[Not displaying correctly? View web version.] | Peak of Flight Newsletter #508: | This week's article is by Charles Maklin The Guillotine fin jig is probably the most versatile tool for putting fins on a model rocket. It doesn't matter the diameter of the tube, or the number of fins you're installing, this tool can handle the job. But there are some tips and tricks you can use that improve this tool and what you can do with it. In this article by the inventor, Charles Macklin, you'll read the suggestions that he has to make the Guillotine even better. Also in this issue: Alliance Raider Rocket Plan The Alliance Raider is a simple-to-build, but sinister-looking ring-tail rocket design by James Bassham (see the image below). When you download the PDF version of this issue, you'll get: the awesome space-scene rendering, 3-view color rendering that shows placement, full-size decal artwork, fin patterns, parts list with Apogee's part numbers, a dimensioned drawing showing CP location, and link to download the RockSim design file! | Read the rest of this week's article, either on a downloadable PDF for printing out onto paper, or on our website (great for viewing on your phone)! Previous issues of our newsletter are found at our archive page. |
Check out the latest products to hit Apogee's shelves! 18mm Engine Retainers | The Estes 18mm engine retainers are used to rocket engines from sliding rearward out of the rocket. The advantage is they are cheaper in price than aluminum retainers, and that will save you money for your other projects. Now you can make your low power rockets look like they are high-power! |
#4-40 Nylon Shear Pins | Nylon shear pins are used to temporarily hold sections of the rocket together until the ejection charges within the rocket blow them apart. They are often needed on high power rockets because the sections can separate prematurely due to the air pressure differences within the rocket. This is a larger size shear pin for those wanting to fly bigger high-power rockets. |
RockSim for Mac Catalina | Apple Macintosh users, we now have a version of RockSim that runs on the new 64-Bit Catalina OS. You can download it using the link you received when you purchased RockSim, or download the free trial version when you are ready to install on Catalina. This was the only change to the program - no other changes were made. Windows users: you do not need to do anything! |
Apogee Maker's Dozen Bulk Pack | Are you looking for a bulk pack of rocket kits for your classroom where each rocket is different looking? The Maker's Dozen rocket bulk-pack does just that - 13 unique rockets! Even though all the fins are different shapes, they each have the same surface area and the same span. This allows all the rockets to be compared to each other based on their flight performance. So fly them against one another to see who’s rocket can go the highest or the fastest. But be ready for some fantastic altitudes, as each of the rockets in the Maker’s Dozen can easily go over 1,300 feet in the air on a C6-5 rocket motor. |
LOC Terrier-Sandhawk | The Terrier-Sandhawk is a high power two-stage rocket designed for high-altitude flights. This is a complex rocket, and is recommended only for the person that is looking for their next challenge after completing their Level 1 or Level 2 certification. What makes it complex is that you'll have to build in a side-mounted ebay sled (included from Apogee Components only) into the model in order to house the electronics that are needed to ignite the upper stage motor. It is a crowd-pleaser for sure. And you'll have earned the applause after the effort you put into building this rocket. |
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| “My interest in rocketry and science did lead me to a degree in a chemical engineering and a successful career in control engineering and scientific firmware design from which I’ve been retired for four years. When I visited Apogee’s website, and saw Tim's videos, I recognized a fellow engineer and recognized that responsible rocket science and engineering was behind the rockets, components, newsletters and videos from Apogee. I was further amazed at being able to buy and use Apogee’s RockSim design and simulation software, to examine the design files for the high-power rocket kits sold by Apogee and the other venders. It was because of the serious high-power rocketry of Apogee that I ordered the Zephyr kit from them to embark on getting my L1 NAR certification. The value of Apogee Rockets isn’t just being able to buy great rocket kits and supplies and get good assembly advice. Its being able to learn and appreciate the rocket science that is contained in the videos and the more than 500 newsletters that Tim has published over the last two decades.” — Dan Griffing | |
We're looking for someone to write a definitive guide to selecting igniters, controllers and batteries for rockets. We'd love to have a newsletter article on that topic, because we get lots of inquiries about it. Is that you? Do you know how many e-matches can be set off in a cluster by a 3.7v 400 mAh battery? See our Newsletter Guidelines on how to submit an article on this topic and get paid upto $350 for your time. | |
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I need help with generating the bi-weekly newsletter articles since it takes a lot of effort to put them together. And I'm willing to pay big bucks for your help. So ask yourself, are you looking to earn some extra money? I'm now actively seeking writers for articles to appear in this newsletter. And I want unique and cutting-edge articles because that is what you want to read, right? I realize this, so to get articles from outside writers that have the same level of quality, I'm going to have to pay a lot of cash to make it worth it for them. So I've come up with a compensation package where I'll pay up to $350 for good how-to articles. Are you a writer, and does that interest you? That is a lot of cash! Far more than you'll get by writing for other magazines. And with over 23,000 worldwide subscribers, if you write for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter, you'll gain a lot of notoriety. Writing for the Peak-of-Flight Newsletter is a great way to show off your rocketry projects and your technical expertise, at the same time as helping out other rocketeers. Imagine how great you'll feel knowing that you made a difference to the hobby. If you're interested in writing, see the guidelines on our site. | |
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