Rube Goldberg Lander

[JAL3]

That meant that it was time to assemble vertical support fin 4.

 

[JAL3]

A few posts back, I mentioned that Semroc had sent me some centering rings. Please accept my apologies for the deception. They are actually landing pads which were labeled as centering rings in order to avoid the onerous and infamous "landing pad tax".

 

[JAL3]

A ring of each diameter was glued to the end of the landing rods with Titebond II.

 

[JAL3]

It seemed to work so I did the same with all of the vertical support fins.

 

[JAL3]

The primer on the payload bay was given a final wet sanding.

 

[JAL3]

The main cone was given a coat of gold.

 

[Daddyisabar]

From the back of the minivan: "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Can't wait to see the final photo!

 

[JAL3]

Motor mount 5 had the nozzle sprayed with silver.

 

[JAL3]

The payload bay was given a first coat of a dark green.

 

[JAL3]

And that is the progress for today as I await more boxes.

I need to run out to HobbytownUSA to find a piece of balsa to mock up the aerodynamic stability fins and the vertical stability fins as well as get some paint.

I am looking forward to Gordon's box because then I will be able to start making some progress that looks like a rocket if you squint just right.

I know many of you want to see what this thing is going to look like. Let me warn you, you may never know if my daughter ever sees post 421 and figures out where here Oreos disappeared!

 

[JAL3]

From the back of the minivan: "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Can't wait to see the final photo!

Truthfully, we are not even close. We are, however, much closer than we were when we started out.

 

[Daddyisabar]

Truthfully, we are not even close. We are, however, much closer than we were when we started out.

So like if we were driving from San Antonio to the Grand Canyon have we made it New Mexico yet?

 

[JAL3]

So like if we were driving from San Antonio to the Grand Canyon have we made it New Mexico yet?

Nope. But we would be listening to Marty Robbins for inspiration about the city in the distance.

[video=youtube_share;kIHRgisdbeY]https://youtu.be/kIHRgisdbeY[/video]

Of course, there is always the possibility that the detour signs might lead us elsewhere first.

[video=youtube_share;lnNhNqtX1t4]https://youtu.be/lnNhNqtX1t4[/video]

 

[Daddyisabar]

Play that Cowboy music over and over again through the Badlands of New Mexico, pick up some parts by the side of the road and give a ride to that little green hitchhiker just outside of Roswell.

Don't eat any Picante Sauce from New York City cause they will shut you down!

 

[JAL3]

well, I got some things accomplished. I found a few of the paints I need and some of the balsa.

Apparently, 3/32x8x24 is not standard. I bought a bunch of 3/32x4x36 and will be gluing them together.


The 1/4x3x36 was not a problem. and I found the brass strip I needed to go with the springs I found in the hardware store.

I'm probably jumping ahead of myself here since I don't have the other Semroc and Roachwerks stuff yet but I am anxious to mock up the rest of the fin systems to make sure the mechancical stuff works.

When all else fails, though, I still have plently of angled couplers to make and there is LOTS of priming, sanding and paintiing waiting for my attention.

 

[powderburner]

From the back of the minivan: "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Can't wait to see the final photo!

I think this project deserves about 500 final photos, all views (close as well as distant) from all angles?

 

[powderburner]

Apparently, 3/32x8x24 is not standard.

Don't think I have ever seen eight-inch-wide sheet balsa. Glad you didn't wait, and edge-glued two sheets to get there.

 

[JAL3]

Don't think I have ever seen eight-inch-wide sheet balsa. Glad you didn't wait, and edge-glued two sheets to get there.

I really thought I had seen them at HobbytownUSA. They tell me that it was 6" that I had seen in the past.

Nothing's glued yet. Its sitting out in the car. I picked it up on the way into my shift. I'll get one glued together tomorrow.

 

[Cookie the Dog's Owner]

Play that Cowboy music over and over again through the Badlands of New Mexico, pick up some parts by the side of the road and give a ride to that little green hitchhiker just outside of Roswell.

