PIX - That's Nuts - or I am... New rocket concept/build

[les]

I have had a stroke of genius - or perhaps just a stroke :wink:

My thought is to take a large left over plastic Easter egg and convert it into a rocket.

The plan is to cut the top and bottom and make it into more of an acorn shape, and then have 3 furry "fins"

The planned progression is attached

Thoughts???

 

[TopRamen]

After the other crazy stuff I've seen on here that looked "Nuts", so does yours, and no Doubt you will make it fly if you try. As long as you can Stabilize it, right? If not, the "Stability Nazis" will be along any Second now to tell you why your wrong. I have to side with them, as the more I listen to them and their Experience, the more I learn and feel confident that my overbuilt Mid Power Butchery Rocket will fly true!
Good luck and keep us Posted!!! Pics'!!!

 

[brianc]

Check this out for a reference model - https://www.rocketreviews.com/scratch-los-alamos-chicken-by-jeff-lane.html

 

[Pem Tech]

Flow with it....
Embrace the madness.
DO IT!

 

[JAL3]

Flow with it....
Embrace the madness.
DO IT!

He should know...

 

[les]

So I have the egg and made my best guess as to where to cut the egg to get the results I was looking for. I cut a foam board disk to support the top to see how it would look. I cut out some paper pictures to simulate the fins.

 

[Scotty Dog]

That is too dang COOL!!!!!! I love it.. :lol: :clap:

 

[TopRamen]

The Squirrels make it extra Awesome!

 

[les]

I spent a bunch of time looking on the web. The best picture I found for the Squirrel fins is below

 

[rokitflite]

Cool :grin:

 

[SecretSquirrel]

Why didn't I think of this?

 

[les]

Printed out a few copies of the picture (with some "reversed" for the back side). Then I cut out one of the pictures and traced it onto some card stock, then traced it onto some plywood. Decided to cut out only one for a test fit. I only have a hand held jigsaw for this. With the blade I have there was a lot of splintering. I need to run out and get a finer tooth blade. I also purposely left an extra long tab for fitting ( a lot easier to trim more than to "regrow" the wood )



interesting - the picture on my computer is right side up - wonder why it tipped sideways?

 

[krusty]

That's fantastic!! Love it

Krusty

 

[brianc]

Someone re-tweeted a post that popped into my timeline today from this user - https://twitter.com/squirrelpix

Somehow seems apropos for this thread...

 

[CZ Brat]

This reminded me of a project i did. A couple weeks ago I took 6" foam egg from Michaels and turned it into a rocket. Basically a "Sputnik". I slathered it with wood filler with wood particles. Sand it partly smooth, add clear coat, and it looks like a Dinosaur or ostrich egg. I cut the hole for the 24mm MMT with the MMT. 4 Bamboo skewers act as fins.

I then fired it with an E28, no ejection charge........

Way over powered. The egg went so quick, that the skewers had severe "fin flutter". I am glad I declared it a heads up flight. Very wild. It finally slammed itself into the grass, leaving a dent. I patched the dent with more filler tonight. Next I will repair the fins, then try it on a C or D at most.

 

[les]

Spent a while sanding the fins.
Cut the hole for the motor tube and fin slots
Did a test fit of the fins - need to trim the tabs down for the motor tube.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

I've built a rocket from a "whole" egg.



Someone's also done a project called "An Egg and 3 Sporks" or something like that (please forgive me for not remembering who did this and the exact title). Plastic eggs are a great place to begin a project, or for hatching inspiration.

 

[krusty]

I've built a rocket from a "whole" egg.

View attachment 145323View attachment 145324

Someone's also done a project called "An Egg and 3 Sporks" or something like that (please forgive me for not remembering who did this and the exact title). Plastic eggs are a great place to begin a project, or for hatching inspiration.

LOL I remember that!! It's entry #6 by Brian Nessing here - https://archive.rocketreviews.com/contests/photo_contest18.shtml

I built a rocket using a giant "Kinder Surprise" capsule - https://www.flickr.com/search/?w=55706193@N00&q=kinder surprise

Krusty

 

[Sooner Boomer]

I built a rocket using a giant "Kinder Surprise" capsule - https://www.flickr.com/search/?w=55706193@N00&q=kinder surprise

Krusty

Don't let the CSPC see that - they're illegal now! :y: *

Sweet design - half Fat Man, half Little Boy. Fat Little Boy?

Would be interesting to duplicate that using two Estes Fat Boy nose cones (don't remember part number...) and a short piece of BT80. Hmmmmm...consider the design stole...ahem, "inspired".

*never mind, you don't have American bureaucrats saving you from illegal fireworks, lead, chrome, and choking hazards. How do you survive childhood?

 

[krusty]

Don't let the CSPC see that - they're illegal now! :y: *

Sweet design - half Fat Man, half Little Boy. Fat Little Boy?

