DesCon 7: El Diablo

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REV 2.4 - Mon Aug 16 13:08:10 2010

DesCon 7
El Diablo

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SPECS:

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ROCKSIM FILE:

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SpaceCAD FILE:

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REC'D MOTORS:

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(Contributed - by Alex Immerman)

WELCOME

To the page of El Diablo III

The El Diablo III is a 3 engine cluster rocket that uses two 18mm strap on boosters (SOBs) and a 24 mm core. Before going in to depth about the cluster design I would like to give credit to Morgan Hendry who designed some strap on boosters and put them on EMRR. I suggest you refer to this site for info on how to build the SOBs. I used the same basic design for the boosters with a few modifications. Also note that the rocket pictures I used on this site were taken with a nose cone different from the one in the specifications, this is because the original NC was lost at a recent launch after a parachute deployment failure. The rocket is designed for low altitude, slow, and impressive flights. I am not sure 100% that the following are the correct part names/numbers but I'll do my best:

Main Rocket
Body Tube: Estes BT-60 (85 inches)
Nose Cone: Estes PNC-60AH (the Mean Machine NC)
Fins: 3/16 inch balsa click HERE for templates
Shock cord: Estes large elastic
Centering Rings: Estes cardboard
Parachute: 24 inch octagonal
Launch Lugs: 1/4 inch

Strap On Boosters -(2x)
Body Tube: Estes BT-20
Nose Cone: Estes PNC-20 (short cone shaped)
Shock Cord: Estes small elastic
Streamer: 1 foot- orange marking tape
Attchment: 1/4 inch wood dowel (2x each, 2 inches long)
Attachment: 2x2x7mm balsa wood
Attachment: 1.4 inch drinking straws 2.5 inches long- 45 degree angle on leading edge

This Rocket began as a Mean Machine. However it suffered some serious damage after landing tail first into pavement at A2Z Rocket Day (with CMASS) in Hatfield, MA a few years ago. After consideration, I decided to scrap the parts and use the BTs and NC to make an all new rocket. I cut some new fins (click HERE for the fin patterns) and added clipped AMRAMM style fins halfway up the rocket primarily for aesthetics . Despite the upper fins the rocket is still pretty stable, even in high wind. If you choose to build your own "El Diablo III," you will find that you only need a part of one of those Estes BT-60 tubes. This is where I wound up cutting off the fin can on the original Mean Machine. I've found it easy to cut BTs with rotationg saws. If they are available to you use it: just go quickly (but carefully) and it should not rip apart the tube. To date my rocket has flown on D12s alone and D12s with B6-0 outboards. I have yet to try C5-3s but I think they would provide some nice additional lift-off speed.

Here is the first cluster flight of the El Diablo III at a CATO launch. Only one B6-0 fired however. The main Ejection failed and the rocket utilized GLIDE RECOVERY and luckily sustained very minor damage!

Photos

Here are some pictures to give you a visual of the many parts of the rocket. Click the thumbnails to enlarge the images.

El Diablo III

Recovery

SOBs

Broken Down

Fins and SOBs

GUEST's OPINION:
"" (x.x.)

SPECIFIC ROCKET TIP:
"" (x.x.)

Date	Name	Motor	Ejection/ Altitude	Wind	Notes
11-05-1999	Alex Immerman	Est SU D12-3	Apogee - NC Down	Calm	Flight 1 - Very weak boost, weathercocked a bit, very slow lift-off. Date is approximation.
11-05-1999	Alex Immerman	Est SU D12-3	Apogee - NC Up	5-10 mph winds	Flight 1 - Weather-cocked a lot, slow boost, got a little more altitude this time. Ejection at apogee, successfull deployment.
08-19-2001	Alex Immerman	2x Est SU B4-0/Est SU D12-3	None - Nose Cone Stuck	Light winds	With boosters - The B4s added a lot to the boost, both in altitude and speed, went nice and straight. Boosters fell off at apogee as designed but chute did not deploy. Rocket glided backwards due to large forward fins and was recovered with minor damage.