Many years ago during the Western Winterblast II Convention (Feb 1991) in Lake Havasu, AZ I videotaped a very interesting and informative lecture given by Dr Robert Winokur. I dug up that old tape today and watched it. During the lecture he mentioned glitter rockets and could they could be done?! He said he had thought they couldn't because of the low thrust involved but that someone had proved him wrong and this is the way they did it:
Core burner:
Ram favorite BP propellant to 1/2-2/3 the spindle length then ram the rest with your fav glitter comp including over the top of the spindle for time delay and added effect!
By ram I mean PRESS...do NOT hammer ram any glitter comps!!!!!
Dr Winokur said the glitter rockets he saw were beautiful!
(if thrust is too low to lift any garnishments you may want to make your propellant a little bit hotter since the propellant core is now shorter than the original)...my remarks not Winokurs.
Try it and let me know how it works for you!
Glitter Rockets
Started by Bluehawk, Jul 29 2006 05:37 AM
3 replies to this topic
#2
alany
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Posted 29 July 2006 - 03:28 PM
Yeah, glitter over the core of a BP or whistle rocket works, especially on nozzleless motors where the larger diameter lets the glitter dross out better.
You have to pick an appropriate glitter however, some are better than others in this application and the effect doesn't scale down well. Magnalium microstars in the delay section can produce a similar sparse effect but with bright and even coloured flashes.
Ti or FeTi in the delay section is quite common too.
You have to pick an appropriate glitter however, some are better than others in this application and the effect doesn't scale down well. Magnalium microstars in the delay section can produce a similar sparse effect but with bright and even coloured flashes.
Ti or FeTi in the delay section is quite common too.
Alan Yates
http://www.vk2zay.net/
http://www.vk2zay.net/
#3
Bluehawk
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Posted 30 July 2006 - 03:20 AM
Alany
Notice the glitter comp forms 1/3 to 1/2 the rockets core as well as over the core. Winokur states that the reason most choked glitter comps don't work well is because the particles thrown off tend to fall back into the choke shortly after passing through but in a rocket motor you won't have that problem.
I've used 6-8% Titanium many times mixed in my 1 pound rocket fuel to form both the core and time delay with great sucess but this is a totally different effect than a glitter tail.
Notice the glitter comp forms 1/3 to 1/2 the rockets core as well as over the core. Winokur states that the reason most choked glitter comps don't work well is because the particles thrown off tend to fall back into the choke shortly after passing through but in a rocket motor you won't have that problem.
I've used 6-8% Titanium many times mixed in my 1 pound rocket fuel to form both the core and time delay with great sucess but this is a totally different effect than a glitter tail.
#4
Mumbles
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Posted 31 July 2006 - 10:07 PM
This is very similar to how strobe rockets are made. There is a whistle "lift charge" if you will, with strobe mix over the top. Strobe rockets are very cool looking and make a very unique sound.
Another way to do this, though considered cheating by some, is to attach a comet to the top of the rocket. In this case a glitter comet. Charcoal streamer comets are not uncommon either.
Another way to do this, though considered cheating by some, is to attach a comet to the top of the rocket. In this case a glitter comet. Charcoal streamer comets are not uncommon either.
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