ActingLikeAKid
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2015
- Messages
- 1,134
- Reaction score
- 16
While I source a 29mm/BT60 centering ring, I'm thinking about motor retention for my semi-upscale Solar Warrior (Stretch Warrior?)
One of the things that was almost universally suggested when I built my Argent was "Don't put the motor block in!" (into the 29mm motor mount) - the logic being that if I did, it would seriously limit my motor choices. So I didn't put the block in and I got a CTI 3-grain retainer and it's great. And if I really want to use a BP engine, I can wrap it with a bit of tape and epoxy the tape and it should be fine.
But on the Solar Warrior, I'm thinking maybe a 29mm BP engine would be fun and it sims out just fine and wrapping my own thrust ring seems like a pain. So I had a thought:
What if I VERY carefully drilled a hole and put a long, thin, plastic bolt through both the BT and the MMT? In other words, find the spot where the motor mount would be, mark it very carefully on the outside of the rocket, and then, VERY carefully, drill a hole, let's say 1/8" diameter, through the BT wall, through the MMT, and then out the other side. Then if you want to use a BP motor, you slide in a very thin bolt (aluminum would be awesome if I could source it), and if you want to use something longer, you just take the bolt out.
Thoughts? The only downsides I can think of are:
-It could weaken the tubes. This doesn't seem like a huge deal, especially if I strengthened them with some CA around the holes.
-It could give the ejection gases an "escape hole". But I don't think that 2x1/8" holes would reduce the pressure that much....would they?
One of the things that was almost universally suggested when I built my Argent was "Don't put the motor block in!" (into the 29mm motor mount) - the logic being that if I did, it would seriously limit my motor choices. So I didn't put the block in and I got a CTI 3-grain retainer and it's great. And if I really want to use a BP engine, I can wrap it with a bit of tape and epoxy the tape and it should be fine.
But on the Solar Warrior, I'm thinking maybe a 29mm BP engine would be fun and it sims out just fine and wrapping my own thrust ring seems like a pain. So I had a thought:
What if I VERY carefully drilled a hole and put a long, thin, plastic bolt through both the BT and the MMT? In other words, find the spot where the motor mount would be, mark it very carefully on the outside of the rocket, and then, VERY carefully, drill a hole, let's say 1/8" diameter, through the BT wall, through the MMT, and then out the other side. Then if you want to use a BP motor, you slide in a very thin bolt (aluminum would be awesome if I could source it), and if you want to use something longer, you just take the bolt out.
Thoughts? The only downsides I can think of are:
-It could weaken the tubes. This doesn't seem like a huge deal, especially if I strengthened them with some CA around the holes.
-It could give the ejection gases an "escape hole". But I don't think that 2x1/8" holes would reduce the pressure that much....would they?