This is my first completely scratch-built rocket, and is a remake of my previous favorite rocket "The Shadow" by Estes. I used two 14.2" BT-80 tubes to make the body and one 14.2" tube to make a payload section, so it is 3.2" taller than the original. I made the fins from 3/32" plywood, and the small leading fins from basswood. I did through-the-wall mounting of the main fins to the motor mount. I also used 3/32" plywood for centering rings, and it is built with a 29mm motor mount. I also put in a balsa baffle system, so no more wadding. I used 3 pan-head sheet metal screws to keep the nose cone on the payload section. This was my favorite last year, and it has carried the IA-X96 altimeter on many flights. It survived 10 'G', 4 'F', and 4 'E' motor flights in its first month.
Dia: 2.6"; Length: 50.5"; Wt. 15.1 oz.; Motor (1): 29mm
Status: Active
| Flt | Date | Motor | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) | 7/28/97 | E23-5T | Excellect flight and perfect delay. |
| 2) | 7/28/97 | E23-5T | IA-X96 payload. Only 242 ft. with the added weight. |
| 3) | 7/28/97 | F40-4W | IA-X96 payload, reported 899 ft. |
| 4) | 7/31/97 | F40-7W | Delay seems too long, but a nice flight. |
| 5) | 7/31/97 | G64-4W | IA-X96 payload, reported 1791 ft., 9.5 Gs, 264 max mph. |
| 6) | 8/02/97 | E23-5T | Nice flight. |
| 7) | 8/02/97 | E16-4W | Another nice flight and perfect delay. |
| 8) | 8/04/97 | G64-7W | Another nice flight, delay ejected about one second past apogee. |
| 9) | 8/04/97 | G64-7W | IA-X96 payload, reported 1560 ft., 8.7 Gs, 255 max mph. Tiny zipper. |
| 10) | 8/04/97 | G64-7W | IA-X96 payload, garbage data. |
| 11) | 8/04/97 | G80-4T | IA-X96 payload, reported 1535 ft., 8.3 Gs, 248 max mph. |
| 12) | 8/07/97 | G64-7W | IA-X96 payload, reported 1747 ft., 10.3 Gs, 264 max mph. |
| 13) | 8/07/97 | G64-7W | IA-X96 payload, reported 1689 ft., 10.2 Gs, 264 max mph. |
| 14) | 8/11/97 | G64-7W | IA-X96 payload, reported garbage data. Small hole in payload section. |
| 15) | 8/22/97 | F39-6T | IA-X96 payload, reported 542 ft., 5.6 Gs, 119 max mph. Payload flight for NARTREK Silver level. |
| 16) | 8/27/97 | F52-5T | IA-X96 payload, reported 1028 ft., 8.1 Gs, 187 max mph. Developing some mild body tube creases. |
| 17) | 8/30/97 | G75-6J | Excellent flight. IA-X96 payload, reported 2077 ft., 8.9 Gs, 308 max mph. Landed 10 yards from pad. |
| 18) | 8/31/97 | G75-6J | Another excellent flight. IA-X96 payload, reported 2081 ft., 7.1 Gs, 297 max mph. |
| 19) | 1/31/98 | F37-6W | Nice flight and perfect delay. |
| 20) | 4/02/98 | G80-7T | IA-X96 payload, reported 1761 ft., 10.4 Gs, 259 max mph. |
| 21) | 4/16/98 | G54-10W | Nice flight, delay a little long. |
| 22) | 4/23/98 | H128-10W | Excellent flight, delay a little long. IA-X96 payload, reported 2536 ft., 19.9 Gs, 405 max mph. Tore the bottom launch lug off. |
| 23) | 5/25/98 | G75-10J | Nice flight, delay a little long. |
| 24) | 3/25/99 | G33-5J | Nice flight and good delay. |
| 25) | 7/10/99 | G33-5J | Nice flight. |
| 26) | 8/14/99 | G33-5J | Nice flight. Chute tangled, no damage. |
| 27) | 10/14/00 | G38-7FJ | Nice flight. Delay too short. |
| 28) | 10/14/00 | G33-7J | Nice flight. |
| 29) | 10/26/00 | G33-7J | Nice flight. |
| 30) | 7/21/01 | G33-7J | Nice flight. |
| 31) | 7/20/02 | G33-7J | Nice flight. Delay too long. |
| 32) | 7/20/02 | G33-5J | Nice flight. |
| 33) | 4/12/03 | G40-7W | Nice flight. |
Pictures
A rear view of my Shadow #2 with through the wall fin mounting.
Shadow #2 before its first flight. 7/28/97.
Shadow #2 taking off on a G80-4T. 8/04/97.
Shadow #2 heading back to Earth. 8/07/97.
Shadow #2 taking off on a G54-10W. 4/16/98.
Shadow #2 taking off on a G75-10J. 5/25/98.
The Shadow #2 on a G33-5J. 7/10/99.
The Shadow #2 on a G33-7J. 10/26/00.
