Periwinkle's Pride, a PML Black Brant VB, on the Launchpad
at Higgs Dairy Farm
Periwinkle's Pride
I obtained my TRA Level 1 certification on 09/19/2002
with Periwinkle's Pride. It is a PML Black Brant VB with a Blues Clues
paint scheme.This page has construction details, launch report(s), a certification
flight video, etc.
I would also like to experiment with different deployment schemes: Magnetic
Apogee Detection and also Dual Deployment.
Magnetic Apogee Detection would a great backup to motor ejectionat apogee.
Dual Deployment would also be nice. Periwinkle's Pride's first flight,
and my Level 1 Cert flight, was on a very windy day to a RocSim Altitude
of 3650 ft. On a windy day. She was recovered (phew!) about a mile away
on the far edge of a treeline.
The PML CPR 3000 seems nice in principle but seems to have some issues
that I believe PML is rectifying. (Re the recent TRA magazine article).
I may consider a bash of it per the article's recommendations. I am considering
a retrofit of this to Periwinkle - but the PML recommended insertion point
would destry the paintjob.
Periwinkle's Pride is a Public Missiles Black Brant VB. It substitutes
Blues Clues artwork for the traditional artwork as my son is a big Blues
Clues fan. Of course, they ditched Steve in favor of Joe about this time
- but fortunately Steve's still cool (hee's just "off to college" so my artwork
is also still cool).
PML Black Brant VB Data sheet
PML FAQ
(construction)
PML Site
Hybrid Bash
I wanted to build a new rocket with and for all my new toys
- RockSim 6.0 and a Propulsion Polymers motor set. After the CFO put the
brakes on ordering new rocket parts, I decided to bash Periwinkle. Click here to view Bashing Periwinkle.
Certification Flight
After many delays, mostly to sync up with other members
of Area 52, I flew Periwinkle's Pride on Sept 19, 2002 at the Higgs Dairy
field at an MDRA launch. This was my TRA Level 1 Certification Flight and
the maiden flight for Periwinkle's Pride
It was on a very windy day at Higgs Dairy Field. Due to Aerotech production
and supply issues to Ken of Performance Hobbies, I ended up flying a Cesaroni
H153. This propelled my rocket to a RocSim Altitude of 3650 ft. On a windy
day. She was recovered (phew!) about a mile away on the far edge of a treeline.
Most folk were 1) reefing their chutes, 2) using dual deployment, 3) small
motors (which tended to overstabilize rockets), or 4) not flying. But I flew
because I had one day. That day. And the field IS big.
The flight was glorious with Periwinkle's Pride jumping off of the launch
pad, straight and true, with a meaty roar. She was hard to see in the overcast
sky,but the chute deployed and I caught sight of her again. Drifting. Far.
And I ended up losing sight of her. After an hour or so of searching, I
finally saw her in the binoculars: In the arms of another rocketeer who'd
found my rocket and was still looking for his! I hiked a half a mile or
more to meet up. I Didn't wave, watched him dissapear behind a building.
nd drive off! But I was confident she was found, so the mile long walk back
wasn't for naught - and she was waiting for me at the RSO's table - ready
for signoff.
She actually suffered very minor damage at the bottom root of a couple
of fillets. It appeared to primarily be bonding issues between the fillets
(micro balloon filled epoxy) and the PML Quantum tubing. A strong wiggle
of the fins showed them still firmly attached (hence still getting the Cert
signoff). I will repair and likely re-inforce with a bit of fiberglass tape
and spot paint it.
Here is a Quicktime movie of the launch.
Many thanks to Marksman of Area 52 for editing the video for me. Enjoy the
show!
Construction
I need to scan in the construction pictures. Here's all I've
got for now! I'm actually fitting the foam on the stand.
Flight Log
Here's Mike holding his TRA L1 Cert papers and his cert
rocket - Periwinkle's Pride.
Motor: Cesaroni H153, 14 second delay (RockSim 12.6), Piston/Parachute
recovery, Est 3650ft altitude.
The flight was glorious with Periwinkle's Pride jumping off of the launch
pad, straight and true, with a meaty roar. She was hard to see in the overcast
sky, but the chute deployed and I caught sight of her again. Drifting. Far.
And I ended up losing sight of her. After an hour or more of searching, I
finally saw her in the binoculars. In the arms of another rocketeer who'd
found my rocket and was still looking for his! I hiked nearly half a mile
to meet up. I didn't wave, and watched him dissapear behind a building,
and drive off! But I was confident she was found, so the mile long walk
back wasn't for naught - and she was waiting for me at the RSO's table -
ready for signoff.
I launched Sunday, April 27. I would normally have gone to
Whitakers, however, I wanted to fly my Hybrid Bash of Periwinkle's Pride.
And whom better than with the East Coast Hybrid Evangilist, Doug Pratt of
Pratt Hobbies. For that overriding reason I chose BattlePark over Whitakers
for this weekend.
As luck and children would have it, I was barely prepared for my hybrid
bash launch, and in fact had been up to 3:30 AM installing rail buttons,
tweaking altimiter bays, generally checking everything out, and in
particular had all the new toys and their accessories packed. I missed my
6am wake up and my 8:30 departure had me at the field at noon.
Synchronicity :) with Ed Rowe (swapping altimiters), Ken (Performance Hobbies),
and Doug, consumed a good 2 hours or so before I could even think of assembling
and launching. This is not fault of theirs, just 3 busy people that I had
significant interaction with before I could start.
