SD's RamJet Build

[ScrapDaddy]

here Ben this one is for you :D

As I promised a while back, i would show a successful build thread, and so i picked up a Estes ricochet, and if any of you know me well enough i never build estes kits, i simply scrounge around for parts...... A few days ago i was fooling around with the parts and realized i could create something that could look a jet, but my original intention was to use the transition as the nose cone which made it look like a ram, I Combined both ideas and got the Ramjet ( i know this is a future technology.....)

EDIT: Jump to page 3 for flight video and pics!

[ScrapDaddy]

It is hard to visualize what i ment by a Ramjet Nose cone shape so here is a few quick pictures

Note: i didnt glue it in for ease of painting, i will do this later

[ScrapDaddy]

Here i connected the body tube with my homemade baffle

[ScrapDaddy]

Here i got Fin #1 on......

[ScrapDaddy]

the rest of the fins.......

[ScrapDaddy]

Oh And this was my fin prep:

I sharpened the Edges

I Put i coat of Filler on (i did it so well it almost looks like a paper skin :cool: )


i applied CyA along the edges

[ScrapDaddy]

And this is how she looks after A few coats of primer again i slid the NC in so you could see what it would look like, not glued in yet because of painting

[ScrapDaddy]

Heres a close up of the NC One again NOT GLUED IN YET i painted the NC metallic Silver, i painted the inside of the BT red

[ScrapDaddy]

Here is the road bump, i have NO IDEA what to paint the Fins/rest of the Bt Anyone have any ideas?

[cjl]

Very nice. Good to see a build thread from you :D

[ScrapDaddy]

Do you Wanna help out with the I have no clue what to paint it problem?:D

[TheAviator]

Go for a nice yellow, kinda like the stock FlisKits Deuce's Wild! scheme. Simple yet effective.

[Scotty Dog]

YO SD
Looks good. What kind of primer are you useing? It looks like blue paint to me.You could call it "MY-WAY.Seeing you built it your way.:D As far as the color-well remember "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" Scotty Dog

[ScrapDaddy]

Sorry forgive the poor lighting, it is krylon Gray sandable primer

[Scotty Dog]

Sorry forgive the poor lighting, it is krylon Gray sandable primer You wont believe this but its true. I had to hunt down "DRY" sandable primer. I finaly found some by Dupli-Color at V.I.P. Auto.
I live up in NH and there is not many places to shop localy. I went to 2 states (NH & VT) to get a fuel filter for my tractor.Ya, even up here in farm country. Scotty Dog

[ScrapDaddy]

I'm not sure, I only use wet sanding with this stuff

[InFlight]

So............ your worried about the paint job BEFORE you flight test this thing?

Interesting, I never paint prototypes. lol

:pop:

.

[InFlight]

There are tricks to painting that ramjet with it glued in. Roll up some paper, make it an inch longer than the nose cone and slide it over the nose cone. Let the roll go and it should snug up to the inside of the tube. Light coats of paint around the end of the tube and your good.

.

[GrossApproximator]

I'm not sure, I only use wet sanding with this stuff

You're talking about the Krylon Gray? Why do you only dry sand it. I ask because I like to dry sand the Krylon with 400 or 600 grit wet/dry paper first (helps people like me see those tiny imperfections, especially in balsa noses, which are otherwise hard to see). Then I switch to wet sanding.

[ScrapDaddy]

Hehe, I haven't thought about stability yet, I am fairly worried about about the nested nose cone, as it might move the CP forward, I am jut completely unsure how much, the CG is a full 2 inches in front of the fins(when I fly on a A8 :D )so I am not completely worried. I'll go for a swing test soon (if she fails I will be awfuly disspointed :D )

[ScrapDaddy]

You're talking about the Krylon Gray? Why do you only dry sand it. I ask because I like to dry sand the Krylon with 400 or 600 grit wet/dry paper first (helps people like me see those tiny imperfections, especially in balsa noses, which are otherwise hard to see). Then I switch to wet sanding.

Well I dry sand with the 320 and wet sand with the 1500.

[ScrapDaddy]

There are tricks to painting that ramjet with it glued in. Roll up some paper, make it an inch longer than the nose cone and slide it over the nose cone. Let the roll go and it should snug up to the inside of the tube. Light coats of paint around the end of the tube and your good.

.

