4X RamJet build thread

[Kehoes23]

First off let me start by saying sorry for no photos, I'm typing this from my iPad, my desktop got the blue screen of death and the charging port for my laptop has broken off and is now dead, but if you like to see photos of the build then please go to my Facebook page and friend request me just type in my email address to find me it's werslaves2money@hotmail .com, again I'm sorry for this inconvience, once I can post photos on this thread I will do so. in the meantime ill post the steps as I go along.


Today I started on the motor mount, the CR were cut a little bit big and did not have a snug fit on the MMT, so in my previous build I used drywall mesh tap, and I wrapped a few layers around the MMT to get a snug fit of the CR and used aeropoxy to glue them in place almong with the Kevlar shock cord, once this has cured ill glue the MMT in the lower part of the body tube.

If you have any problems finding me on facebook let me know and I'll try to help you out.

 

[PhlAsh]

I just finished my 3.25" RamJet last night! I'm about to post a pic to the RamJet gallery.

 

[Kehoes23]

I know this is not the RamJet, but wanted to try and post a pic from my iPad, and it worked so now I'm able to post pics of my build :grin:

 

[Kehoes23]

The parts of the RamJet with the already built motor mount

The decals from StickerShock

 

[Kehoes23]

Got the motor tube and coupler epoxied in the lower body tube, later tonight ill epoxy the upper body tube on and tomorrow I'll start on the fiberglass.

 

[Kehoes23]

Well so much for planning things out, as you know life gets in the way sometimes and can not be avoided, anyway I finally got the upper body tube glued on the bottom body tube, I used 5 min epoxy instead of aeropoxy. Sometime this week I'll get started on the fiber glass.

 

[dave carver]

6 X out in the rafters of the garage If I ever get to that stage again, going for 3 level maybe next year, then I have had a 8 X cut out for years, just needs put together. That's 2 10.5" x 48" 1/4" thick cardboard tubes, 6" PVC drain pipe 8' long. Cored with a 4" PVC drain pipe. Standard 4" rocket tube fits inside perfectly so with a standard coupler tube an easy to make e-bay can be made. Adapter for a 3" M2xxx motor, I think I'll need the nearly 500 pounds of thrust. I need to turn a bluefoam nosecone and get a bigger parachute, my 9 footer is too small. An AeroCon 16' would be nice...

 

[qquake2k]

op:

 

[Micromeister]

did a 3X Upscale 4 D12 cluster a few years back. A great flying model. BT-80 core with BT-101 outer tubes.

 

[qquake2k]

I just Googled "ramjet missile" and found this. Remind you of anything?

https://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-163.html

 

[Kehoes23]

The upper and lower body tubes are glued together along with the motor mount tube, I came to the realization that I need a new pair of scissors to cut the fiberglass, so for now this is on hold until I get scissors.
I'll be using epoxy and fiberglass from US Composites. (www.uscomposites.com) The epoxy is 3 to 1 medium laminate and I forget what oz fiberglass I'll be using, but I think it's 4oz satin weave.

 

[Kehoes23]

I just Googled "ramjet missile" and found this. Remind you of anything?

https://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-163.html

Yes it does and a two stage none the less.

 

[Kehoes23]

6 X out in the rafters of the garage If I ever get to that stage again, going for 3 level maybe next year, then I have had a 8 X cut out for years, just needs put together. That's 2 10.5" x 48" 1/4" thick cardboard tubes, 6" PVC drain pipe 8' long. Cored with a 4" PVC drain pipe. Standard 4" rocket tube fits inside perfectly so with a standard coupler tube an easy to make e-bay can be made. Adapter for a 3" M2xxx motor, I think I'll need the nearly 500 pounds of thrust. I need to turn a bluefoam nosecone and get a bigger parachute, my 9 footer is too small. An AeroCon 16' would be nice...

op:

 

[Kehoes23]

I finally got around to fiberglassing the main body tube, it went fairly easy for my first time, but the peel ply gave me some trouble, no matter how much I tried to fix the peel ply it just got worst, so I just put it on the best I can and hope for the best but I know I'll have to fix the mistakes latter.

 

[Kehoes23]

Got the peel ply off, it looks a lot better then I thought it would, trim off the edges.
Since most of the the main body tube will be covered up I'm not too worried about it being perfect but I'll do the best I can to make it look good.

 

[Pantherjon]

Reminder note to myself to stay away from NE PA as it looks as if gravity is 'wonky' up there and I will be upside down!:roll:

Looking good!

 

[Kehoes23]

Reminder note to myself to stay away from NE PA as it looks as if gravity is 'wonky' up there and I will be upside down!:roll:

Looking good!

You won't know you are upside down till you take a photo.:lol:

 

[Kehoes23]

Got the two outside tubes fiberglassed, it was much easy this time and I used the recommended peel ply this time and everything went smoothly.

 

[Kehoes23]

Got the peel ply off the body tubes, came out way better then the first time I fiberglassed, just need to do some trimming on the ends of the tubes, I'll post some before and after photos.

 

[Kehoes23]

Got the ends trimmed off, got a few spots that need some glue but otherwise came out pretty good.
The smaller darker tube needs lots of sanding and filling, once that is done I can then glue on the 18 strakes.

 

[Kehoes23]

Got a little more done today. Sanded the inner and outer body tubes, taped on the strake guide and marked all six lines on the inner body tube.

 

[AfterBurners]

nice work!!

 

[TopRamen]

That's a pretty neat Rocket to "Scale up". I still know where the Tree is that owns my Estes RamJet.

 

[Kehoes23]

nice work!!

Thanks, I'm taking my time on this one since K&S is pretty much out of business.:sad::cry:

 

[Kehoes23]

That's a pretty neat Rocket to "Scale up". I still know where the Tree is that owns my Estes RamJet.

This is my all time favorite rocket kit, it stunk when Estes discontinued this kit :cry: but I found that K&S did an up scale and I jumped on it before he sold out :grin:

 

[Kehoes23]

Got some more work done.

The 18 streaks I sanded and ready to be tacked on

One down 17 more to go

Forward end done, 12 more to do

All streaks are tacked on, now I have to sand them to get the outer body tubes to fit.

 

[AfterBurners]

Its too bad you couldn't make it functional to cool the motor

 

[Kehoes23]

Since all the strakes are just tacked on with CA glue I think it would be best to do the fillets first before I start sanding the strakes. I'll be using aeropoxy for the filets with talc powder as a thickening agent. This is going to take some time to do since I have 36 fillets to do.

 

[Kehoes23]

Got all 36 fillets done, I thicken the aeropoxy with talc powder to a clay like feel so the fillets will not fall off when I did all fillets at one sitting, then I'll wait a few days for it to dry then I can start the sanding.

 

[Kehoes23]

With much sanding its starting to look like a RamJet, still needs a little more sanding then the fins needs to be glued on and fiberglassed