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with an alien girl.
Night-time would find me in her flying saucer;
Music would play and the warp drive would whirl.....

 

[TheAviator]

I really thought I had seen them at HobbytownUSA. They tell me that it was 6" that I had seen in the past.

Nothing's glued yet. Its sitting out in the car. I picked it up on the way into my shift. I'll get one glued together tomorrow.

I've purchased 8" wide stock in the past, but only from wholesalers, not from a hobby shop. Most 6" and 8" is two 3" or 4" pieces glued together anyways.

 

[JAL3]

I've purchased 8" wide stock in the past, but only from wholesalers, not from a hobby shop. Most 6" and 8" is two 3" or 4" pieces glued together anyways.

I figured I would lay them down on a flat surface, glue the edges with Titebond II, see if I have a clamp that would pull them together and lay some weights on top to keep them flat.

Does anybody have a better suggestion?

 

[sandman]

I figured I would lay them down on a flat surface, glue the edges with Titebond II, see if I have a clamp that would pull them together and lay some weights on top to keep them flat.

Does anybody have a better suggestion?

I've had good luck using blue masking tape while the glue sets. Yes, the weights should help books make good flat weights.

 

[BABAR]

Would papering one or both sides help? Might simultaneously cut down on some finishing time. Probably lots of different ways to do it, one would be butt them up, paper both sides, cover with wax paper, and hold them flat between a couple pieces of plate glass or other hard perfectly flat surfaces weighed down with books.

Can you handle the weight penalty?

 

[JAL3]

I've had good luck using blue masking tape while the glue sets. Yes, the weights should help books make good flat weights.

Thanks. I'm going to guess that the green Frog Tape would work also since that is what I have.

I just came from the garage where I gave second coats to the payload bay and nose cone and am now getting ready to head in to a hospital. I'm doing a strange split shift at 2 different hospitals today, separated by just enough time to be a pain but not enough to get any work on the lander done. Depending how how things go at Main Methodist tonight, I may or may not get them glued together after I get off at 11.

 

[JAL3]

I was actually planning on papering the exterior using label paper. I don't want to paper the interior because I want a good wood to wood glue joint. The 3/32 is actually an exterior lamination with a 1/4" core. Think of a sandwich. There are 3/32" outsides with a 1/4" interior... except for the hollow spaces, mechanical gear, cams, links, springs, etc. You know: the normal stuff in a model rocket!

 

[Daddyisabar]

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with an alien girl.
Night-time would find me in her flying saucer;
Music would play and the warp drive would whirl.....

Cowboys and Science Fiction, sounds like a good premise for a Sci-Fi series and movie!

If this rocket works it might attract the attention of a passing Vulcan ship.

 

[JAL3]

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with an alien girl.
Night-time would find me in her flying saucer;
Music would play and the warp drive would whirl.....

If that is an actual parody, I would love a link to the full lyrics and maybe a video.

If you smithed those words yourself on the spur of the moment: WELL DONE!

 

[Cookie the Dog's Owner]

Originally Posted by Cookie the Dog's Owner

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with an alien girl.
Night-time would find me in her flying saucer;
Music would play and the warp drive would whirl.....

If that is an actual parody, I would love a link to the full lyrics and maybe a video.

If you smithed those words yourself on the spur of the moment: WELL DONE!

That was me just winging it over this morning's oatmeal. I may take a shot at a full-length version......

 

[JAL3]

That was me just winging it over this morning's oatmeal. I may take a shot at a full-length version......

I'd be interested in the results but worry about what kind of substances might be hiding in your oatmeal.

I heard that song a lot as a kid. Marty Robbins gave me my first teddy bear. It was actually a Bugs Bunny that said "What's up Doc". Mom said it literally scared the crap out of me.

 

[rocketgeek101]

Sorry if this was already posted but can you give us an idea of what the finished thing will look like?