Launch rod and lug diamter?

[Nate]

Hey everyone, I just picked up an Estes Argent, and was wondering if I should use the included 1/4' or 1/2' BT-5 body tube as a Launch Lug and which pad I should launch F and G motors on, the Low or High power pad, and what diameter your rods are?
Thanks a lot,
Nate

[JJSR]

the 1/4" lug is fine I don't know if you noticed the small pad in between the two HPR pads yesterday

. That one holds our 6' rods, we have one 1/4" rod and one 3/16". Argent would do fine on that pad
Our LP pad has mostly 1/8" rods I think #5 can hold a 1/4" X 3' rod

[Nate]

Thanks!
I didn't see the pad between the LP and HPR pads!
I'll try to have it ready for the launch on the 28th or the one in August!

Thanks again,
Nate

[garmtn]

Hi Nate, for lighter rockets, under a lb, a 1/4" LL is fine. When u start getting into the larger/heavier stuff, u will want to go with "RAIL BUTTONS". No if, ands, or buts, about it! Ask me about my 1st "duel egg loft attempt" 5 years ago, when we speak next. TTY Mr Roth

[Nate]

Wonderful, my Jr. L1 is definitely gonna be more than a pound, sio I'll find some rail buttons. The rails at the club are 1010 right?
wil these work: http://www.apogeerockets.com/Building_S ... n_Standard?

[Jim Z]

1010 indeed! I am chiming in too because I really like those exact rail buttons. As long as you plan during your build so you can install the metal part inside the body, these type of buttons are great. They really are strong and anchor the button to the body well.

I should have shown you the 29mm scratch build I just finished. I used LOC tubing and those exact rail buttons.

[Nate]

wonderful, good to know!
do those need to be drilled into a centering ring?
it doesn't look like it, but I haven't been able to find a manual anywhere online.

[Jim Z]

Those particular rail buttons don't screw into the centering rings. Instead you drill a hole through the body, insert the metal piece through the tube from the inside, and the button and screw go onto/into the little piece which pokes out of the body. If you get these buttons but later decide it woul be easier to just secure the button into a centering ring, you can buy suitably long #6 wood screws and use them to secure the button to the rocket and into the centering ring.

A good video showing the use of this type of rail button is in the series of videos Apogee made a year or two back in which their employee, Erin Card, documents the process of building a high power rocket. I believe it is covered in the 4th video in that series. In the video series, Erin builds a Madcow Torrent 4" diameter rocket. Search a phrase like "Erin apogee high power rocket" on YouTube to find it.

[Nate]

Thanks so much!
my centering rings aren't real thick so that's a good thing for me.

[smarra01]

Nate,

Here is the link to the video.

http://www.apogeerockets.com/Advanced_Construction_Videos/Rocketry_Video_64