Aksrockets
Now with 8% more aluminum
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2011
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Drum roll please!
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls may I present to you the beginning of my L2 build!!!!
(slow clap)
I'm going to start this build with a bit of a disclaimer: This will be a very long build. Years. It will be slow, random and possibly boring. I'll be 17 in September, so It will be over a YEAR until I can actually certify (I will be certifying both NAR and TRA). I'm planning on this being one of my few big projects in the next few years. This is going to be what all of my time and money are focused on. So yeah, don't sit tight for this one. You might get bored.
If a certification flight it to prove you know what you're doing, I want to REALLY prove that I know what I'm doing. I know for my L2 I could easily stick a J motor in some rocket I already have, but where's the fun in that? I will have already flown several J and K motors! I want my L2 flight to be different and challenging.
Okay everyone, here is what I'm building.
My SHOCKWAVE 54
This project is inspired by my Shockwave 29, which I built a few years ago. Click on the name to see the project.
If you're too lazy to click the link, I dont blame you. Here's a summary: The Shockwave was my first real experiment with carbon fiber, and composites in general. It was a 29mm MD with a homeade tube and fins with a Shockwave Nosecone (hence the name) It turned out nicely and to this day, It's my favorite rocket I own.
In the spirit of the Shockwave 29, the Shockwave 54 will be the same basic concept.
Bottom line, the Shockwave 54 is a Homemade Carbon Fiber 54mm minimum diameter, with the Loki L1400 in mind.
Yep. The only thing more bad @$$ then an all CF 54 MD is an all CF 54 MD on one of, if not the most powerful 54mm motors in production. :cool2:
Here's some Pics to keep you interested:
Here is a Loki L1400:
-----------------------------------------------------
The general construction plan is as follows:
The lower tube will be 4 wraps of 5.7oz 2x2 twill carbon fiber. (This style of fabric is a personal favorite)
The upper tube will be 6 wraps of 6oz fiberglass. If that seems to flimsy, I'll use G12. The fiberglass is for RF transparency.
The Nosecone is still up for grabs. My original intention was to make a homemade one using a 2 part mold. I have had some experience with molds and my nosecones have turned out alright. However, I may just use a premade one. Some long Ogive or VK.
The Fins will be a homemade as well. I plan on pressing my on CF sheet to use. I will be using Uni-Directional Carbon Fiber to get stiffness only where I need it most. This will reduce the thickness and weight of the fins. The layups will be pressed under several tons to get them as thin as possible.
The Fins will be attached using Aeropoxy. They will be given chopped carbon fiber fillets. In my experience these are insanely strong. They will be given cosmetic/aerodymamic fillets with laminating epoxy and Phenolic Microbaloons.
I'm not sure about T2T. I've seen 54 minimum diameters (Crazy Jim's for Example) fly on Ls without any T2T reinforcement. If it's not necessary, I wont do it. It's up for discussion.
The Electronics are still up for grabs. I want deployment to be redundant, so I will be using two altimeters. I already have an Adept 22, but It might not be up to the task. I was thinking of using a Telemini for both tracking and as the main altimeter.
----------------------------------
Those are the basic construction details. I left very detailed notes in all of the major components in Openrocket. It includes layup schedules and stuff like that.
Here is the Openrocket file. Check it out and play around.
View attachment Alex's L2 L1400.ork
Also, I plan on finishing this to perfection. I'm going to fill every pinhole, sand every scratch and use more sandpaper then I care to think about. It needs to be flawless.
Also, Also. I may do some videos on this build, it just depends on how I feel. I won't make any promises like I did in the SW29 build thread.
Also, Also, Also Wik.
Anyway, sit back and be ready for a long build. I'll make popcorn. op:
Alex
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls may I present to you the beginning of my L2 build!!!!
(slow clap)
I'm going to start this build with a bit of a disclaimer: This will be a very long build. Years. It will be slow, random and possibly boring. I'll be 17 in September, so It will be over a YEAR until I can actually certify (I will be certifying both NAR and TRA). I'm planning on this being one of my few big projects in the next few years. This is going to be what all of my time and money are focused on. So yeah, don't sit tight for this one. You might get bored.
If a certification flight it to prove you know what you're doing, I want to REALLY prove that I know what I'm doing. I know for my L2 I could easily stick a J motor in some rocket I already have, but where's the fun in that? I will have already flown several J and K motors! I want my L2 flight to be different and challenging.
Okay everyone, here is what I'm building.
My SHOCKWAVE 54
This project is inspired by my Shockwave 29, which I built a few years ago. Click on the name to see the project.
If you're too lazy to click the link, I dont blame you. Here's a summary: The Shockwave was my first real experiment with carbon fiber, and composites in general. It was a 29mm MD with a homeade tube and fins with a Shockwave Nosecone (hence the name) It turned out nicely and to this day, It's my favorite rocket I own.
In the spirit of the Shockwave 29, the Shockwave 54 will be the same basic concept.
Bottom line, the Shockwave 54 is a Homemade Carbon Fiber 54mm minimum diameter, with the Loki L1400 in mind.
Yep. The only thing more bad @$$ then an all CF 54 MD is an all CF 54 MD on one of, if not the most powerful 54mm motors in production. :cool2:
Here's some Pics to keep you interested:
Here is a Loki L1400:
-----------------------------------------------------
The general construction plan is as follows:
The lower tube will be 4 wraps of 5.7oz 2x2 twill carbon fiber. (This style of fabric is a personal favorite)
The upper tube will be 6 wraps of 6oz fiberglass. If that seems to flimsy, I'll use G12. The fiberglass is for RF transparency.
The Nosecone is still up for grabs. My original intention was to make a homemade one using a 2 part mold. I have had some experience with molds and my nosecones have turned out alright. However, I may just use a premade one. Some long Ogive or VK.
The Fins will be a homemade as well. I plan on pressing my on CF sheet to use. I will be using Uni-Directional Carbon Fiber to get stiffness only where I need it most. This will reduce the thickness and weight of the fins. The layups will be pressed under several tons to get them as thin as possible.
The Fins will be attached using Aeropoxy. They will be given chopped carbon fiber fillets. In my experience these are insanely strong. They will be given cosmetic/aerodymamic fillets with laminating epoxy and Phenolic Microbaloons.
I'm not sure about T2T. I've seen 54 minimum diameters (Crazy Jim's for Example) fly on Ls without any T2T reinforcement. If it's not necessary, I wont do it. It's up for discussion.
The Electronics are still up for grabs. I want deployment to be redundant, so I will be using two altimeters. I already have an Adept 22, but It might not be up to the task. I was thinking of using a Telemini for both tracking and as the main altimeter.
----------------------------------
Those are the basic construction details. I left very detailed notes in all of the major components in Openrocket. It includes layup schedules and stuff like that.
Here is the Openrocket file. Check it out and play around.
View attachment Alex's L2 L1400.ork
Also, I plan on finishing this to perfection. I'm going to fill every pinhole, sand every scratch and use more sandpaper then I care to think about. It needs to be flawless.
Also, Also. I may do some videos on this build, it just depends on how I feel. I won't make any promises like I did in the SW29 build thread.
Also, Also, Also Wik.
Anyway, sit back and be ready for a long build. I'll make popcorn. op:
Alex