3 This was Robert's first high-power-capable rocket.
7 After Bdale got his high power certification in May of 2007, it seemed
8 appropriate for Robert to build a rocket capable of flying on larger motors,
10 the first airframe that Robert used epoxy on, for example, and the first time
11 he built something using Kaplow-style motor retaining clips.
13 Because we bought the optional payload bay kit, this airframe was capable of
14 carrying electronics. Even though it always flew with motor-based ejection,
15 one of the earliest [Altus Metrum](http:/altusmetrum.org)
16 [TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) v0.1 prototypes flew many
17 times in this airframe, making Robert undeniably our chief test pilot!
21 * LOC Precision [PK-4 Lil' Nuke](http://shop.locprecision.com/product.sc?productId=114) kit
22 * LOC Precision [2.14" Payload Section](http://shop.locprecision.com/product.sc?productId=159) kit
23 * 6-32 t-nuts in aft ring for use with mirror clips in a Kaplow-style motor
28 We ordered the kits from [Discount Rocketry](http://discountrocketry.com/)
29 in early August of 2007, and construction took place during the last week of
30 the month. We painted it in Rustoleum Red, which gave it a very cool,
31 "wet-looking" color. On 31 August, in the parking lot of the Marriott Pyramid
32 in Albuquerque, we completed the build by coating the aft centering ring and
33 the bulkhead at the rear of the payload bay with 30 minute hobby-store epoxy.
37 [Photos](http://gallery.gag.com/rockets/LilNuke) of this airframe.
41 First flown at the [Albuquerque Rocket Society](http://www.arsabq.org/)
42 Thrust in the Dust launch over Labor Day weekend in 2007.
44 The "funny story" about that launch is that when we arrived at the site, one
45 of the organizers of the launch (maybe the club president?) signed us in and
46 handed Robert a snap-together plastic model kit, suggesting he put it together
47 then come get a motor for it so he could fly a rocket too. As we walked back
48 to the car, Robert asked me if he really had to put the kit together... I told
49 him no, he didn't, but maybe one of our friends coming later in the day would
50 enjoy it. When the range opened, Robert was first in line at the RSO with
51 the Lil Nuke flight-prepped and ready to go on an Aerotech G54W-M motor. When
52 he handed it over to the same guy to check out, the guy looked at me
53 questioningly, and I told him "don't look at me, it's his rocket!"... the
54 facial expression that resulted was just priceless. It was a perfect flight.
56 Later that same day, Robert flew again on an Aerotech G104T-M, and it was
57 another perfect flight other than gnarling one of the fins a bit on landing.
59 This airframe flew many, many times on E, F, and G motors. Early on, two of
60 the fins popped off on different flights and had to be re-epoxied.
62 On Friday afternoon, 5 October 2007 at [NCR's](http://www.ncrocketry.org/)
63 Oktoberfest launch, Robert flew this airframe on an Aerotech G77R-M, which
64 for a long time was his favorite motor. The elastic shock cord separated
65 on the booster side of the swivel at apogee. Amazingly, thanks largely to
66 the short grass around the launch site, we were able to locate and recover
67 both pieces in undamaged condition! We replaced the elastic with about 15
68 feet of black parachute cord, which worked brilliantly.
70 After many dozens of flights, the cardboard tube began to come apart slightly.
71 Robert decided to "retire" the airframe until his 14th birthday, when he would
72 be old enough to attempt a [NAR](http://nar.org) Junior L1 high power cert.
73 Sure enough, on 19 January 2013, the Lil Nuke was taken out of retirement,
74 fitted with a brand-new [TeleMetrum](http://altusmetrum.org/TeleMetrum) version
75 1.2b board, and flown at Hudson Ranch on an Aerotech H165R-M provided by
76 Joe Hinton, the [Giant Leap](http://giantleaprocketry.com/) motor guy, for
77 a successful certification flight!
79 This airframe is now permanently retired to "hanger queen" status.
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