Another reason I haven't glued it in yet is because I am wondering I'd I want a payload section.

[GrossApproximator]

Well I dry sand with the 320 and wet sand with the 1500.

oh. wow that's fine paper.

[ScrapDaddy]

Just a quick question, am I sanding to early because the stuff still feels like latex.

[ScrapDaddy]

oh. wow that's fine paper.

You can get the stuff at Ace, normally they use the stuff to sand granite countertops, because the rougher stuff will sratch the granite. The description of the 1500 is mirror fine

[TheAviator]

Just a quick question, am I sanding to early because the stuff still feels like latex.

Yep, you are; the primer should feel solid. I haven't used the new stuff, but from what I understand, you need to let the Krylon primer dry for a minimum of one full day (I would go two or three) before doing sanding work.

[exprditer789]

How long did you let it dry before you started to sand it???

[InFlight]

Hehe, I haven't thought about stability yet, I am fairly worried about about the nested nose cone, as it might move the CP forward, I am jut completely unsure how much, the CG is a full 2 inches in front of the fins(when I fly on a A8 :D )so I am not completely worried. I'll go for a swing test soon (if she fails I will be awfuly disspointed :D )
Your making me feel like I am getting a tooth pulled. :cyclops:

You could add some weight to the shoulder of the nose cone to correct the CG.
While doing a swing test of course.

.

[ScrapDaddy]

Yep, you are; the primer should feel solid. I haven't used the new stuff, but from what I understand, you need to let the Krylon primer dry for a minimum of one full day (I would go two or three) before doing sanding work.


I waited overnight..... Woops :D a little short

[ScrapDaddy]

Your making me feel like I am getting a tooth pulled. :cyclops:

You could add some weight to the shoulder of the nose cone to correct the CG.
While doing a swing test of course.

.
the test flight should be on a 1/2 A6 so to minimize any potentual damage

[troj]

Looks good, Scrap.

-Kevin

[cjl]

the test flight should be on a 1/2 A6 so to minimize any potentual damage

How much does it weigh? A 1/2A6 won't get it very high...

[ScrapDaddy]

How much does it weigh? A 1/2A6 won't get it very high...


I am not quite sure, where can you get a little scale thingy? And if it is heavy, woops I didn't mean to say minimise I ment Maximise :D

[ScrapDaddy]

Looks good, Scrap.

-Kevin

Thanks, it's the first one I haven't totally messed up the paint Job on :D I hope I didn't jinx it :) if I find some decals I might be able to enter it in te spring contest (boy someone is being optimistic :rolleyes: )

[cjl]

I am not quite sure, where can you get a little scale thingy? And if it is heavy, woops I didn't mean to say minimise I ment Maximise :D

Well, if you don't have any way of weighing it, I'd probably go with an A8-3 or B6-4 for the first flight, to ensure that it has adequate power to get off the launchpad safely, and adjust from there.

[troj]

I am not quite sure, where can you get a little scale thingy? And if it is heavy, woops I didn't mean to say minimise I ment Maximise :D

Do you have a postal scale available to you?

What you need is something like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/0-1-X-2000-DIGITAL-POSTAL-WEIGHING-SCALE-KITCHEN-SCALES_W0QQitemZ390030691727QQcategoryZ109751QQcmd ZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m8QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DMW%2 6its%3DC%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D20%26ps%3D63#ht_735wt _1026). For LPR, I'd really suggest a scale that does 1/10 gram.

-Kevin

[ScrapDaddy]

Grr $20......Umm... I'll take a Crack at it with my A8's

[cjl]

I use these:
http://saveonscales.com/product_mw_mxt_series.html

[UPscaler]

I have one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/600-X-0-1-GRAM-MINI-Flip-Cover-DIGITAL-Pocket-Scale_W0QQitemZ220509265118QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item3357605cde

It works great. It has been very useful. It has 4 different modes. It's pretty convenient. Nice to have around.

[ScrapDaddy]

$60 for a scale?!?!?!

[ScrapDaddy]

Well there are only 3 people unacounted for, MarkII, The EGE, and Ben :confused:

[The EGE]

Well there are only 3 people unacounted for, MarkII, The EGE, and Ben :confused:

Believe it or not, I don't own a scale. Well, except for the one that says I'm 138 lbs...

[ScrapDaddy]

Believe it or not, I don't own a scale. Well, except for the one that says I'm 138 lbs...

