Flare Test, Orlando R.O.C.K. Launch, September 6, 2014

The replacement for the Powered FLIC in the Odd'l Rockets Combo kit might just be the FLARE, shown at the left.
It's second test flight was at the Orlando R.O.C.K. monthly launch.
I tried an A10-3t engine.
While the flight was very stable, it seemed almost too fast off the launcher.
Even with the tail cone drag, the A3-4t engine would be a better choice.
More flight testing will follow.

The new Odd'l Rockets LITTLE GREEN MAN had another stable C6-5 flight.
Here the L.G.M. reclines after touchdown.

Flare / Bell Bottom Build, Part 2 Design Process

Here's the back view with the shroud over a 5/60 centering ring.
There's no engine hook, the engine is slid in place and gets a wrap of masking tape over the BT-5 tube.

The extended shroud isn't as strong as I would like.

Below the centering ring I'm adding a short "nested" shroud.
This will but up against the centering ring and be even with the back end of the outside shroud.

The entire model was dry fitted to see the finished shape.
I'll probably keep the launch lug short, right beneath the hole in the shroud. It's never easy to trim the lug end even with the angle of the shroud.

Flare / Bell Bottom Build, Part 1 Design Process

Drawing up a shroud can be tough, if you are off by the slightest bit the fit will be poor.
I use the shroud tool on www.payloadbay.com for a start.
But, the shroud will have to be printed later with more than one shroud per sheet of card stock.

The shroud was dropped into Corel Draw and redrawn.
Three shrouds were made, one slightly larger another a bit larger.
One of the three should give a friction fit over the BT-5 body.

The lug hole is pre-punched and will be in the kit.
That small hole is hard to cut out after the shroud is formed. By pre-punching the lug hole I'll have a perfectly round top to the lug recess hole.

After the shroud is glued up, the straight vertical lines in the lug slot are cut with scissors.
This keeps the shroud stiffer when forming and gluing. If the lug slot were completely cut out (before forming the shroud) it is harder to get it round on the narrow end.

FLARE Flight Test

The Powered FLIC replacement model got a first flight test on August 28 at the schoolyard soccer field on August 28, 2014.

The "FLARE" was very stable with the 1/2A3-4t engine, no wiggle or coning.
The engine ejected but the nose cone came off so it didn't come in ballistic.
No damage, the card stock tail cone was just a little wet from the grass.

"FLARE" Shroud Design

I made the first drawings of the conical base stability model, tentatively called the Flare. (The Bell Bottom name is already owned by Hot Rod Rockets.)
The shroud was drawn up using the Payload Bay Transition Tool
CLICK HERE then transferred to Corel Draw.
Only three will fit on a 8 1/2" x 11" card stock sheet.

One feature in the upcoming kit revision - 
The hard to cut launch lug hole will be pre-punched. You can see it indicated by the black dot in the upper left shroud.
For now - print, fit, redraw - repeat!