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- Dec 7, 2009
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AeroPac has been using John's style of pads for as long as I've been a member... 15+ years. For the past few years rockets have gotten bigger and the motors have gotten more powerful. I've noticed that our pads had a tendency to wiggle under high thrust flights. (out at BR there seems to be quit a few of these) # years ago I made up some pretty simple guy line systems for the pads. Guys either did not know we had them or where in a hurry to fly. This winter I brought home one of the pads to see what else cold be done to strengthen them. Below is John's original design. The mast bracket is made from 1/4" stainless steel. and the flexing/wiggle comes from the point where the mast bracket ends and it's bolted to the legs. Too back up some these pads have been improved many times by a couple of people over the years to what they are now.
My plane was to 'beef- up' the mast booms. This was accomplished by welding 3/8 x 3/4" SS flat bar turning the flat bar into more of "channel iron". This about maxed out my little welder her at home. Below is a photo of the 6 modified boom brackets. The first one was painted and the rest were left au naturel and adds some bling to our pretty beat up pads.
Also, we have several booms each with either 1515 or 1010 rails. To make rail swaps easier I added 1010 rails to the backside of the 1515 booms. This makes them more useful and easier to swap...just flip it over! It may even add some strength to the booms.
So now on to the reason for this thread. I volunteered to make 8 Modified Coker pads for a group I've been hanging out with lately. I don't plan on doing much writing from this point on. If my oldest son is up for it there might be a detailed set of plans of sorts at the end of this thread.
Tony
View attachment coker pad.pdf
My plane was to 'beef- up' the mast booms. This was accomplished by welding 3/8 x 3/4" SS flat bar turning the flat bar into more of "channel iron". This about maxed out my little welder her at home. Below is a photo of the 6 modified boom brackets. The first one was painted and the rest were left au naturel and adds some bling to our pretty beat up pads.
Also, we have several booms each with either 1515 or 1010 rails. To make rail swaps easier I added 1010 rails to the backside of the 1515 booms. This makes them more useful and easier to swap...just flip it over! It may even add some strength to the booms.
So now on to the reason for this thread. I volunteered to make 8 Modified Coker pads for a group I've been hanging out with lately. I don't plan on doing much writing from this point on. If my oldest son is up for it there might be a detailed set of plans of sorts at the end of this thread.
Tony
View attachment coker pad.pdf