Well that leaveS MarkII and Ben


And The EGE, didn't you say you weighed all of your models after being built? And 138LB? That's light, I think:confused:

[Bone Daddy]

Very nice looking rocket. I've had a similarly built ramjet sitting on my workbench for a while now just waiting to be be used. This is just the encouragement I needed to get on with a design.

I'd look forward to a nice stable flight with chance of weather cocking. Have you thought about recovery? I find rockets with big fins like this are excellent candidates for streamer recovery.

If it were me, I'd light it up with an A8-3 followed by a B6-4.

[The EGE]

And The EGE, didn't you say you weighed all of your models after being built? And 138LB? That's light, I think:confused:

I guesstimate the weight. B6s are 20g (0.7oz), C6s are 25g (0.9 oz), D12s are 43g (1.5 oz), 29/40-120 hardware is 56g (2 oz), and 29/180 hardware is 84g (3 oz).

Yes, 138 lbs is rather light. I'm 6 foot even, so I'm right on the verge of being underweight.

I agree with Bone Daddy, big fins mean plenty of weather cocking, and a streamer should prolly be fine.

[ben_ullman]

front and center!

I own 2 rocket scales, a 5500gram .1g accurate scale for chems and other small weighing. Then a 300lb 1lb accurate scale for the larger stuff.

go with a B6-4. this looks pretty draggy.

Ben

[cjl]

front and center!

I own 2 rocket scales, a 5500gram .1g accurate scale for chems and other small weighing. Then a 300lb 1lb accurate scale for the larger stuff.

300lb?

Dang...

I have a 100g capacity scale accurate to 0.01g (epoxy, chemicals, small rockets), a 500g scale accurate to 0.1g (small rockets), and a 75lb postal scale accurate to half an ounce for >2lb, and 0.1oz for <2lb. I figure if it's over 75lb, I can just use the bathroom scale.

[ScrapDaddy]

Very nice looking rocket. I've had a similarly built ramjet sitting on my workbench for a while now just waiting to be be used. This is just the encouragement I needed to get on with a design.

I'd look forward to a nice stable flight with chance of weather cocking. Have you thought about recovery? I find rockets with big fins like this are excellent candidates for streamer recovery.

If it were me, I'd light it up with an A8-3 followed by a B6-4.

Well here's your motivation to get the ramjet finished, if you ever come by NY, let me know and we will have a drag race :D

I am worrried that the RamJet will move the CP to far forward.

[ScrapDaddy]

I guesstimate the weight. B6s are 20g (0.7oz), C6s are 25g (0.9 oz), D12s are 43g (1.5 oz), 29/40-120 hardware is 56g (2 oz), and 29/180 hardware is 84g (3 oz).

Yes, 138 lbs is rather light. I'm 6 foot even, so I'm right on the verge of being underweight.

I agree with Bone Daddy, big fins mean plenty of weather cocking, and a streamer should prolly be fine.

Oh, now I know why you stuck with 29mm machbusters, you have a bigger margin for "Guesstimation" :D

I am 93.4 LBs and 5' 3"

I am a firm believer in "Better safe than sorry"

[ScrapDaddy]

front and center!

I own 2 rocket scales, a 5500gram .1g accurate scale for chems and other small weighing. Then a 300lb 1lb accurate scale for the larger stuff.

go with a B6-4. this looks pretty draggy.

Ben

Hey Ben, it's nice to see you made it to this thread intact :)


Rocket scales are "privlages"


Ok I'll go with expertise on this one, first flight will now be on a B6-4 (I'll thank you later when I find out how low it flys :) )

[slogfilet]

Looking good!

As a side note, harbor Freight has some decent scales at times... $10-12 for a small digital one. Accurate enough fo my needs. =)

[cjl]

Well here's your motivation to get the ramjet finished, if you ever come by NY, let me know and we will have a drag race :D

I am worrried that the RamJet will move the CP to far forward.

Given your large fins, I'd say you're almost definitely going to have no problems with stability. You can always swing test to be sure though.

[ScrapDaddy]

Given your large fins, I'd say you're almost definitely going to have no problems with stability. You can always swing test to be sure though.

She is just begging for a 29mm upscale, speaking of which upscaler gave me a great idea for a paint job, a Metalic silver coat and then little pieces of oddly shaped tape followed by a coat with a metalic Blue coat, and voilà, a blue coat with silver shapes in it!

