This is a highlights video from day#115 of two flights of the "The Shadow" water rocket. For more details please visit: www.AirCommandRockets.com/day1...
It's difficult to put a dollar amount on it, because a lot of the equipment we needed to make it we already had, and we had to go through a whole development process doing prototypes. If we needed to make a second one now from scratch there would be close to $300-$350 in electronics and materials on this rocket. The original development took around 7-8 months before 1st flight.
This rocket uses a custom launcher that was specifically built for this rocket. Details on this launcher can be found on out RU-vid channel under "High pressure water rocket launcher"
Not in this configuration. The nozzle is relatively big so the thrust phase is over in a short amount of time. When eventually a similar rocket to this one is flown in a 2 stage configuration, then we will use foam with the rocket with a smaller nozzle.
Yup the Shadow II is ready for flight. We have just been waiting for a good opportunity to launch it. It requires both dad and I to launch it, but dad was in Europe for the last 5 weeks.
@dutchwaterrocket The servo had activated into the deployed position. We suspect it was a mechanical failure of the piston, potentially jammed during the high Gs by the parachute or shock cord.
@janf73 Hi Jan, Yes we are re-using the pressure chamber. Only the top 15-20 cm was damaged. We will add a coupler and then add a new piece of tube on the end.
@Basrockets Thanks Basrockets. We don't know what the upper limit is for this particular tube. We have had a short section of it still holding at 560psi, but have never pressure tested the whole rocket to that pressure. We are aiming to get up to 500psi with this rocket. We wanted to get at least one good flight in to test everything out first.
@karlwinkler66 Thanks. :) And that is a very good question. We used 1.3L of water on these first flights, but ~1.6L is the optimal amount. We weren't sure how stable the rocket was going to be so we wanted less weight aft on the first launches. Now that we know it flies well, we'll increase the water amount next time. The air pulse also happens quickly because of the pressure and large nozzle used on the rocket.
Woow ! Very nice job George (and your team)! That was a really nice altitude ! And what a speed, what is that max pressure that this rocket will hold? Basrockets
Sorry for the late reply, I only just now saw your comment. We get the fiberglass from the local fiberglass distributor called Nuplex. They carry all sorts of fiberglass and CF materials and epoxies. Yes we still use normal splicing for most of our other rockets.
George, what is that fast clicking sound that i hear just before the launch? I hear that almost every time you launch a rocket. Is that a photo camera or some type of non return valve?
Hi Basrockets, it's just the still camera taking pictures at 10 fps. :) I normally have to get one of the kids or someone to take the pictures as I normally have the two video cameras (HD and slow-mo) and dad takes pictures with his still camera.
