Launcher advice?

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dhkaiser

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Wondering if the old tripod I used as a base for a launch pad will be stable enough? Any thoughts on the width of the foot print. Good enough or should I spread them more?

I will be launching G and H motors, and if all goes well maybe small I motors.

launcher04.jpg
 
The launch rod off center would make it "heavy" on that side when loaded. Weights of some kind on the tray should fix that and I would shove the feet into the ground if possible. The spread looks OK.

Steve G.
 
It will be if you remove the central leg support and replace it with cable long enough to let the legs out farther.
I used an old telescope tripod to make my MPR pad.

MPR Pad 2008-01-13 005.jpgMPR Pad 2008-01-13 004.jpg
 
It will be ok once you stake the legs into the ground. Off center thrust can cause one or two of the legs to lift-off the ground due to the off-axis thrust vector. Staking the legs down with tent stakes solves the problem.

Bob
 
Thanks guys, I think perhaps a couple of bricks on the tray should hold it down, no?
 
Wondering if the old tripod I used as a base for a launch pad will be stable enough? Any thoughts on the width of the foot print. Good enough or should I spread them more?

I will be launching G and H motors, and if all goes well maybe small I motors.

View attachment 292448

Of coarse it can!
A couple years ago I converted and OLD telescope tri-pod into a MPR -HPR pad for a club buddy of mine. Below are a couple pics of the conversion.
the 3-1/2" x 1" aluminum disc have holes for Launch Rods 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8" and standard 1010 rail.
 

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That looks like an old Orion telescope tripod...I had one with my 3? inch refractor...I remember it being fairly heavy and stable, but, that may have been with the 5? pound counterweight on it.

It is a very stable platform. If you added some weight to the tray, and/or sandbagged the legs, I would imagine you could launch G's and H's off it. One thing with the tray, it is fairly robust, but I don't remember how robust the connectors to the legs were.

In any event, I'd think you would definitely be ok with lighter weight rockets with G's, and maybe keep an eye on it as you ramp up the rocket weight and motor impulse.
 
Launched a Scorpion yesterday on the new launcher and all worked well. Very happy with the new setup.

_49A1953_DxO.jpg
 
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