Water Rocket Manual
vol 1
Volume 1 Progress
Purchase the Water Rocket
Manual vol 1 at its current level of completion now for $25.00
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next business day after receiving payment so you can down load it. |
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What do you get for your $25?
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Volume
1 of the manual in its current level of completion to date. A link to
your personalized copy will be emailed to you by the next business day so you
can down load it.
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You can
download the latest copy with the newest added material from now until it is
completed and released and for one year after that.
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You can
print out the manual but cannot copy parts of it electronically.
Unfortunately, there are people who would copy the whole thing and distribute
it to all their friends and post it on Internet for all to get free.
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You
will have access to the Members Only section of this website where you can
download the latest copy, read the details of what has been added in which
release so you can know if you want to download the next release, ask
questions, get answers, suggest what to work on next, and get tib bits of
information not in the book or not added to it yet.
Yes it is
a bumber that the manual is not yet complete but first, I am human and can only
go so fast, run into time constraints, and misjudged how long it would take to
complete this project. On the positive side, the completed manual will be
all that much more complete with that much more information. I check out
every detail, try things, build them and test them before I write about them so
you get the most complete and most accurate information.
So why
did I even bother with this website before the manual was done? Because
many people have questions that can be answered without having the complete
manual. In its current level of completion (which progresses weekly), most
people will get most of their questions answered with what is completed.
One of the biggest questions most people want answered is how to move beyond
"bounce" recovery, often, crash recovery. They want to know how to make
parachutes work consistently. They also want to know how to splice
bottles, what glues to use, how to alter a rocket to make it stable when it
isn't and basic construction techniques. All of that has been completed
with the exception as of today of the Tomy timer section which will be finished
in just a few days.
Date Updated: October 4, 2008
Total completed pages: 188
Note: Everything below is
subject to change as I continue writing and find better ways to present
information and to organize it.
Currently completed:
|
Chapter and Title |
Status |
Pages |
|
Title Page &
Contents |
Complete |
1 |
|
Introduction |
Complete |
8 |
Chapter 1: Your First Launcher
Build the Alpha Station Launcher |
Complete |
25 |
Chapter 2: Your First Water Rocket
Build the Putoid 1B Water Rocket |
Complete |
17 |
Chapter 3: Building Techniques
Templates, Tape &
Adhesives, Bottles, Fins, Nosecones, Balancing for Stability |
Complete |
35 |
Chapter
4: Advanced Building Techniques
Bottle Splicing
and Robinson Couplings |
Complete |
23 |
Chapter 5: Recovery
How to Recover Your Rocket Without Damage |
Complete |
28 |
Chapter 6: Ejection
Techniques
Recovery Timing,
Release and Ejection Methods |
95% |
48 |
Chapter 7: Designing Rockets
How to design rockets including using software. |
0% |
0 |
Chapter 8: More Rockets
Detailed instructions on building many more specific rockets of
all sizes |
0% |
0 |
Chapter 9: More Launchers
Detailed instructions on more launchers and explanations of
others |
0% |
0 |
Chapter 10: High Performance Rockets Intro
An introduction to getting your rocket to higher
altitudes |
0% |
0 |
Chapter 11: Just for Kids
Rockets for kids, working with kids |
0% |
0 |
Chapter 12 Preview of Vol 2
A taste of the subjects in Vol 2 |
0% |
0 |
|
Apendix |
0% |
0 |
|
Glossary |
20% |
3 |
|
Index |
0% |
0 |
Sections in Chapters
| |
Chapter 1: Your First Launcher
Build the Alpha Station Launcher
1.
Parts List
2. Additional Tools and Supplies Needed or Helpful
3. Building the Launcher
4. Ian Clark Cable Tie Release
5. Building a Quick and Easy Clark
Cable Tie Release
6. Assemble the Air Supply Tube
7. Final Assy
8. Completed Alpha Base Launcher
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Chapter 2: Your First Water Rocket
Build the Putoid 1B Water Rocket
1.
The Plutoid 1B Rocket
2. Remove Labels and Ink
3. Cutout Circular Fin
4. Sand Glue Areas
5. Attach Circular Fin
6. Prepare Flat Fins
7. Mark Circular Fin for Flat Fin Placement
8. Attach Flat Fins to Circular Fin
9. Make Nosecone
10. Completed Rocket
11. Launching
12. A Few Safety Items
13. Actual Launch
|
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Chapter
3: Building Techniques
Templates, Tape & Adhesives, Bottles,
Fins, Nosecones, Balancing for Stability
1. Alignment Templates
Marking For Fins
Marking for Circumference Cuts
2. Adhesives, Tapes, & Attachments
Tapes
Adhesives
Epoxy Hot Melt Polyurethane Other
Tests
3. The Bottle
Choosing Bottles
Pressure Testing
Preparing Bottles
Non Spliced Joins
4. Fins
Fin Materials
Flat Fins
Structural Fins
Fin Configurations
Fin Alignment
Fin Placement
Fin Attachment
Fin Can -- Modular Fins
5. Nosecones
6. Balancing For Stability |
|
| |
Chapter 4: Advanced Building Techniques
Bottle Splicing and Robinson
Couplings
1. Splicing
Diameter Transitions
Cutting Pieces
Splice Configurations
Curling Ends
Shrinking Bottle
Gluing Together
Pressure Testing
2. Robinson (Threaded Lamp Rod)
Coupling
Threaded Lamp Rods
Pros and Cons
Constructing the Couplings
Top-To-Top
Top-To-Bottom
Bottom-To-Bottom
Pressure Testing |
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Chapter 5: Recovery
How to Recover Your Rocket Without Damage
1. Overview
Beyond Bounce
Types of Recovery
Bounce Separation Parachute &
Streamer
Tumble Backsliding Gliding Helicopter
Airbrake
2. Parachutes
Model Rocket Recovery
A Balancing Act
Making a Parachute Canopy
Shroud Lines
Methods of Attaching Lines
Attaching Lines to Canopy
Attaching to Rocket
Streamers
Drogues
3. Backsliding
CG Location and Length to Diameter
Ratio
Stability
Launch Angle
4. The Coney
Building the Coney |
|
| |
Chapter 6: Ejection Techniques
Recovery Timing, Release and
Ejection Methods
1. Ejection Techniques Overview
Components of Ejection Recovery
Launch Angle and Trajectory Considerations
Vertical Launch
Launch at Angle
Launch Angle & Recovery
2. Removable Nosecone
Outside Blocks
Triangle Blocks
Hooks
Platform
Platform Sleeve
Attaching Recovery Harness
3. Parachute Packing
4. Parachute Over Nosecone
Concept
Testing
Attaching parachute
5. Loose Nose
Concept
Testing
Construction
6. Airstream Flap
Concept
Pro's and Con's
Construction
Flap
Flap Peg
Retainer Peg
Prelaunch Retainer Pin
Prelaunch Retainer flap
Chute Ejector
Chute Ejector vs. Band Attached to
Nosecone
Preparing for Launch
7. Tomy Timer
Concept
Construction
Vertical
Deployment
Horizontal
Deployment
8. Body Expansion-Balloon Assisted
Concept
Pro's and Con's
Construction
9. Soda Vinegar
10. Timer/Altimeter Servo
11. Pyrotechnic
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