1/7th scale Project 463 scratch build.

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Good morning, MINIONS! Lets clarify some things. The orange in the above photos, plays no role in the flight variation of this rocket. The design change came about because I was not happy with the way the tank section came out. I 'll do some research to find a spray equivalent for the yellow on the upper stage. The transition, blast plate, and the interstage are Best simulated with Krylon Cherry Red. Hope this helps. When I get to work, I' try to get some photos up.
 
Hi Chuck:

Good see you on this forum. Been thinking of those times lately since LDRS this year is once again after such a long time in Blackrock and last time it was hosted there was when Project 463 flew. Those were days hah and it was a honor to be able to work with you guys a little on your projects on the Lake bed . Sorry she (Project 463) ended that way. But Down Right Ignorant sure flew pretty !!

Cheers
John Sicker
TRA #1017
 
Here's something to chew on:463booster.jpg
I'll clarify later. Greetings to John Sicker...I still appreciate what you did for the project. :cheers:
 
Greetings John, wonder how Earl's enjoying his Estes Pershing. For those who don't know, John spent some quality time out in the desert rolling around on the ground to pack the parachutes for Project 463. I do thank you for your effort John. I still have to parachutes...might try to sell them in the yard sale. For those who are wondering, once I've finished with the info on this subject, I'll start a couple of threads explaining a few things. Things like where did you go?, what happened to Fat Cat?, Can I get an F-104?. Oh yeah...MINIONS!, Behold. (I won't do the MINION thing on the other threads).
 
Too bad those parachutes didn't deploy prematurely - we might of actually had some parts of '463' with us today as a result. Really sorry all that work you put into the project ended up as it did - but, as you know, that's rocketry (same thing happened to my 'Smoke' in my avatar, actually (well, no main motor (with ejection charge) ignition did it in)). Just have to have a philosophical attitude towards it.

Do you still stay in touch with the 'Tampa Crew'? Haven't heard from any of them in ages.

-- john.

Project463 said:
Greetings John, wonder how Earl's enjoying his Estes Pershing. For those who don't know, John spent some quality time out in the desert rolling around on the ground to pack the parachutes for Project 463. I do thank you for your effort John. I still have to parachutes...might try to sell them in the yard sale. For those who are wondering, once I've finished with the info on this subject, I'll start a couple of threads explaining a few things. Things like where did you go?, what happened to Fat Cat?, Can I get an F-104?. Oh yeah...MINIONS!, Behold. (I won't do the MINION thing on the other threads).
Click to expand...
 
There you go...that's the color. I've been sitting on a bottle for over ten years.
I'm afraid that this thread is the first contact that I've had with the rocket community since I dropped out, John.
 
Well, that kind of describes my situation as well, Chuck - but enough of 'runs down memory lane', this thread is about the 'new' Project 66.142 (463/7). So, I'll just sit back and watch 'Ambivalence's' project develop.

As to that Teal color, computer matching is pretty good today - maybe Lowes could fix him up with a quart or two.

-- john.

Project463 said:
There you go...that's the color. I've been sitting on a bottle for over ten years.
I'm afraid that this thread is the first contact that I've had with the rocket community since I dropped out, John.
Click to expand...
 
Chris, that Teal is the signature of Project 463... Props to you Minion for going the extra mile to find the sample color. (Now, If we can get that booster to 6" in diameter... a proper 1/6 scale). I am still camera-less, but more details on the upper booster section this weekend. Chris, I'll send you some of the corrugation material I used on my 1/6 scale model.(I'll put it in that Box I'm sending you in a couple of weeks...its on me).
 
On the sustainer did the motor stick out of the fin base and go up between the four main tubes? PML messed up my fin order for the second time but at least for now my sustainer fins are correct.
 
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Yes Minion, It did...I've got a couple of photos that I'll put up soon.
 
Any chance you have a photo of the ten booster tubes, especially one showing that filler plate? Thanks.
 
If you look carefully at the booster can, you can see the green motor case.
463x5.jpg
 
Got a few developments. After losing sleep over whether or not to stick with my 5.5" booster tubing for go for exact 1/6 scale and 6" tubing I went for it. What's a couple more bucks. I had PML cut and slot the tube to my specs and got it today. Excellent workmanship and very reasonable pricing for such large tube. Had to buy larger centering rings too, but screw it. Can't get cheap with the OVERLORD himself scrutinizing me.