Would be interesting to duplicate that using two Estes Fat Boy nose cones (don't remember part number...) and a short piece of BT80. Hmmmmm...consider the design stole...ahem, "inspired".

*never mind, you don't have American bureaucrats saving you from illegal fireworks, lead, chrome, and choking hazards. How do you survive childhood?

Fat Little Boy LOL Love it!

If you come down under, I'll hook you up with some chocolate eggs, I know a guy Seriously though - our kids know not to eat the toy inside

LOL no, we have Australian bureaucrats savings us from illegal fireworks (the only legal fireworks we can get here are sparklers) and all the other 'goodies' in life

Krusty

 

[les]

Looking for advice

Do I glue the fins on first, paint the acorn, then glue the squirrel pictures onto the fins?
Or glue the pictures on first then glue the fins onto the acorn?

If I glue the fins on first, then I won't be able to easily apply weight/press the fins while the glue dries. I am concerned about warping.
If I glue the pictures on first (and put them between flat surfaces with weights) then after I glue the fins on I am concerned when I mask to paint.

What if I glue the pictures on, spray them with clear coat, then glue the fins on?

Other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Handeman]

I have had a stroke of genius - or perhaps just a stroke :wink:

My thought is to take a large left over plastic Easter egg and convert it into a rocket.

The plan is to cut the top and bottom and make it into more of an acorn shape, and then have 3 furry "fins"

The planned progression is attached

Thoughts???

View attachment 144789

Yes, you are nuts!


Just make sure you post the video when you launch it!

 

[SecretSquirrel]

Looking for advice

Do I glue the fins on first, paint the acorn, then glue the squirrel pictures onto the fins?
Or glue the pictures on first then glue the fins onto the acorn?

If I glue the fins on first, then I won't be able to easily apply weight/press the fins while the glue dries. I am concerned about warping.
If I glue the pictures on first (and put them between flat surfaces with weights) then after I glue the fins on I am concerned when I mask to paint.

What if I glue the pictures on, spray them with clear coat, then glue the fins on?

Other suggestions?

Thanks

I would glue the fins on first, paint the acorn, then glue the squirrel pictures onto the fins. The paint will create a boundary between the glue and the wood so warping may not be as much of a problem. If you're still worried about it, just place the rocket so a fin is on your work table and the body is off the edge and apply your weights to the fin. You can probably use a chair and an open top box full of packing peanuts to create a rest for the body if you need to.

 

[les]

Working slowly, but made some centering rings & cut the motor tube



Just can't get the picture right side up - sorry

 

[les]

ARG!! Been making more mistakes than most of my rocket builds combined (well, maybe not that many)

Gzlued the launch lug onto the motor tubes (look - I cam't even spell rite)
While the lug fit onto a rod, when I had it on both portions (top and bottom) it was too tight. So I wrapped a couple of layers of tape on the rod, slit the launch lug, and then took a second one, slit it, and glued it onto the original lug. Once dry I now found it fits nicely onto the rod. However, then I had to go back and open the holes in the egg and centering rings to handle the larger lug.



Had to do the same for the bottom motor tube as well. Bent up some piano wire to make a motor retention (took 2 tries for this). and attached to the motor tube. Used strapping tape to hold the wire onto the tube until I can epoxy it.

 

[les]

Sanded the plastic with 60 grit plus used my exacto knife to score the plastic so the epoxy can get a grip.

I installed the motor tube and fins. I made a throw away centering ring that included cut outs so I could use CA to tack the fins to the motor tube. I then added epoxy fillets.



Went to attach the top center ring with epoxy. Then realized I didn't attach my shock cord!!! Quickly pulled the ring (fortunately I was using 15 min epoxy so I had a few minutes). I tied a Kevlar cord around the motor tube below the fins. Mixed up some additional epoxy and reinstalled the ring. (sorry, no picture)

I remembered to do the shock cord on the top! Tacked the top tube into place. Glued some BB in for stability. Then glued in the rings. Made my own coupler by cutting down some of the motor tube. Forgot to take pix of the intermediate steps but here is the final top.

 

[les]

But, despite it all, here is the final rocket without paint

side view (oh - did I forget to mention I added a stem?)


The top view shows how the fins extend beyond the acorn.


And a close up of the fins and the motor tube.

 

[krusty]

LOL !! That's looking good

Krusty

 

[Scotty Dog]

Yup, looking good.

 

[les]

Been a bit slow. I got sick, weather issues, work, etc....

But... sanded and primed the acorn



Then Khaki for the bottom and a black base for the top



Also did a clear spray over the picture for the fins before gluing them on (hoping to make the ink a bit more permanent) - then realized like the Estes QCC Explorer decal issue, all my squirrels face to the right! Need to print out some left hand versions ARG!