[dragon_rider10]

Whoah whoah whoah.... easy does it, remember. Fly what you have first, then you can talk about upscaling.

[troj]

Whoah whoah whoah.... easy does it, remember. Fly what you have first, then you can talk about upscaling.

Fly several more designs of your own creation, successfully, then consider upscaling one or two.

-Kevin

[dragon_rider10]

She is just begging for a 29mm upscale, speaking of which upscaler gave me a great idea for a paint job, a Metalic silver coat and then little pieces of oddly shaped tape followed by a coat with a metalic Blue coat, and voilà, a blue coat with silver shapes in it!

I saw a HPR rocket this weekend with a similar scheme, blue shapes on silver background:

http://www.nefar.net/gallery/2010-04/index.html

Last vid of on the page at the moment. A FANTASTIC flight. Highlight of the day.

[Micromeister]

If you watch the harbor frieight sales you can get a very nice pocket 500g .1g scale for under 10 bucks. I've been so happy with the first one I purchased I went back and got 3 more so I can have one handy at all times;)

Very nice to see a build thread from You SD...But that ain't no Ram-Jet...
these are Ram-Jets LOL!!!

Seriously tho... Good lookin build; for yours I'd go with a Bright Yellow or maybe orange with red & black strip details?

[ScrapDaddy]

Don't one up me ;) I was hoping for more of a scifi theme. Your RamJet looks "modern" with swept-wings I used semi swept coward fins to make it look "futureistic".

FYI: I settled for a estes 18mm nose cone because I coulnt find a conical NC laying around.

[new2hpr]

If you're really tight on funds, or just don't want to buy a postal scale, use theirs! I took my L1 to the post office for an accurate weight for my sims. I did make sure to call ahead, as it was a 4" x 5'+ long rocket. Got some interesting looks, and surprisingly, no comments:eyepop:.

One quick question: With that fin shape, I can't tell which direction your grain is running, or if it's even possible to run it in the traditional "parallel to leading edge" direction. A paper skin would alleviate any strength issues there.

Looks different, refreshing change from 3FNC.
-Ken

[ScrapDaddy]

Ok, Micromeister will kill me here but....all the parts were from a Estes Richochet set ( that's right you can make one of these at home :) ) so I have to use what was avalible to me, unforunetly, this ment that the way I wanted the fins, the grain would be running perpentivular to the leading edge :jaw: I soaked these fins in MinWay wool hardener, which should really help.

[ScrapDaddy]

UPDATE: Primer will be dry by tommorow, you know what this means...... :D

[cjl]

It's time to fly a primered rocket?

[ScrapDaddy]

I feel the temptation..... Just one more thing do you think the upper section should be payload?

[Micromeister]

Ok, Micromeister will kill me here but....all the parts were from a Estes Richochet set ( that's right you can make one of these at home :) ) so I have to use what was avalible to me, unforunetly, this ment that the way I wanted the fins, the grain would be running perpentivular to the leading edge :jaw: I soaked these fins in MinWay wool hardener, which should really help.

OH SD! Minwax wood hardener will be working against you in this case, making the fins sapwood brittle and causing more breaks on flex and landing then if you'd left it alone. I strongly suggest adding a plain old paper laminate to both sides of each fin if the grain is running the wrong way.

Why would I kill you SD...Kit Bashing is a great way to get parts! I caught a great sale on baby berthas and Vikings a while back..bought a dozen of each just for the nosecones, kept most of the other "bonus" parts as well.

Do I understand your ram-Jet is your own design? If so, It's a good looking job SD keep up the good work.
You are aware the ones in my pics are up & down scales of the old ESTES kit right?

Cjl is right though....time for a test flight before ya get to far into the finishing. and seriously nothing less then a A8-3 to get a decent idea of its under power stability;)

If your model were really a ram-jet that area would be part of the engine, I was thinking your design might look kewl if you had exhaust ports or slats cut in around the circumference of the aft transition. If your feeling a bit lazy, these exhaust ports or slats could be simulated with Vinyl or painted in place.

[bradycros]

I soaked these fins in MinWay wool hardener, which should really help.

