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As compensation for house/dog sitting, I got a Binder Design Raptor and Velociraptor. I had hoped to have one or both ready for the OROC club launch this weekend, but due to the theft of my wallet (and the subsequent loss of my debt cards), I haven't had the time needed nor a way of paying for the parts needed to finish these.
The Raptor has some updates from the original design, and/or clones seen on RocketReviews.com. The current version now has Rail Buttons, 4 centering rings, and the fins are now 1/4" thick (they apparently were 1/8" thick originally). Other than that, it hasn't been updated.
Having the Velociraptor and the Raptor, I've decided to update the kit to be more like it's bigger sibling. The Velociraptor is made up of four major sections: the nosecone, a payload bay, a recovery bay, and the fin can (with baffle). The Raptor only had three sections: the nosecone, a payload bay, and the fin can (w/o a baffle, and includes the recovery bay). Mine will have the four sections including the baffle.
Using the Raptor/Cobra.rkt file and the Velocirapor's .rkt file found on RocketReviews.com, I've modified it to show how mine will be made up. This isn't quite up to my usual hyper-accurate standards (no blunting on the nosecone, haven't checked the Main/Aft fins vs the actual fins, etc) but just gives you an idea of what I'm planning on doing.
I used one of the VRaptor's baffle bulkheads to create two copies out of 3/16" thick birch ply. The originals were 1/4" thick, I'll use one of the originals and one of the copies with each rocket, and since the copies are not going to change from rocket to rocket as the baffle's plans suggest is possible, I don't think they need them to be capable of taking the stresses of recovery and I'll save the weight by not installing the eye bolt. I'll protect the underside of each bulkhead with a coating of JB Weld.
Using a damaged 4" body tube from a MDRM, I've made a new tube coupler to allow the 34" payload section of the Raptor to be split into two 17" sections, one for the recovery bay, and the other for the payload bay. I may opt to do a dual deploy modification later, so I'm planning on adding linking bolts (those 4 grey dots on the image above) to allow the section to be split and the AV bay to be inserted between them. The prototype Velociraptor has a similar design, but uses fewer bolts.
I had thought about bolting the VRaptor and Raptor's baffles to their fin can, but in an email exchange with Mike, I learned that this may compromise the strength of the body tube if the parachute deploys when the rocket is past apogee. So, I'm planning on epoxy them in. As I'm trying to reproduce much of the look of the prototype Velociraptor, I'll keep the bolts as a cosmetic homage. I've observed that the prototype used Phillips headed bolts, but I've decided that mine will be Allen headed ones. The Raptor will not have those bolts.
My major holdups on the assembly of the Raptor is figuring out how to bevel the edges of the fins, and the shape of the strakes (I may modify them to include fin tabs, and a point much like the RR.com .rkt file, then again, I might not), being able to order the retainer (and possibly an AV bay), and having the time/space needed to work on this.
I'm open to suggestions on how to bevel the fins. I don't have access to power tools except for a Dremmel. I intend on beveling the fins for aesthetic reasons, and I don't really care how it will change the performance of the rocket in <mach flight.
I'll pick this up after the OROC launch on Saturday. Until then, I'm working on OFFl and the Cherokee D to see if I can get my L1 before I (Lord Willing) go to China.
Pointy Side Up!
Jim
View attachment Binder Design Raptor (Evolution)(first draft).ork
The Raptor has some updates from the original design, and/or clones seen on RocketReviews.com. The current version now has Rail Buttons, 4 centering rings, and the fins are now 1/4" thick (they apparently were 1/8" thick originally). Other than that, it hasn't been updated.
Having the Velociraptor and the Raptor, I've decided to update the kit to be more like it's bigger sibling. The Velociraptor is made up of four major sections: the nosecone, a payload bay, a recovery bay, and the fin can (with baffle). The Raptor only had three sections: the nosecone, a payload bay, and the fin can (w/o a baffle, and includes the recovery bay). Mine will have the four sections including the baffle.
Using the Raptor/Cobra.rkt file and the Velocirapor's .rkt file found on RocketReviews.com, I've modified it to show how mine will be made up. This isn't quite up to my usual hyper-accurate standards (no blunting on the nosecone, haven't checked the Main/Aft fins vs the actual fins, etc) but just gives you an idea of what I'm planning on doing.
I used one of the VRaptor's baffle bulkheads to create two copies out of 3/16" thick birch ply. The originals were 1/4" thick, I'll use one of the originals and one of the copies with each rocket, and since the copies are not going to change from rocket to rocket as the baffle's plans suggest is possible, I don't think they need them to be capable of taking the stresses of recovery and I'll save the weight by not installing the eye bolt. I'll protect the underside of each bulkhead with a coating of JB Weld.
Using a damaged 4" body tube from a MDRM, I've made a new tube coupler to allow the 34" payload section of the Raptor to be split into two 17" sections, one for the recovery bay, and the other for the payload bay. I may opt to do a dual deploy modification later, so I'm planning on adding linking bolts (those 4 grey dots on the image above) to allow the section to be split and the AV bay to be inserted between them. The prototype Velociraptor has a similar design, but uses fewer bolts.
I had thought about bolting the VRaptor and Raptor's baffles to their fin can, but in an email exchange with Mike, I learned that this may compromise the strength of the body tube if the parachute deploys when the rocket is past apogee. So, I'm planning on epoxy them in. As I'm trying to reproduce much of the look of the prototype Velociraptor, I'll keep the bolts as a cosmetic homage. I've observed that the prototype used Phillips headed bolts, but I've decided that mine will be Allen headed ones. The Raptor will not have those bolts.
My major holdups on the assembly of the Raptor is figuring out how to bevel the edges of the fins, and the shape of the strakes (I may modify them to include fin tabs, and a point much like the RR.com .rkt file, then again, I might not), being able to order the retainer (and possibly an AV bay), and having the time/space needed to work on this.
I'm open to suggestions on how to bevel the fins. I don't have access to power tools except for a Dremmel. I intend on beveling the fins for aesthetic reasons, and I don't really care how it will change the performance of the rocket in <mach flight.
I'll pick this up after the OROC launch on Saturday. Until then, I'm working on OFFl and the Cherokee D to see if I can get my L1 before I (Lord Willing) go to China.
Pointy Side Up!
Jim
View attachment Binder Design Raptor (Evolution)(first draft).ork
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