Tuesday, May 12, 2015

StratoFins Water Rocket, Launcher Assembly Part 4



Dry fit all the PVC pieces before using any glue!
When using PVC glue you only have a moment to get the tube pieces lined up before the glue grabs!

Get very familiar with all the pieces and how they go together.


I used very thin strips of masking tape to line up the tubing. Adjoining pieces were marked with letters.
When sliding the glued pieces together I just had to line up the tape strips and matching letters.

This was especially important with the vertical launch tube! I wanted to be sure it was straight up.






After the PVC launcher is glued together it is attached to the flat plastic base with the two remaining cable ties.

Cut off the excess tails.



Here's the finished launcher.
The pink cord is tied to the release ring and threaded under the tubing to one side of the base.

You may have to adjust the tube clamp so when the trigger collar is slid up over the cable tie ends it is held up with a friction fit over the ties.


To launch the water rocket -
Stake down the launcher base with tent pegs (included with my set)
Fill the rocket (bottle) with water, 1/6 to 1/3 full.
Lay the release cord straight and away where no one can snag or pull on it until you are ready to launch.
Tip the launcher on it's side and slide the rocket over the vertical launch tube.
Slide the rocket down the tube, onto the bump (raised area on vertical tube) sealing the bottle.
Be sure the cable ties "click" and lock over the large ring on the nozzle.
Slide the trigger collar (with the cord attached) up and over the cable tie ends. This should be a friction fit locking the cable ties over the nozzle ring.
Turn the launcher and bottle up so the launcher base is flat on the ground. Stake down the launcher base.

Connect a bicycle pump (with pressure gauge) to the valve on the launcher base.
Pump to 30 PSI to start. ((Maximum pressure is 120 PSI!)
Don't stand over the rocket when pumping air into the launcher.
Countdown and pull the trigger collar release cord. LAUNCH!

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