even a two holer? ;-)

I have to build another one. I'll need at least one to serve as a
prototype for my full-scale future endeavor. After LDRS, it looks like
the first successful Port-a-john to fly honor is still up for grabs.
Can you say "O" motor? >;-)

Mark Simpson
NAR 71503 Level II
God Bless our peacekeepers

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Bob Kaplow - 26 Aug 2003 19:33 GMT

> I have to build another one. I'll need at least one to serve as a
> prototype for my full-scale future endeavor. After LDRS, it looks like
> the first successful Port-a-john to fly honor is still up for grabs.
> Can you say "O" motor? >;-)

Do *NOT* use the outhouse with the fins!

:-)

    Bob Kaplow    NAR # 18L    TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
        >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD! <<<
Kaplow Klips & Baffle:    http://nira-rocketry.org/LeadingEdge/Phantom4000.pdf
www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/ www.nira-rocketry.org www.nar.org

Save Model Rocketry from the HSA! http://www.space-rockets.com/congress.html

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D&JWatkins - 27 Aug 2003 00:17 GMT

> > My condolenses. Some of the blue liquid in the outhouse might have done
> > the trick on the rail. Does this mean you're going to build another?
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> NAR 71503 Level II
> God Bless our peacekeepers

I believe in my repair I will switch to regular rail buttons as I am not
sure the three peice variety is not the problem.

Dennis

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Joel Corwith - 27 Aug 2003 01:17 GMT

I installed T-nuts instead of the multi-nuts they had in the kit. Faster,
and I can swap out the railbuttons as need be.

Joel. phx

> I believe in my repair I will switch to regular rail buttons as I am not
> sure the three peice variety is not the problem.
>
> Dennis

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Mark Simpson - 27 Aug 2003 01:24 GMT

> > Chuck Rudy <cgrudyjr@tradenet.nospam.net> wrote in message
> news:<3F4AAD59.7050100@tradenet.nospam.net>...
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> > the first successful Port-a-john to fly honor is still up for grabs.
> > Can you say "O" motor? >;-)

> I believe in my repair I will switch to regular rail buttons as I am not
> sure the three peice variety is not the problem.
>
> Dennis

I'm going to use oversized launch lugs in my next one. I think that part
of the problem may be the plastic shell flexing and increasing the
binding by distorting the relationship between the two buttons. A pair
of oversized launch lugs will be more tolerant to small degrees of
airframe flexing, IMHO.

Mark Simpson
NAR 71503 Level II
God Bless our peacekeepers

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Chuck Rudy - 29 Aug 2003 18:06 GMT

>>My condolenses. Some of the blue liquid in the outhouse might have done
>>the trick on the rail. Does this mean you're going to build another?
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>NAR 71503 Level II
>God Bless our peacekeepers

Using a P would be more in keeping with the outhouse theme! ;-)
..............Just a thought, with that flat roof what would happen if
say 4 L motors are dropped on each of the corners(one per corner) and
canted outwards at, say, 10 degrees.........would that give it a bit
more stability and enough time to drop the little fella out the door?

Chuck

Signature

Chuck Rudy

VooDoo Digital Productions

http://homepage.mac.com/wesrudy

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D&JWatkins - 26 Aug 2003 13:12 GMT

> Saturday, I attended a JMRC launch at the Michigan International
> Speedway. Although I brought a lot of rockets, I spent more time BSing
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> NAR 71503 Level II
> God Bless our peacekeepers

Had the same problem with mine on a clean rail. Thought maybe it was me
twisting it on the way down the rail. Same results on an F-40. Have
requested replacement part for the shell and roof. $15 + $4 shipping and
handling.

Dennis

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Bob Kaplow - 26 Aug 2003 19:32 GMT

> Saturday, I attended a JMRC launch at the Michigan International
> Speedway.

Interesting. Any idea how they got permission to use the facility? Someone
suggested one of the CHicago area race tracks as a launch site, so some info
here would be helpful.

> Although I brought a lot of rockets, I spent more time BSing
> than flying,

So does everyone else. It's what makes the hobby fun. TO me NARAM is an
annual family reunion. lots of friends I only see once a year. And it would
be MUCH simpler if we didn't have to schlep along all that rocket stuff.

> For my second flight, I picked up a G38 from my buddy Bob and slapped it
> in my Lil Johnny Outhouse. When I was putting it on a blackened rail, I

I saw one of these at NARAM. For any one but you, it struck me as overbuilt.
Who sells these?

    Bob Kaplow    NAR # 18L    TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
        >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD! <<<
Kaplow Klips & Baffle:    http://nira-rocketry.org/LeadingEdge/Phantom4000.pdf
www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/ www.nira-rocketry.org www.nar.org

Save Model Rocketry from the HSA! http://www.space-rockets.com/congress.html

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Steve Schafer - 27 Aug 2003 17:49 GMT

Glad to hear someones flying, I've fallen off the face of the rocket
flying earth since Three Oaks ;-) How was the turnout at MIS? I have
already marked the calander for the September launch....no matter
which weekend it is. I need to start using that newly minted L2.
BTW, I got some great pictures from my L2 attemt at Three Oaks.

Steve Schafer
NAR #80427 L2

> Saturday, I attended a JMRC launch at the Michigan International
> Speedway. Although I brought a lot of rockets, I spent more time BSing
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> NAR 71503 Level II
> God Bless our peacekeepers

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Model Forum / General / Rockets / August 2003

Demise of Lil Johnny Outhouse