I've never seen MinWay wool hardner.:bangpan:

[ScrapDaddy]

Sorry, Typo, MinWax Wood hardener :clap:

[RangerStl]

I've never seen MinWay wool hardner.:bangpan:

Boy, I bet THAT sweater is scratchy.

[ScrapDaddy]

Boy, I bet THAT sweater is scratchy.

:roll:

[cjl]

Sorry, Typo, MinWax Wood hardener :clap:

I agree with micro - I would laminate the fins with paper to strengthen them.

[ScrapDaddy]

Ok......done! Who's ready to see a video of a test flight? ;) cause here she comes.....

[ScrapDaddy]

The launch video is in! One sec for upload.....

[ScrapDaddy]

yImesFYd110&feature=youtube_gdata

[cjl]

Not bad. Looks like it flew straight :)

[ScrapDaddy]

Actualy launched her three times., that was flight 2

[cjl]

What motor was that on? B6 or C6?

[ben_ullman]

I cant figure out which one of the little kids screaming was him :confused2: :roll:

Ben

[ScrapDaddy]

That was a B6, third flight on B6 First was on a A8 (sevearly underpowered) but on a B it looks drameticly overpowered!

[ScrapDaddy]

I cant figure out which one of the little kids screaming was him :confused2: :roll:

Ben
There were 2 kids with me 8 and 6 the 8 year old girl, Paris screamed, you can also see this inflight 1 and 2 and 3 :D I was the one shouting what the rocket was doing.

[UPscaler]

I cant figure out which one of the little kids screaming was him :confused2: :roll:

Ben
:roll:

Nice launch!

Still can't get those plastic chutes to open huh?
Try putting a little talcum powder inside it. just a little bit though. not enough to tow the rocket down.

[ScrapDaddy]

It was a 2 inch streamer.

[UPscaler]

It was a 2 inch streamer.

Oh. That should explain why the parachute didn't open. :p

[ScrapDaddy]

Didn't you see at the end of the video when the camera was looking at the streamer?

[cjl]

That was a B6, third flight on B6 First was on a A8 (sevearly underpowered) but on a B it looks drameticly overpowered!

Good thing you didn't use a 1/2A6 like you initially planned then. You should try it on a C6-5 :D

[ScrapDaddy]

I almost lose sight of it on a B ( 400 feet, tops) but some how on an A8 I got around 60 feet tops, it was against the trees so I could make a very goo estemation. If I can expect exponentialy growth, I am NOT use a C

[cjl]

I would guess that if it made 400 feet on a B, then you're looking at 700-800 feet on a C (which is about what I would have guessed based on the rocket size anyways). With a streamer, it should definitely be doable.

[ScrapDaddy]

I am worried about damage, if you look at the touchdown sequence, it was, nose, steamer then body tube

[cjl]

Why would you be worried about damage? The landing looked fine to me...

[ScrapDaddy]

I have a tiny area to work with (backyard+ golf corse) the third fight ended up in a huge field of rose bushes and dence shrub, persisAnce is what make a rocketeer what he is.

[cjl]

Find a bigger field then ;)

As for the rose bushes, ouch. I've had to retrieve a rocket from dense shrubbery before, and it is incredibly irritating. Good to know you got it back though.

[ScrapDaddy]

I spent 37 mins (I start the timer when rocket launches to see how long it take forbid to come down) looking and wondering through that stuff, but I wasn't gonna loose my faverite rocket so far.

[exprditer789]

Try it on a D24


Warning:You may lose it!!!

[ScrapDaddy]

Daredevil :p

[MarkII]

It's time to fly a primered rocket?Hey, if it's good enough for me...

MK

[ScrapDaddy]

Hey, if it's good enough for me...

MK

Well Mark, with all due respect it's 10:48pm...... Come back tommorow when you have had your coffee and say That :D :caffeine:

you should see my fleet sometime, most of them hasn't even reached the Primer stage!

[cjl]

Hey, if it's good enough for me...

MK

I have a whole fleet in primer.

(Seriously. I can think of at least 6 rockets that I own right now that have been primered, have been flown, and have not been painted)

[ScrapDaddy]

I think the RamJet looks great In primer :)

[MarkII]

I almost lose sight of it on a B ( 400 feet, tops) but some how on an A8 I got around 60 feet tops, it was against the trees so I could make a very goo estemation. If I can expect exponentialy growth, I am NOT use a COn a sunny, clear day you shouldn't have any trouble tracking it to 800'. (Especially with young eyes.) Mid-morning or mid-to late-afternoon (not too late) is best. At midday there is a good deal of glare, which can make tracking a bit more difficult.

