Arcas
is a standard
Aerotech HV Arcas kit. However, it was built without the
standard motor block and without the usual engine hook in order to allow
it to fly on 29mm motors like the H128. Instead of the usual engine
hook, three small tee-nuts and motor clips were added into the rear
bulkhead in order to hold motors in place. In addition, the paper
body tube was coated with a thin layer of epoxy. This adds weight
but it improves durability.
Actually, I have built two
of these. The first one was the first rocket I built that could fly
on a G motor. It made a total of 33 flights before a plugged ejection
baffle caused a deployment failure and the rocket came in ballistic.
It was totally destroyed. I built the second one with easier access
to the stainless steel baffle filter so that it can be removed and
inspected prior to every flight.
Another improvement that I
made on the the second one was to replace the standard Aerotech parachute
that comes with the kit. I replaced it with a larger one in order to
avoid landing damage to the fins. The fins were broken and re-glued
several times during the life of the first Arcas.
As of November 2004, the
new one has made seven flights and is still going strong.
