Please find here a FSR I am calling the Weasel NA8 Diesel.
It is, as the title suggests, a tiny rocket than can be 3D printed in one piece.
There are two versions in the file, plus all the parts.
When I print it, I use 5% infill except for the top 1/3 of the nose cone and the motor stop. Those I use 40% infill. Your slicing software can help with that.
I also use ‘tree’* supports with extra interface for good adhesion.
I use a paper straw for the launch lug, attached using glue.
I recommend either Estes A3 or B4 motors. The rocket “probably” disintegrates with Estes C motors.
Max altitude with the A3 motor is about 400ft. It is about 800ft with the B4 motor.
PLEASE NOTE: There is no recovery system (aka parachute). It therefore lands (aka crashes) at a very high speed. Make sure no little ones (or even big ones) are down range during launch. Seriously, this thing falls at >80 mph. It won’t hurt the rocket, but it could take an eye out.
Just out of curiosity, what do the aviation people say? In our parts anything that flies higher than 500 feet (if I understood right) needs permission.
maybe something more like the old Estes Alpha model - plastic fin assembly and cone then a cardboard tube for the body and the engine size. in theory a C engine (long impulse vs short impulse) should be ok. and yeah, a C engine in something like that will clear 1K ft… also a streamer is nice for reducing the speed down to earth and also tracking…
(a number of years building flying rockets, including national competitions…)
The regs say that as long you are not in a restricted zone (by airports, bases, etc) you can launch “Estes” sized class one rockets (any rocket you launch with a black powder motor of a certain size). I will never get close to launching something larger.
The rocket here has a max altitude of about 600 ft with an A3 motor, and about 900ft with a B4 motor.
No room for a streamer, or really anything. It is meant to be a simple to print and simple to fly rocket. And man, does it fly! I just went out and test launched another batch. They really fly well and true.
I am working on a more complicated rocket now. My ultimate goal is to model the Top
Gear Robin Shuttle.