MK

[ScrapDaddy]

Maybe I should hold out until I paint it "florecent orange" (after seeing micro's build this could work)

[rockets2000]

I always use bright contrasting colors like orange/black or white/red if I think I might tlose sight of a rocket. Roll patterns can be useful to help spot the rocket too. They are time consuming to tape and paint, but the experience will make you a better modeler if you can accept a few mistakes early on.

By the way, very nice idea and build. I tend to bastardize store bought kits with what I have laying around to see what I can come up with, so I appreciate your sharing this build thread.

[ScrapDaddy]

I always use bright contrasting colors like orange/black or white/red if I think I might tlose sight of a rocket. Roll patterns can be useful to help spot the rocket too. They are time consuming to tape and paint, but the experience will make you a better modeler if you can accept a few mistakes early on.

By the way, very nice idea and build. I tend to bastardize store bought kits with what I have laying around to see what I can come up with, so I appreciate your sharing this build thread.


Thank you for the kind words :) I do like Kit-Bashing, but this had got to be my best, don't ask what I'm planning next week.




BTW: this is blastphemy is the halls of BAR's but I have never been a fan of estes kits, their partS however are top notch :) and I owe estes the title of getting me started with the Moon Mutt

[MarkII]

I have a whole fleet in primer.

(Seriously. I can think of at least 6 rockets that I own right now that have been primered, have been flown, and have not been painted)Only 6? You haven't been trying! OK, how many do you fly with no paint at all on them?

I have 22 (at least) that are in primer (en dishabille) and ~18 or so that are wearing only smiles. ;) I have about 15 that are all tarted up. :D

MK

[ScrapDaddy]

Dang your fleet is 3X mine! But I have one Very cool RamJet to make up for it :D

[cjl]

Only 6? You haven't been trying! OK, how many do you fly with no paint at all on them?

I have 22 (at least) that are in primer (en dishabille) and ~18 or so that are wearing only smiles. ;) I have about 15 that are all tarted up. :D

MK

I don't have the slightest idea. I have a whole stack at home though that is either naked or primered. I might get around to painting them this summer...

[ScrapDaddy]

Back on topic here, I just finished sanding the primer, first coat of paint goes on tommorow!

[MarkII]

BTW: this is blastphemy is the halls of BAR's but I have never been a fan of estes kits...That's because you probably haven't seen the classics. You can avoid the Inquisition and excommunication, O Impious One, by going to this page (http://http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/rockets.html), scrolling down to the Estes catalogs, clicking on the catalog links and contemplating the divine. :D (The 1967 catalog was my very first exposure to model rockets. I also had the 1968, '69 and '70 catalogs.) Also spend some time with the catalogs from the '70's and '80's - rocketry's first golden age. Check out the Centuri catalogs, too. Around here, we go for that old time religion. (It's good enough for me.) :D Son, you need to be "saved."

MK

[Trident]

I'm not sure, I only use wet sanding with this stuff

Is the Krylon primer hard to sand? I haven't used it in years. I loved the old Krylon paints, but the primer was crap. Maybe the new formula is better. The old stuff would gum up sandpaper, even when it had dried for days. There are lots on inexpensive sandable primers, some for 99 cents a can, like Walmart's ColorPlace line of paint. I'm sure you are paying premium prices for the Krylon. I tend to use Duplicolor primers mostly, and they are premium priced, but work really well for me. Plus, being lacquer-based, they can be sanded in 30-60 minutes.

If you are wet sanding your primer coats, you are running the chance of going down to paper, and getting the tube wet. That can be disastrous, if the tube swells. I try to get most of the primer off a rocket, such that the primer is filling in imperfections, and not just building up the surface. You really don't want to build up thick coats. I've seen 5-10 coats of primer applied to a rocket, and the spirals in the tube still show.

I've used primer a lot just to fill spirals in a tube, but you have to sand down most of the way to the tube so the primer eventually fills the spirals only. I rarely go lower than 220 until a final coat to get the rocket all evenly coated, and then I go to 320 or 400. Then usually a few coats of white, under the top color, to enhance the color. Of course, if top color is black or really dark, no white undercoating is required. And metallics need an undercoat of silver, gold, or copper to really shine.

