CATALYST 05069 Rocket Kit Instruction Manual
- May 15, 2024
- catalyst
Table of Contents
Assembled In USA
Kit #05069
Skill Level 3
05069 Rocket Kit
Skill Level 3
Intermediate Skills Needed
The Catalyst model rocket kit takes your launch experience to new heights!
Engineered for both thrillseeking experts and curious novices, the Catalyst is
a versatile and affordable option that takes to the sky on both mid-power and
high-power motors. Experience the adrenaline rush as you reach impressive
altitudes with ease.
What truly sets the Catalyst apart is its user-friendly design which makes it
an ideal choice for both beginners as well as experienced hobbyists that
simply want a flexible and easy to fly sport rocket. With straightforward
assembly and quality components, this kit ensures a hassle-free building
process without sacrificing performance. On mild engines, the Catalyst allows
you to fly again and again in a small field while wild engines can carry the
rocket out of sight. The Catalyst is your ticket to thrilling launches and
memorable experiences. Unleash the power of the Catalyst and watch your dreams
of reaching the stars take flight!
Catalyst Parts List
| Item # | Item Name | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| 10250 | AT-29/7″ Thick Wall Tube | 1 |
| 10257 | AT-74/18″ 3″ Thin Wall (Catalyst) LC | 1 |
| 13056 | 1/4″ x 3″ Launch Lug | 1 |
| 13061 | Rail Button Airframe Type | 2 |
| 13065 | 6-32 x 3/8 Flat Phillips Machine Screw | 2 |
| 13066 | Weld Nut for 1010 Rail Button | 2 |
| 13327 | CR-29 (Thick Wall)/3″ (Thin Wall) 1/8″ Plywood | 3 |
| 13378 | CR-29 (Thick Wall)/38 1/4″ Plywood | 1 |
| 15737 | Catalyst Fin | 4 |
| 19490 | Apogee PNC-74mm (3-inch) | 1 |
| 29094 | 30″ Printed Nylon Parachute | 1 |
| 29372 | 9×9 Apogee Parachute Protector | 1 |
| 29528 | 300# Kevlar x 10 feet | 1 |
| 31282 | Catalyst Instruction Sheet A | 1 |
| 31283 | Catalyst Instruction Sheet B | 1 |
| 35710 | Catalyst Motor Mount Alignment Guide | 1 |
| 39104 | Catalyst Facecard | 1 |
| 41123 | Catalyst Decal Sheet | 1 |
Required Tools:
- Hobby Knife with Sharp Blades
- Ruler
- Wood Glue
- Thick CyA Adhesive (super glue)
- Masking Tape
- Medium & Fine Sandpaper (220 grit & 400 grit)
Optional Tools / Materials / Finishing Supplies:
- Fin Alignment Guide (P/N 35709)
- Paper Towels
- Spray Paint
- Soapy Water
- Wood Dowel
Assembly Steps:
-
Glue the rail button mounting weld nuts into the laser cut tube by applying a small amount of thick CA adhesive onto the flange of the weld nut and pressing the weld nut into place through the holes from the inside of the tube. Reaching into the tube (particularly for the forward weld nut) can be done by placing a loop of masking tape on the end of a dowel and using that to hold the weld nut. To ensure that the weld nut does not move while the CA adhesive cures, secure it in place with tape. Repeat with the second weld nut.
-
Wood glue the small plywood centering ring (P/N 13378) so that it sits roughly 1/2” (13 mm) from one end of the motor mount tube. This will be the forward end of the tube.
-
Tie the shock cord around the motor tube using a slip knot so that the knot can be pulled tight. The shock cord should be tied behind the installed centering ring and then pulled against the back side of the ring.
-
Pass the loose end of the shock cord through a large centering ring and wood glue the centering ring onto the tube with the shock cord passing outside the small centering ring and inside the large centering ring. Ensure that the shock cord is pulled tight against the aft side of the small centering ring and apply wood glue fillets to both sides of the centering rings as well as over the shock cord loop. Allow the glue to dry until the assembly is solid.
-
Cut the two motor mount alignment guide parts out of the cardstock sheet (P/N 35710) and slide the parts together. No glue is required to hold the parts together.
