Apogee Spek Instructions Manual

Brand: Apogee

Model: Spek

Type: Instructions Manual

Page 1

Colorado Springs, Colorado USA

web site: www.ApogeeRockets.com

The Spek rocket is another ne product from:

Kit #05009

Spek

(Two-Stage Altitude Rocket for Altimeters)

P/N Description Qty

Parts List

13000 Coupler 18mm X 0.35” 2

10055 Engine Mount Tube AT-13/8.0” 1

10065 Payload Tube AT-18/1.55” 1

13012 Coupler AC-13 1

13020 CR 10/13 (green) Engine Block 1

13051 1/8” Launch Lug 1” Long 1

15577 Spec Fins 1/16” X 3” X 4.5” 1

19012 13-to-18mm Ogive Transition (VF) 1

19207 Vac Form Nose Cone VFNC-18 1

29519 100# Kevlar X 6 ft 1

29004 2” Mylar Streamer X 18” 1

31128 Spek Instruction Sheet A 1

31129 Spek Instruction Sheet B 1

35535 13mm 3-Fin Alignment Guide Cardstock 1

47122 Clear Plastic Bag 6x14x2mil 1

Other Tools and Materials Needed

Pencil

Hobby knife

Wood glue

Super glue (thick viscosity)

Plastic packaging tape

Paint supplies (spray paint, brushes, etc.)

Wood sealer

Sandpaper (220 and 400 grit)

Wood dowel for spreading glue inside tubes

Spek

p/n 31128

Shock Cord Anchor Pattern

The Spek is a two-stage rocket designed speci-

cally for the National Association of Rocketry’s contest

for the “Altimeter Altitude” event. In the single-stage

conguration, it can use a 13mm diameter 1/4A, 1/2A,

or A-size rocket motor. When adding the booster stage,

you can use it in the “B-altitude” event, because two A-

size engines added together is equivalent to the power

of a “B” rocket motor.

The dual-diameter rocket is sized (at the top) for

altimeters that t into an 18mm payload tube. With its

custom vacuum-formed transition section the Spek

then reduces down to a 13mm motor at the bottom to

decrease the weight and lower the drag. This rocket

also comes with a cardstock n alignment guide to

assure that the ns are perfectly straight and evenly

spaced around the rocket. This lowers the drag, and

allows the rocket to y to new record-setting altitudes.

Skill Level 2: Previous Rocket Experience Sug-

gested

Page 2

Assemble The Spek Rocket

1. Remove the parts for the n alignment

xture from the cardboard sheet. Dry as-

semble the parts as shown. Make sure the

tabs on the cross pieces protrude through

the side plates. Apply a bead of wood glue

over the tabs on both sides of the tool. Set

the piece aside to allow the glue to dry.

2. Separate the tubes. Sand off the little

nubs of paper on the ends of the tube using

medium grit sandpaper.

3. Glue one of the red paper tube cou-

plers into the base (as far as it can go) of

the nose cone using thick viscosity CyA glue

(also called super glue). Set it aside to allow

the glue to harden.

4. Taking the point of your hobby knife,

carefully drill a small hole into the base of

the shoulder on the vacuum form plastic

transition. The hole only needs to be slightly

larger than the diameter of the yellow shock

cord.

OPTIONAL: For small altimeters, you will

connect the nose cone directly to the transi-

tion (see “Prepping for Launch” on page 5).

But if you’re using the PerfectFlite FireFly

altimeter, you’ll need to use the payload

tube. Perform the following two steps to add

the payload tube.

5. Glue the remaining red paper tube

coupler into the front of the plastic transition

as far as it will go using thick viscosity CyA

glue. Set it aside to allow the glue to harden.

6. Using wood glue, attach the payload

tube (the one with the three small holes in it)

onto the red coupler at the base of the plas-

tic nose cone. Optional: You can tape the

nose on instead of gluing it, so the payload

tube can be removed if you use a smaller

altimeter than the FireFly.

Glue

(both sides)

Page 3

7. Fine sand the balsa wood laser-cut

sheets using 200 and then 400 grit sand-

paper before removing the ns. Carefully

remove all the pieces from the sheet by free-

ing the edges with a sharp hobby knife.

For higher ights, round the edges of the

ns with sandpaper – or better yet – sand an

airfoil shape into them. Test t the ns into

the slots on the n alignment xture. If they

are too tight, you will need to sand down the

thickness slightly.

8. Sealing the surface of the balsa with

sanding sealer reduces the skin friction drag

on the rocket, allowing it to y higher. It also

improves the rocket’s appearance. Apply the

sealer with a paintbrush. When dry, sand it

with 400 grit sandpaper. Repeat the proce-

dure until the balsa grain is lled and the ns

look and feel smooth.

9. Slide the n alignment xture onto the

long body tube over the end that is etched

with the n lines. Test t the smaller set of

ns into the xture. Position the trailing edge

of the ns on the tick-marks that are etched

onto the n lines. When you know how the

ns are attached, you can remove them from

the n alignment xture and apply wood glue

to the root edge and then put them back into

the n alignment xture. Allow the glue time

to dry before removing the n xture.

10. Repeat the process of attaching the

ns, but this time use the larger ns and at-

tach them to the short booster stage tube.

OPTIONAL: For competition ights, it is

recommended that you launch the rocket

from a piston launcher or from a launch

tower. But if you do not have one, you’ll

need to use a standard launch rod. In that

case, install the launch lug as follows.

11. Glue the balsa wood standoff to the

front end of the body tube in the position

marked on the tube. When the glue is dry,

glue the launch lug to the stand-off using

wood glue. Make sure the lug is parallel to

the length of body tube.