Have fun experimenting. Don't treat my comments as criticism, just something that has worked for me, and which you might want to try.

[ScrapDaddy]

The primer still feels a bit soft, I'll try the stuff you are using, the thing with krylon is, if you put the paint on before the primer completly dries, you end up with a mess.

[The EGE]

Go take a look at the 1971 Estes Catalog: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalogs/estes711/711estf.html

Some of the coolest rocket kits, and the single greatest catalog cover in all existance. There is none better. That was the Estes that got so many of the BARs here into model rocketry.

[ScrapDaddy]

Woah!, does any Vender still make a full scale Astron Sprite of Astron Trident? And what was with the "Astron" designation?:confused:

[MarkII]

Go take a look at the 1971 Estes Catalog: http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalogs/estes711/711estf.html

Some of the coolest rocket kits, and the single greatest catalog cover in all existance. There is none better. That was the Estes that got so many of the BARs here into model rocketry.It came out just when I was hanging up my igniter clips for awhile. Figures....

The 1969 Estes catalog wasn't too shabby, either.

MK

[ScrapDaddy]

It came out just when I was hanging up my igniter clips for awhile. Figures....

The 1969 Estes catalog wasn't too shabby, either.

MK

I think I am going to hang up my ignitor clips and my mouse until summer.


I think I still like the Semroc 2010 catalog the best still :)

[Trident]

It came out just when I was hanging up my igniter clips for awhile. Figures....

The 1969 Estes catalog wasn't too shabby, either.

MK

MarkII,

Me too, I missed some of the great years of Estes. My first catalog was a 1964, and I visited Estes Industries in 1966 with some rocket buddies (we were all ~ 13 years old). But by high school, and then thru college into the mid 70s, I missed some of the coolest kits and catalogs. A good friend of mine, a few years younger than me, first discovered Estes rockets via the 1971 catalog. He said he and his younger brother practically wore it out thumbing thru it. I bought a couple of 1971 catalogs on eBay two years ago, and gave him one for Christmas. He was so shocked, I thought he had tears in his eyes looking thru it. I could relate, imagining what it would be like to thumb thru a 1964 catalog like I first discovered. (I did land a 1966 last year in great condition, and those are cool, being the first color catalog.)

Those were the glory days ...

[MarkII]

A good friend of mine, a few years younger than me, first discovered Estes rockets via the 1971 catalog. He said he and his younger brother practically wore it out thumbing thru it. I bought a couple of 1971 catalogs on eBay two years ago, and gave him one for Christmas. He was so shocked, I thought he had tears in his eyes looking thru it. I could relate, imagining what it would be like to thumb thru a 1964 catalog like I first discovered. (I did land a 1966 last year in great condition, and those are cool, being the first color catalog.)

Those were the glory days ...I had the same reaction as your friend when I discovered the Ninfinger site after reactivating as a BAR in 2004. There it was: my cherished 1967 Estes Industries catalog fully reproduced and in full color just as I remembered it. For four years I didn't go anywhere without my stack of Estes catalogs. The '67 catalog was my introduction to model rocketry; I had never seen a model rocket or a launch until I received it. Those color photos on the inside back cover showing the WAC Corporal and the Big Bertha lifting off on their thin orange flame jets really did it for me, as did the group photo on the back cover. It was also sheer genius of Estes to put a color photo of the Saturn 1 lifting off on the cover (and liftoff photos of the Saturn 1B and the Saturn V on the '68 and '69 covers). Those were the only three catalogs from any model rocket company that used such photos. (The concept drawing of the MOL on the covers of the '65 and '67 Centuri catalogs was cool, but it doesn't look as vivid as the richly saturated photos of real launch vehicle liftoffs.) Those covers were another great thing about those three catalogs. I would gaze at them and daydream about launching rockets whenever I got the chance. My catalogs, like all my other rocketry stuff, were put into the trash as soon as I was out the door and off to college, and over the years I never thought that I would ever see them again. The thrill of finding them on Ninfinger after all those years was electrifying.

