Name | 255 |
Diameter | 10.2 cm (4 in) |
Length | 143 cm |
Rail buttons | Two 1010 |
Motor mount | 38 mm |
Weight (no motor) | 1725 g |
CP | 108 cm |
CG (no motor) | 89.5 cm |
Caliber (w/H272T) | 1.2 |
Tripoli Level 1 Certification is the starting point for most people interested in high-power rocketry. That’s the path I chose. I joined Tripoli Central Virginia, the Tripoli Prefecture for this area.
For my Level 1 rocket I chose the Apogee Zephyr kit. It appealed to me because of the 4-inch diameter, which allowed me to reach inside it during construction; the excellent build instructions and videos; and the potential for expanding it into a more capable rocket in the future. It turns out I’m not alone: many people choose the Zephyr for their Level 1 flight.
Model rockets are typically assembled using white glue or wood glue; high-power rockets require stronger stuff, namely epoxy. I chose a slow-curing – and so higher strength – two-part epoxy with fillers that can be added to achieve the desired thickness.
![Epoxies and fillers](https://www.kq9p.us/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2147-1024x768.jpg)
This kit is really well thought out, great for a beginner high-power builder. Fin alignment was a no-brainer, and there are lots of places to slather epoxy.
![](https://www.kq9p.us/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2121-768x1024.jpg)
In hindsight, knowing I was going to use this as the basis for my Level 2 rocket, I should have replaced the eye bolt from the kit with a forged eye bolt. I also discovered too late that once the two body tubes and coupler had been glued together I couldn’t fit my arm down to reach the eye bolt and untie the recovery harness. Should have used screws to hold the two body tubes and the coupler together so I could take it apart later. Ah, well, first time.
![](https://www.kq9p.us/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2122-768x1024.jpg)
So, yeah, I went nuts with the epoxy! I wasn’t very concerned with the weight and wanted to be sure it held.
![](https://www.kq9p.us/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2145-768x1024.jpg)
More epoxy overkill inside the fin/motor mount assembly.
![](https://www.kq9p.us/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2146-768x1024.jpg)
I was really happy with the way it turned out. I also decided to defer painting until the Level 2 incarnation.
Launch day, 10 February 2024, was overcast but the ceiling was plenty high enough. I flew on an AeroTech H272T 38mm reload because that was what I could get my hands on. (Thanks to Sean, my Prefect, for selling me one of his stash.)
![](https://www.kq9p.us/wp-content/uploads/L1-prelaunch-768x1024.jpg)
The launch and boost were beautiful, the parachute deployed very shortly after apogee, and nothing tangled. No damage at all on landing, but it made me walk a little farther than I wanted to. Still, hard to quibble with a successful Level 1 certification flight on the first try. (The name “455” was from the Kathy Mattea song 455 Rocket.)
![](https://www.kq9p.us/wp-content/uploads/L1-recovery-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.kq9p.us/wp-content/uploads/L1-returning-1024x768.jpg)