-
Apply wood glue about 3” (76 mm) from the aft end of the motor mount tube. Then, slide a ring onto the tube and use the alignment guide to ensure that the ring sits at the correct position on the tube. Allow the ring to dry flush with the end of the alignment guide then pass the shock cord back through the motor tube so that it exits at the aft end of the tube next to the alignment guide.
-
On the inside of the main tube, apply a generous bead of wood glue about 6” (152 mm) from the aft end of the body tube. The second centering ring (installed in the last step) is NOT glued to the motor tube in this step. Slide the motor mount assembly with the alignment guide into the tube. When the alignment guide stops at the body tube, the second centering ring should be aligned with the gap between the fin slots and the motor mount tube will end up flush with the aft end of the body tube.
-
Sand the edges and surfaces of the fins using medium sandpaper (220 grit) so that they are smooth.
-
Remove the alignment guide then install the fins by applying a small bead of wood glue to the bottom edge of the tabs and along the sides of the middle centering ring then sliding the fins into place through the slots. Use a fin alignment guide to ensure the straightest build possible. Once the fins are in place, allow the glue to dry so that the fins are well secured.
-
Using a thin dowel, apply wood glue fillets to all of the accessible joints inside the tube – between the fin tabs, outer tube, middle centering ring and motor mount tube. Once the fillets are applied, run beads of glue along the inside of the tube, along the back sides of the fin tabs and around the surface of the motor mount tube and install the aft centering ring.
-
Optional: If the ability to fly from a 1/4” rod is desired, the Catalyst includes a launch lug that can be installed. Apply a bead of glue within the engraved rectangle opposite the rail buttons and install the launch lug, being careful to ensure that it is aligned along the length of the rocket.
-
Pass the shock cord back through the motor mount tube so that it exits through the front of the body tube. Then, apply fillets to the external joint between the fins and body tube. Since these are more decorative than for strength, carefully apply a bead of glue to the joint and shape the fillet with a finger tip. Allow the fillets to dry before continuing.
-
Optional: There are a number of motor retainers (SOLD SEPARATELY) that can be installed on the Catalyst. If it is desired to install one, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation.
-
Tie a 4” loop in the end of the shock cord, making sure that it is large enough for the nose cone to pass through the loop.
-
Cut open the slot in the parachute protector using a sharp hobby knife then slide the shock cord through the slot, pushing the parachute protector along the shock cord so that it ends up near the body tube.
-
Pass the loop in the shock cord through the loop on the nose cone then pass the shock cord loop over the tip of the nose cone and back down toward the shoulder. Finally pull the knot tight.
-
Attach the parachute by collecting the center of the parachute’s shroud lines. Pass the combined lines through the loop on the nose cone, and pull the parachute back through the loop in the lines, pulling the knot tight. Pack the parachute protector, shock
cord, and parachute into the rocket and install the nose cone.
-
Once the glue is completely dry, the rocket is ready to be painted. Remove the tape that was securing the weld nuts in place. For the absolute best finish, it is important to apply primer. Priming is a two step process. The first step is to spray a thick coat of primer on the rocket and allow it to dry. Using fine sandpaper (400 grit), sand most of the primer off leaving it only in the deeper surface imperfections, such as tube spirals. Further heavy coats of primer can be applied and sanded off to completely fill such surface imperfections. The second step is to apply a thin coat of the primer, and once it has dried, lightly sand the primer so that the rocket is covered by a thin uniform coat. After surface preparation is complete, spray the rocket with a coat of the desired color of paint following the manufacturer’s directions.
-
Allow the final coat of paint to dry at least 24 hours before applying the vinyl decals so that the paint isn’t damaged. Remove each decal from the paper backing and dip them into soapy water so that the decal slides easily on the surface of the painted rocket. If the decal begins to dry before it is correctly positioned, a little soapy water can be added to the surface. Position the decals on the rocket and once they are in the correct location, press them down firmly and squeegee out any water underneath them. Once they dry entirely, the soapy water will not affect the adhesive of the decals.
-
Mount the rail buttons by sliding the black button over the protruding sections of the weld nuts and securing them in place by tightening a screw into place.
-
Congratulations! Your Catalyst is now complete and ready to be flown! Continue with the preflight and launch instructions below.