At that point, I was also still focused on a L2 attempt with the Propulsion
Polymers J-140 motor. But I first had to pass the L2 written exam. That took
me back to Ed. Ed is a very busy man. Very helpful and eager to help. He
was very patient with me that day and I am thankful. When I opened the L2
exam he handed me, I immediately shuddered - I had forgotten about the safety
portion. It's a good half of the exam, has a lot of rote memory, I didn't
study (NFPA 1127, or 1122, and for which?), and I easily missed more than
5 (excluding the tech misses I *knew* but can only attribute to jittters,
or wind flutter, or ...).
Ed encouraged me to try again, so I picked up study materials. Before proceeding,
I touched bases with Doug, as it'd been 3 hours now since I'd said "hey,
I want to fly off your hybrid setup", and he hadn't heard from me since.
As it happens, Doug was thinking of leaving - tired kids, et all. "Can I
be ready very soon?" I was going to switch to the I-140 and skip L2, but
then Doug said, very graciously "No, you need to shoot for L2, and I'll wait".
So I studied, and took the test again. But syncing with Ed, studying, and
taking the test was another hour. And I flunked again (rote memory on Safety
portion). Fallback to I-140, but, wait, Doug's a packing up :| And he did
have to leave. And I understood.
So, I missed BOTH my L2 shot AND any ALL hybrid shots (including L1 which
I'm certified for). This (1) because I was too focused on L2, (2) hadn't
studied the Safety, and equally importantly, (3) didn't fallback to flying
hybrid early enough - esp considering Doug's desires to leave. I had enough
new equipment for Periwinkle (See the Periwinkle Gets Bashed page) I shouldn't
have even tried for L2 ( and esp when not ready, and ...)
At that point, 4pm, and folks starting to pack up. I quickly re-assembled
my Bullpuppy 2.1 and loaded it with the F20-7 "just a nice motor / delay
/ flight match" to Ken's recommendation. And launched. Beautiful! Ken, I'll
take another pack ...
I then hurried and loaded up Periwinkle with another Cesaroni H153 that
I had in the kitty. It was a good thing I had it as Ken had just ran out
the day before, and I hadn't brought my in-the-kitty AT reloads as I was
going to fly hybrids, remember :| Anyway, the Cesaroni happened to be in
the Propulsion Polymer's reload box and in it went.
And I barely made the last launch of the day - that with only 15 minutes
left on the waiver and the LCO tent being taken down around me.
Periwinkle flew a great flight on that motor - the same one in the MDRA/Higgs
Cert Flight. Beautiful boots, great glide, successfull deployment and recovery.
Fortunately the winds were nearly nil even up to 3,600 and she landed only
150 yards away.
Interestingly, she cracked the fin fillets on the same fin in the same place
as before. I thought I had a strong repair, but am wondering if the fin is
just a little loose there. I will use some fiberglass tape in the next repair
(though she is flyable right now - this mostly costmetic). This is also an
area where this fin portion overhangs the body and is not TTW, so is perhaps
subject to more flex and victim of QT's less than ideal epoxy bonding characteristics.
Motor: Cesaroni H153, 14 second delay (RockSim 12.6), Piston/Parachute
recovery, Est 3650ft altitude. This delay is perhaps a bit long and an 11
or perhaps 12 second delay would deploy near apogee rather than at a good
arc over. But, that stock delay (which can vary 10% ...) requires no motor
mods - just screw in and shoot. And that's what I did.
Note that I DID get my L2 Certification, later, with a Cesaroni
J-285, in the Bashed Periwinkle vehicle. The next launch report links to
that report.
I certified TRA L2 at this launch! I planned to certify
L2 with the Periwinkle Bash and my Propulsion Polymers J-160. But luck was
not with me and the the HyperTek equipment was in Greensboro and Doug couldn't
make it with the HyperTek to PP/Ratt adapter. Bill Shamblin had his equipment
- but was having difficulty getting a N2O fill from his supplier. Go here to check out the full launch report
for my L2 Cert on a Bashed Periwinkle (flying APCP)
Another hybrid miss - I didn't have N2O or an adapter. Ken
and his friend did have the Whitakers HyperTek GSE and some rockets there.
They flew several times - and made it look easy - as in why did I think
non HyperTek would be easier :) I couldn't come up with anything to adapt
to the club's equipment and then everybody packed up and left when a small
shower rolled in (and cleared up!). I did do initial testing of my RDF tracking transmitter
and receiver and that was quite successful.
My goal remained to get my first hybrid flight in -
but after prepping the payload bay I began to prep the motor. Carefully.
And I find I don't have the large floating injector. And I don't have the
tubing to fly the small floating injector. I ended up flying Periwinkle on
my last Cesaroni H-153 for another picture perfect flight (a very nice motor
for this rocket). I also flew my PML BullPuppy 2.1 on an F20-7 for another
fun flight. When I got home I found that I did indeed have the large injector
- it was in the J tube in the motor tube case. Nothing else on the tube,
but the large injector was in there. I had my new GSE, my own N2O, everything!
Including the injector I didn't think I had. I will try again in October
and I will have everything test fit and pre-assembled for no further delays!
I think I've had that motor set for 1.5 years with no launches to date!
I have *everything* and intend to show up with everything checked
out and ready to unload, set up, rack bashed Periwinkle, and launch her on
an I or J PP tube. That is the plan :)
