Summer project

[Dr Mordrid]

Sons Chris, Erik and I will be building a rocket test stand and a prototype paraffin/NOx hybrid rocket engine. Hopefully test firings on the stand in a few weeks and a launch later this summer when we get the formulation & casting of the fuel grain figured out. We'll probably start out with 95% hard paraffin & 5% carbon black.

[Mehen]

Be sure to take lots of pictures! (or else...)

[Fat Tone]

...evidence for the insurance company?

Seriously though, sounds like a BLAST!

[KRSESQ]

How are you building the shell of the engine and nozzle/bell?

Kevin

[Dr Mordrid]

The shell & its end cap - stainless.

The nozzle - initially steel, later graphite (for launch) with the usual de Laval profile.

Turnings done on our 3-in-1

We may experiment with a ceramic nozzle shaped using mandrels and fired in my wifes kiln, but that depends on how predictable & uniform the shrinkage is. If we can't get it in a few tries we go back to turning.

[ZokesPro]

If you can, try and strap on a wifi cam pointing towards the earth, would make for some awesome footage.

[Dr Mordrid]

Already in the plan

We own a 2.4ghz micro-cam (42x55x9 mm) rig anyhow. We can mount it pointing out the side with a 35-40 degree enclosed mirror to get the departure view. Should work fine if we place an identical shape on the 180 to balance the aerodynamics.

[ZokesPro]

Sweet!
Can't wait to see the footage. I love rocketery, it's so much fun.

[Nowhere]

Perhaps one more question?

What about method of slowing descent? Ejecting parachute? :>