I had a bunch of centering rings cut for me by a place that cut an R/C plane kit for me previously. Got about 20 rings in varying sizes and shapes for less than you'd pay for 4 from a rocketry place.

Attached is my pattern for the sustainer rings. As you can see the one with the motor in the center is really tight. I tried cutting these with a hole saw but I couldn't get decent results and the rings kept breaking because of the lack of meat between the holes. Laser cutting to the rescue! Should get my rings any day now so I can assemble the sustainer.

Centering rings.jpg
 
Here is my motor mount. The boattail is 1/64 ply, which will be glassed. Notice the smaller 4" front centering ring. My thinking is that I will run a 4" tube from the front of the motor mount and up the center of the 6" booster tube. That way I don't have to worry about all those small tubes at the top of the booster getting in the way of chute deployment. This design should end up being pretty strong.

Motor Mount 1.jpg

Motor Mount.jpg
 
Minion Ambivalence, You please me with coming around to 6" tubing for the booster. This means that the dimensions off of my display model do not have to be converted. Tail cone looks pretty good...You end diameters should be 6" to 4.00" and the taper's length is 2.00" . By the way... I've sent you a copy of Monster Rockets (I had about ten that I had passed out to family and friends) That has a lot of up close footage at my shop and out in the desert. Stratospheric Dreams is covered, too. There's also a copy of the article that I wrote for High Powered Magazine. I have also dug out surviving fins (both upper and lower) and hope to update those tomorrow. I also hope to put some footage of what some of the more complicated parts (on the display model) look like.
463booster.jpg
Oh, by the way that flat panel in the booster tank section is 1-3/8" wide.
 
Thanks Chuck.

Booster progress. Fins and motor mount epoxied into place. I used a method I found off of this site to align them with a cardboard template that only took about 5 minutes to cut out. The fins were half rounded on both ends as per scale.

I "borrowed" one of the wife's stockings to glass the tail cone. Much easier than using fiberglass cloth as it conforms to the shape of whatever you want to glass.

Booster 1.jpg

Booster.jpg
 
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Looking good...here's a drawing:463dr3.jpg
I'm sending you Two e-mails with footage of my booster and transition. They are 'roll' pics so you can get an Idea of detail placement (NOTE: the flat plate in the tank section should be white).
 
I never said it did dix. It's just there to give me a smooth, paintable surface later. But thanks for insult...or whatever that comment was.
 
Ambivalence said:
I never said it did dix. It's just there to give me a smooth, paintable surface later. But thanks for insult...or whatever that comment was.
Click to expand...

Just a clarification for those reading this thread that might think the technique was for normal lamination purposes.

Gotta ask... For a smooth finish why didn't you just use one of the many typical fillers?
 
I am an R/C plane guy. And in that world we fiberglass wood to get a paintable surface. I find it flexes better than wood with filler on it and should this rocket fly that boat tail may take a decent hit upon landing. The 1/64 ply isn't structural but I wanted a somewhat resilient finish.
 
Project463 said:
Looking good...here's a drawing:View attachment 129978
I'm sending you Two e-mails with footage of my booster and transition. They are 'roll' pics so you can get an Idea of detail placement (NOTE: the flat plate in the tank section should be white).
Click to expand...

Thanks for that diagram Chuck. My PML fins were based off of a photograph of Project 463 so they are pretty close to your numbers. I may just need to trim about 1/2 inch from the ends to be spot on.

Our boosters may well be breaking in different places, but only because certain things are easier when your booster is 36" in diameter as opposed to 6". For mine I am thinking it will break right at the top of the transition with that 4" section of tube being the "nose cone" of the booster.

P.S. Thank you to you and your camerawoman for providing me with that awesome video. That really helps me to visualize those areas I have no photographs of.
 
Yes minion, rolling pictures are a wonderful tool... wait until you get the video tape.
 
Great looking build Ambivalence.


Out if curiosity, what's this whole "minion" thing about? It's kind of creepy...
 
It's just his sense of humor. Like rocket master to rocket grasshopper. I think it's funny.
 
Thanks for looking in rocketgeek101... Back in the day I was heard uttering this phrase once: "If your Tripoli number is lower than mine,(463) you've got my respect. If it is higher, then you got to earn it". I do have a soft spot for Canadians since my wife is one... some I won't drop the 'MINION' tag on you (but I did manage to get it in the post).
I'm thinking about getting the "NO LIFT", advertisers (I have a second copy left over from the original build) and other details done up for my display model...how about two sets (one for you, Chris)?
 

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