I'm quite a lucky guy! My daughter had heard me mention the Tyrannosaur many times in the past and remembered to tell my wife, "Daddy would really be excited to get that for his birthday"! Love my girl!
Anyway, so initially I had plans to boost this on a 75mm motor with the option of a 54mm adapter and ordered the extra parts along with a dual deploy kit. Since that time, I've had a few discussions here and there and have decided to keep this one with the 54mm mmt. However I've also decided to add on an AeroPack Tailcone, so I've gotten a full length Loc Precision 54mm MMT on the way so I can extend past the upper fins with the extra lower required tubing for the tailcone. With some great advice by Dave A and rharshberger, I've also decided to try out the Soller Composites Fiberglass Sock with a veil layer over the top. I've never fiberglassed before, so it's something that's been on my "TO DO" list and figure now is the time to learn, although w/o a garage it's going to be a real pain!
Here's the unveiling. This is a very well made rocket from my initial inspection! I can't wait to see what it can do!
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A few days later I got to dry fit the pieces and see what it's going to look like. Took a shot out back, and then let my son and his buddy have a cool shot before taking my pack out to Mount Vernon. (Side note: Awesome time. These two boys got to carry a wreath
into the George Washington Memorial Tomb last Saturday. One day I think my boy will understand how rare an opportunity that was).
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Another few days and I got it down into the basement and began peeling off the Glassine layer. Now once the MMT arrives, I'll begin the build. Hopefully I'll get a chance to bevel the fins this weekend and begin building out the fin can.
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My thoughts on the glassing are: Cut out foam to the proper diameter to support the tube ends with PVC through the middle. On the tube with the precut fin slots place tape on the inside of the tube to catch any stray epoxy. Stretch the fiberglass sock over the tube and tie down at both ends and hit it with the West Systems 105 and 206 hardener. Then with a plywood board setup on a few stools, layout some butcher block paper, place the veil on it and then the epoxy and then roll it onto the tube as John Coker shows in his video. Of any of the steps, this is the one I'm most worried about getting right, then I'm planning to put preforated peel ply over this with breather material and saran wrap (Thanks for the tips Rich!)
Hopefully more work will get done this weekend.