Launch Supplies Needed
To launch your rocket you will need:
A launch pad with a 1” launch rail and a launch controller that can handle the
selected igniters
Engines such as those recommended in the motor chart. Additional motors can be
viewed at:
https://www.apogeerockets.com/Model-Rocket-Kits/Skill-Level-3-Model-Rocket-
Kits/Catalyst#motors
Rocket Preflight:
A. Slide the parachute protector up to the nose cone then, to minimize the
risk of zippers as well as tangling of the shock cord, z-fold the shock cord
by folding several short (2-1/2”, 64 mm) sections of the shock cord together
and taping the folds into a bundle with masking tape. Repeat creating bundles
for the majority of the shock cord leaving about 1 ft (30 cm) by the nose cone
to allow space to work on the parachute.
B. Fold the parachute so that the shroud lines all come
together, then place the shroud lines onto the parachute in a loop and fold
the parachute in half long ways to surround the shroud lines. Fold the
parachute again – this time the other way – to shorten the whole package. Wrap
the parachute with the parachute protector
C. Insert the z-folded shock cord into the body
tube, followed by the parachute wrapped with the parachute protector, and
finally the nose cone.
D. Install the motor by sliding it into the motor mount tube.
The motor needs to be retained to prevent it from being blown out by the
ejection charge. This can be accomplished with a combination of friction
fitting and tape around the end of the motor mount tube and the motor casing.
If the optional screw-on retainer was installed, that can be used for
retention.
E. If you’re
using Estes engines that don’t have a thrust ring on the rear, you can make
one from masking tape. Wrap 5 layers of tape over the nozzle end of the rocket
motor. It needs to be only over the bottom 1/4-inch (6mm). Using a hobby
knife, trim off any tape that sticks over the edge of the motor. Note: This
thrust ring is plenty strong, so it will not allow the motor to move on you
during launch. Once the thrust ring is created, install the motors as
shown.
F. When
flown with mid-power motors, the igniter can be installed in the Catalyst
before taking it to the launch pad. For high-power motors, however, the
igniter should be installed after the Catalyst is in place on the launch rail.
To improve the chances of the rocket motor igniting correctly the first time,
ensure that the igniter is installed in the motor manufacturer recommended
fashion.
Continue to
follow the countdown and launch procedures.
Suggested Motors
Countdown and Launch Procedure
| Manufacturer | Model | Altitude (ft.) | Altitude (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerotech | E23T-4 | 513 | 156 |
| Aerotech | E24C-4 | 610 | 186 |
| Aerotech | F25W-6 | 1421 | 433 |
| Aerotech | F67C-6 | 1542 | 470 |
| Aerotech | G40W-7 | 1977 | 603 |
| Aerotech | G80T-7 | 2525 | 770 |
| Aerotech | H 135W-10 | 3842 | 1171 |
While not suitable for very small fields due to its large size, the Catalyst can be flown without a waiver and from moderate fields when flown on small motors from the suggested motor chart. When flown with any high-power motor a waiver is required. While on the large size for a midpower rocket, the Catalyst can fly to extreme heights on H class motors and a large field will be required. In any case, the area around the launch pad should be free from dry grass and other fire hazards, and the pad should be as far from trees, powerlines and low-flying planes as possible.
- Ensure that the safety key has been removed from the launch controller.
- Place the rocket on the launch pad. The rocket should slide freely along the rail.
- Install the igniter and attach the clips to the igniter wires. The clips must not touch either each other or the metal blast deflector. Otherwise, a misfire is likely.
- Stand back from the rocket as far as the launch wire
- Insert the safety key to arm the launch system.
- Give a loud countdown! 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… LAUNCH
- Press and hold the button until the engine ignites. Once the rocket is away, remove the safety key.
Misfire Procedure
A misfire is when an engine does not light after the launch button is pressed. This is sometimes a result of the igniter burning but failing to light the engine. At other times, the igniter will not burn at all (this is often indicative of a short between the clips). To deal with a misfire safely, remove the safety key from the launch controller and wait a full minute (60 seconds) prior to approaching the pad. Check that the igniter wires or clips were not touching and causing a short. If they were, the short can be corrected and a launch attempted again. If the engine simply failed to light, remove the old igniter and install a new one. Make sure that the igniter is installed all the way into the engine and that it is in contact with the propellant. Always follow the NAR (National Association of Rocketry) Model Rocket Safety Code when launching model rockets.