Following on from my interest in model rockets, in the Summer of 1999 I purchased a Public Missiles Limited Quasar from Pete's Rockets Also while at Pets Rockets I picked up details of the United Kingdom Rocketry Association as I planned to join them. I had previously looked up  the nearest club, Thrust, and made enquires of joining them to fly my rockets on their site. Also prior to purchasing the Rocket I had started the process of applying for my Registered Explosives Store Certificate, Explosives certificate and RCA, all of these are required to purchase, store, transport and use the majority of medium and high power rocket engines.

To keep costs down to a minimum I decided to build as much of my own ground support equipment and this was then followed by my  own location devices click here to see details of these.

Building the Quasar

When I was choosing the rocket Pete gave plenty of good advice which helped me in deciding to purchase the Quasar, Pete also gave me plenty of advice on how to assemble the rocket and little tips and tricks that would make the job easier, stronger and look better when finished.

The kit was opened once back home and all parts were identified with the aid of the well laid out instructions, I test fitted all of the bits to check that everything went together without the need of any modifications.

The first job was to fill all of the spiral groves in the phenolic tube for this I used a two part wood filler made by Ronseal. Having filled and sanded the body tubes I could start the assembly of the Quasar.

The kit was to be built as per the instructions apart from the addition of an Engine Retainer. The instructions provided clear step by step details on the assembly process, the only area that proved difficult was applying the epoxy fillets to the joint where the fins meet the inside of the body tube and 54mm motor tube. This was carried out by sucking the epoxy up a straw and blowing it out into the narrow gap, the instructions say to apply it with a stick but this proved impossible, in the end this was applied by sucking epoxy up a straw and blowing it back out with the straw in the narrow slot (note: don't suck too hard!).

The fillets on the outside of the body tube where the fins come through were carried out by applying masking tape to the fin and body tube about 8mm from the fin/tube joint, the epoxy was positioned  along the joint up to the tape, then when the epoxy was still wet the tape was removed leaving a neat professional looking fillet.

For pictures of the Quasar click here.

The Next Stage in my HPR History

Having been given a blacksky AltAcc for my birthday by my wife I decided I needed a better rocket to take full advantage of the AltAcc, for this next Rocket I wanted a rocket that made use of the 2 channels on the AltAcc, the AltAcc is a recording Altimeter that has the ability to set off pyrotechnic charges at the Apogee and at 700-500ft AGL for the deployment of the recovery devices. Also I had always liked staged rockets So I decided to try a staged Rocket, As Most of the kits available through Pete are PML kits the choice I had was limited to 2 kits, option 1 a PML Thunder and lightning, option 2 a PML Eclipse with booster section. Looking at both kits I decided to go with the slender Thunder and Lightning.

Planned Modifications

I had read about several peoples experiences with the CPR coupler that is supplied with the Thunder and Lightning and had decided to not use it instead I would replace the whole of the recovery electronics section with a 9inch section of coupling tube and bulk heads to house the AltAcc, In the middle of the coupler tube I would add a 2inch section of body tube to aid in the positioning of the coupler ( due to it being riveted in place before each flight)

The second modification was to extend the Stage coupler that houses the timer, I had planned to use blackskys Timer2 but this would not fit in the coupler supplied so a longer section of coupler was cut so as to house the Timer2. A tray made from G10 for the timer. this tray would slip into the interstage coupler and run along slots in strips of wood that were to be fixed to either side of the coupler tube. The next modification was not to cut an access panel in the tube but to have the rear bulkhead to be removable it was to be fixed into position by the use of some captive nuts and bolts.

I also chose not to install the launch lugs provided as a longer launch rod would be required and longer rods may develop whip or flex at launch giving a launch path not as desired. Instead I purchased a Black Sky Launch Rail and fitted the Thunder and Lighting with rail guides.

The final modifications was to fit engine retainers to both stages of the rocket, On the booster stage this meant having the boat tail turned down to  have the retainer slip inside it and also required a section to be remove off the rear of the boat tail.

The science behind the rocket scientist!

For some of the calculations and science behind the flight of a rocket click here.

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