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I agree with MaxV on this one.
And it isn't the best practice to be spreading epoxy with your hands even with gloves on. Way too messy/gets everywhere and not that effective. Go with just dabbing...

On my wishlist: Composite autoclave, nuff said.

Glad that it is working out for you. Looking forward on seeing the rest of the build.
-Tom

Lookin good. Are you having trouble with your foil adhering to the mineral wool? I was having issues with it and aluminum tape. I'm curious to hear how that goes.

-Tom

Just mount the motor outside of the oven with a shaft extension and a metal blade.

-Tom

I found some by 3M at lowes that is rated to around ~300F. McMasterr also has some. http://www.mcmaster.com/#foil-tape/=l8lb36

Cool, it's very easy to work with. I like to cutting it with a razor blade.

I'm in the process of building one too. Aluminum flashing on the inside with AL tape covering the edges and holding...

Ramping up is more common in prepregs as it takes time for the resin to liquify throughout the part. Prepregs go around +5 degrees/min. That being said, I wouldn't just chuck a normal wet layup into...

I feel like flying in an Sr-71 would be very uncomfortable with the space suits for such a long time. Heck, the windows get up to 600 degrees!

i'd go with an F-15E or the X-15 just for the kick in...

Nice cone, did you make it?
-tom

When I worked at an aerospace composite fabrication company this past summer, we would make the plate on a waxed granite slab using vacuum bagging. We didn't sandwich it together between anything...

Looks good! One thing I would suggest it invest in a small fan to circulate the air to get a consistent temperature in such a large oven.
What's your insulation board rated to?

Thats really awesome! thanks for sharing. It looks like it didnt have a sabot because i could see the exhaust escape out the front before the rocket did. It looks like a blackhawk 38?

Whats your...

Yeah, a breech launcher would be really cool! Ill have to go an search at the scrap metal places soon. I'll post here my findings and progress.

Look at the loki dart.
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Its fins are really small. It uses a high thrust motor and a launcher that imparts spin on it as it leaves. I plan to do a similar single stage design but using a...

Bear,
Glad I'm not alone on the quest for a tube launcher! haha
I too was thinking of going to a scrap yard and scoping it out on potential launch tubes. how much would one of those exhaust stacks...

I think ndzied1 and you are decribing the same thing. My goal is to get a bigger boost for altitude and some airflow over the fins for stability.

What do you mean? Are you describing a sabot??

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Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah I think the coolness factor is definately there in this launch method. I like the idea of a charge propelling it out of the tube. That's how the pros do it. :D
...

I have been looking into utilizing a tube launcher for high power rockets. Particularily seeing whether or not the friction of the sabot and inner tube walls cancel out any boost from the pressurized...

Yeah it was at 3 am....
It must have been in military time.

According to this website:
http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbsked.htm

A Minuteman III is going to be launched tomorrow anywhere from 1:45 to 7:45. My guess it is in the pm.
Just letting...

I understand where you are coming from. And a two stager working better with small fins makes sense. I ran some barrowman calculations and got a Cp of 27.7". Which is 0.1" off of what open rocket...

Yeah, i want to do some barrowman CP calculations by hand and compare what rocksim gets. My goal would be at least two calibers of stability and a long launch tower on a calm morning should leave me...

Yeah i want to aim for 2 calibers. You have a great point about misaligned fins adding unnecessary forces. I definately will make sure they are straight as possible.
Thanks for the advice.:)
-Tom

Just did a fin flutter calculation using an aerospace engineer's article in apogee newsletter. With 0.04" thick CF fins, the fin flutter value is 3,697 FPS. Or 2,520 mph. ...

I'm not really worried about the fins getting torn off. They will be CF, tip to tip. Smaller fins would have less of a chance of flutter too.

So you guys are saying as long as the CP is good, then four small fins will be stable going Mach 2+?

Jordan T-Yeah, you are very right. I was looking at a professional sounding rocket for...

I have an aerodynamics question for you guys. Attached is an open rocket file for a 38 MD design. It was inspired by the loki dart that i posted pics of on TRF recently.
Anyways, like the loki dart...

Yes, You have a point. I don't think it is impossible though. And I am sure a 75mm or 98mm booster can get it up to sufficient speeds to light it. The biggest trouble would be lighting the fuel and ...