12. Add wood glue llets to the ns and

the launch lug (if added). Lay the rocket

horizontally to let the glue dry.

p/n 31129

Smaller ns

Sustainer (upper stage)

Larger ns used

in booster stage

Fin location

line

Page 4

13. OPTIONAL: Glue the green engine

block into the tube, 1-1/4 inches (3.2cm)

deep. To save weight, you can leave out this

piece.

14. Cut out the shock cord anchor from

the front of instruction sheet. Spread glue

on one side. Take the free end of the shock

cord and lay it diagonally across the paper.

Fold it twice on the marked lines, and then

curl it slightly so it will t into the long tube

with the ns.

15. Glue the shock cord mount into the

front of the long tube with the ns on it.

Make sure it is deep enough to allow the

payload section to be inserted into the tube.

16. Thread the free end of the yellow

shock cord through the hole in the base

of the transition. Tie a big enough knot in

the end of the cord so it can’t be pulled out

through the hole. Using thick CyA adhesive,

glue the knot inside the base of the plastic

transition.

17. Cut a piece of tape (packing tape

works great), and lay it under the shock cord

close to the nose cone. Place the end of the

streamer on half of it, and fold the remainder

of the tape over the top. Press on the tape to

make sure it doesn’t come up.

18. Roll up the streamer and place it in

the rocket. Put the payload and nose cone

on top. The lower stage can be coupled to

the rocket with the red coupler or it can be

painted separately. Roll a piece of paper and

insert it into the back of the rocket to hold

the model while you paint it. We recommend

a uorescent color like orange, pink or yel-

low to make it easier to nd the rocket after

touchdown. Allow the paint time to dry.

Congratulations! Your Spek rocket is now

complete.

1-1/4” (3.2cm)

1.0” (2.5cm) minimum

Page 5

Prepping for Launch

If you are using the PerfectFlite FireFly

altimeter, you’ll need the long payload tube.

If you’re using either the MicroPeak or the

Adrel altimeter, you can place the altimeter

directly into the nose cone. If you do that,

drill a small hole into the plastic transition

section to allow air in for the altimeter’s pres-

sure sensor.

Place the nose on top, and secure it in

place with a piece of tape wrapped around

the perimeter.

Launch Supplies Needed

To launch your rocket you will need the

following supplies:

• A model rocket launching system

• Flame resistant recovery wadding

• Recommended Rocket Engines:

See the motor matrix to the right.

Rocket Preight

A. Crumple and insert a sheet of recov-

ery wadding into the body tube.

B. Roll the streamer and insert it into the

tube with the shock cord. Then install the

payload bay or nose cone.

C. Tape the nose cone onto the payload

tube (illustrations top-right on this page).

D. If ying the sustainer stage alone as

a single stage, it is preferable to hold the

engine in the tube by wrapping tape about

the portion of the motor that extends out the

rear of the tube as shown.

E. If you’re ying the Spek as a two-stage

rocket, the motor in the top stage is friction

tted into the tube.

Spek Rocket Recommended Motors

Engine Manufacturer Altitude (ft) Altitude (m)

1/4A3-3T Estes 133 40.7

1/2A3-4T Estes 341 104.1

A10-3T Estes 682 208.0

A3-4T Estes 733 223.5

A10-0T / A3-4T Estes 1206 367.7

A & B

Drill small hole

Tape

Motor Retention for

when the sustainer is

own alone (without

the booster stage)

Motor Retention for when the

sustainer is own with the

booster stage

Page 6

F. For the booster stage the motor is

inserted so the motor extends out the back

3/8” (0.9 cm) and then held in place by wrap-

ping tape around the perimeter of the motor

and the tube.

G. The two stages are joined together by

inserting the upper stage motor (the portion

that sticks out) into the front of the booster

stage.

H. Insert and secure the engine igniter as

directed on the package the engines came

with.

Countdown and Launch Procedure

Fly your rocket on a large eld that isn’t

near any power lines, trees, or low ying

aircraft. The larger the eld, the greater

your chances of recovering your rocket. The

launch area around the pad must be free of

dry weeds and brown grass. Launch only

during calm weather with very little or no

wind and good visibility.

10. Remove the safety key from the

launch controller.

9. Slide the launch lugs over the launch

rod to place the rocket on the pad. The

rocket should slide freely over the rod.

8. Attach the micro-clips to the igniter. The

clips must not touch each other or the metal

blast deector.

7. Stand back from your rocket as far as

the launch wire allows (at least 5 meters - 15

feet).

6. Insert the safety key to arm the launch

system. The light (or buzzer) on the control-

ler should come on.

Give a loud countdown 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ...

1 ... LAUNCH!

Push and hold the the button until the

engine ignites. Then remove the safety key

and place the safety cap on the launch rod.

*National Association of Rocketry

**Kevlar

is a brand name of E.I. DuPont for their selection of aramid bers. Only DuPont makes Kevlar

Misre Procedure

Occasionally the igniter will burn, but the motor will fail to ignite. If this happens, the cause is that the pyrogen on the

igniter was not in contact with the engines propellant. When an ignition failure occurs, remove the safety key from the

launch controller and wait 60 seconds before approaching the rocket. Remove the old igniter from the engine and install a

new one. Make sure that the igniter is insert fully into the engine and touches the propellant. Secure the igniter as directed

on the engine package and repeat the countdown and launch procedure.

Tape

Booster Stage

Always follow the NAR* Model Rocket Safety Code when launching

model rockets.

Apogee Spek Instructions Manual

Apogee Spek Instructions Manual

Apogee Spek Instructions Manual

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