Pilot chutes

I'm working up to Level 1, scratch building a 4" hybrid powered bird. I'm interested in using a dual deployment system that employs a standard pyrotechnic charge to separate the nose cone and deploy a pilot chute at apogee, then at altitude a mechanism releases the main allowing the pilot chute to pull it from storage (rather than blowing it out). I found a nicely engineered product at Blacksky (

), but it's pricey and (I think) overkill for this five pounder. Is there another system out there for this, or a 'preferred method'? Are there other deployment methods that achieve the same thing (even if they do use pyrotechnics)? I'm not asking about the electronics (I'm still debating timer or altimeter), but the mechanics. Releasing a catch that is under tension is a tricky problem.

I'm looking at this type of system mostly because I think it's elegant (nifty, whatever...) and I like the idea of a single separation point for deploying all chutes. If anyone can point me in the direction of some components or ideas I'd be grateful.

Kevin OClassen NAR 84380

FWIW-- I've been reading RMR for a few months now, and I've found the chat extremely helpful. Helped me decide to go strictly hybrid above 62.5. No reason not to get LEUP other than I've had an authority complex all my life... be durned if I'll change now. BATFooey!