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The Right Stuff - Hints and Tips from APOGEE, the official
newsletter of the Miami Valley Rocket Society.

Questions or comments? Send E-Mail to Bob Hegwood, CIS: 76276,2552

Or write to: Bob Hegwood
             31 Pagett Drive
             Germantown, Ohio 45327
             (513) 855-7105
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Safety

1. WARNING to those of you who like to use the flash-bulb ignition
method: Do NOT use the "X" type flashcubes to obtain your
flash-bulbs. This type of flashcube has a built-in battery which
can set off the bulb during removal. If this happens, some rather
unpleasant burns can result. Use the regular flashcubes instead.
(Fred Williams)

Flight Prep

1. To prevent problems with poor or no ignition of model rocket
motors, switch over to using Aerotech "Copperhead" igniters. They
are more reliable, easier to use and far more durable. A pack of
"Copperhead" igniters for use in 1/2A thru D black-powder motors
costs less than the equivalent number of igniters from other model
rocket manufacturers. "Copperhead" igniters are available in three
different lengths for use in all model rocket motors from 1/2A to
G. (Bob Sanford, Aerotech)

Construction

1. Yet another suggestion in the body tube seam filler materials
saga: Try auto body filler. While on the subject of seam fillers,
bear in mind that fillers are soft and may also be sensitive to
certain paint solvents. After sanding with a fine-grit sandpaper,
spray the body tube with sandable primer, and then sand with
fine-grit paper again. The most common sandable primer color is
grey, but you can also find white primer which gives a better base
for light colors. (Fred Williams)

2. When drilling holes through your body tubes for "epoxy rivet"
fin mounts, you should also drill some holes along the root edges
of the fins themselves. Place the holes in each fin at a position
which is low enough so that your epoxy fillets will cover them.
This will make your fin mounts twice as strong. (Bill Curtin, CSAR)

Miscellaneous

1. To clean ejection charge stains (and other forms of sludge) from
your models, try using a small amount of toothpaste as a cleaner.
Squeeze some white toothpaste (Pepsodent works well) onto a soft
damp cloth, and rub the model using a gentle circular motion. After
the stain has been removed, simply rinse the cloth in water and
repeat the procedure to wipe away any toothpaste residue. White
toothpastes are recommended since they contain small amounts of
abrasive. Avoid "Gel" toothpastes. They generally don't contain
enough abrasive. (Manning Butterworth)

2. After a day of launching rockets, liberally spray your blast
deflector and launch rods with WD-40. After a few minutes, use some
paper towels to wipe away the crud. Before you pack your equipment
away for the week, spray it with WD-40 again. This will keep your
equipment clean and it will prevent rust. (NARAM-31 range crew)