MK

[ScrapDaddy]

Just a heads up for you guys, i will have another launch tomorrow,maybe 3 flights. Wish me luck with the videos

[ScrapDaddy]

I finished the rocket, check it out!
Backstory: You see when i told you guys that it was ramjet powered, i lied, its actually Rocket-Powered :D And that big Pointy nose thingy ma-bob? Well you see, it is actually a huge Hi-Tech radar that picks up signs of life. :y: and the chrome paint? Well, you see we found out that aliens are unable to see Chrome, therefore, it would be best to paint your ship that color to keep under the radar (like that pun?)

SD :D

[BsSmith]

It looks great... for now. *hears the evil laugh of chrome paint*

Be wary of fingerprints, because I'm sure that aliens can see those, and if they do your screwed.

[ScrapDaddy]

It looks great... for now. *hears the evil laugh of chrome paint*

Be wary of fingerprints, because I'm sure that aliens can see those, and if they do your screwed.


I hate you!!!! I was sealing the bottom of the NC to protect against the weather.... And I spilled wood hardener on the paint job! It diolved the paint but not the primer...... One coat and she's good :)

[Pem Tech]

I hate you!!!! I was sealing the bottom of the NC to protect against the weather.... And I spilled wood hardener on the paint job! It diolved the paint but not the primer...... One coat and she's good :)

Oh, Brian wasn't cursing your paint job, he was foreshadowing the cruel joke that is "Chrome Paint."

*dramatic music*

No chrome paint I have used has EVER completely harden, and that includes an original Space Ark painted over six years ago. It shows every finger print, turns milky and will mar at the slightest provocation.
True story....
Back in 06' I was going to L1 on a Space Ark at NSL that year. The Ark was a beauty, smooth and flawless enough to make you wanna slap someone. AT the time I thought that chrome was the only way to replicate that way cool 50's metallic sheen, seen in so many movies. Well, after the third coat covering prints, scratches, and that eerie ability to stick to fabric I decided the only way to get this thing all the way to Illinois in decent condition was to levitate it during the ~12 hour drive. This was accomplished by shoving a broomstick up its tail pipe and suspending the Ark in mid-air, as not to touch anything. By gumby it worked. The first fingerprint was when I picked her up to load the motor and walk to the field.
Ahhhh...
She was purdy...
But remind me never to try that again.

[stickershock23]

very High on the cool scale. Nice job.

I got one problem with a few of you... flying naked rockets... geeezz LOL

[ScrapDaddy]

Oh, Brian wasn't cursing your paint job, he was foreshadowing the cruel joke that is "Chrome Paint."

*dramatic music*

No chrome paint I have used has EVER completely harden, and that includes an original Space Ark painted over six years ago. It shows every finger print, turns milky and will mar at the slightest provocation.
True story....
Back in 06' I was going to L1 on a Space Ark at NSL that year. The Ark was a beauty, smooth and flawless enough to make you wanna slap someone. AT the time I thought that chrome was the only way to replicate that way cool 50's metallic sheen, seen in so many movies. Well, after the third coat covering prints, scratches, and that eerie ability to stick to fabric I decided the only way to get this thing all the way to Illinois in decent condition was to levitate it during the ~12 hour drive. This was accomplished by shoving a broomstick up its tail pipe and suspending the Ark in mid-air, as not to touch anything. By gumby it worked. The first fingerprint was when I picked her up to load the motor and walk to the field.
Ahhhh...
She was purdy...
But remind me never to try that again.

Then what did you paint the 3FNC with?

[ScrapDaddy]

very High on the cool scale. Nice job.

I got one problem with a few of you... flying naked rockets... geeezz LOL

Thanks!


Naked rockets? Well officer, turn them in for streaking :p...... If I buy the decals from you do I get your vote? :D

[BsSmith]

One coat and she's good :)

Not for long... :bat::dark:

And if you think you can fix the extreme acceptability of finger prints with clear coat... your wrong!!! *hears more eerie music and evil laughter*

*goes and hides in corner*

[Pem Tech]

Then what did you paint the 3FNC with?

I have moved away from chrome paint and started using metal flake paints like Nickel Shimmer, Bright Stainless, and a couple of others I can't recall. You get a bright shiny finish, with a bit of depth that holds up to rough handling.

[ScrapDaddy]

I have moved away from chrome paint and started using metal flake paints like Nickel Shimmer, Bright Stainless, and a couple of others I can't recall. You get a bright shiny finish, with a bit of depth that holds up to rough handling.


I am having the strangest sence of Da ja voo.... (inside joke) :roll: