5 Times A Fool scratch build (was Viking upscale)

The Rocketry Forum

Help Support The Rocketry Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
I started on the build today. Using my usual tried and true methods, I got the fins cut out, match sanded, and the leading edges rounded. The plywood is 5.2mm birch that I got from Lowe's.

001.JPG

002.JPG

003.JPG

004.JPG

005.JPG

006.JPG

007.JPG

014.JPG

015.JPG

016.JPG
 
Using the same plywood, I cut out and sized the centering rings.

008.JPG

009.JPG

010.JPG

011.JPG

012.JPG

013.JPG

017.JPG

018.JPG
 
Jim,tacking the centering ring to your keyboard with dry wall screws?:)lol
 
Last edited:
LOL, no, the screws will be used to remove the aft centering ring after epoxying in the motor tube and forward ring.
 
Got the third centering ring for the rail button done, and made a couple extras while I was at it.

032.JPG

033.JPG

034.JPG

035.JPG

037.JPG

039.JPG

040.jpg

039b.jpg

039c.jpg
 
Got the forward and center centering rings epoxied to the motor mount. I also got the recovery cable made.

041.jpg

042.jpg

043.jpg

044.jpg

046.jpg

048.jpg

049.jpg

050.jpg

051.jpg
 
Got the third centering ring for the rail button done, and made a couple extras while I was at it.

I was wondering what type of chuck (name) are you using to make your centering rings. Sure looks like a great way to make rings.
 
I use hole saws. The body tube is LOC 3.1", which has an ID of about 3". The hole saws have an 1/8" kerf, so a 3-1/4" will cut an approximate 3" OD ring. I mount the cut rings on the lathe, and size them with a coarse file and/or a chisel, depending on how much material I need to take off. The 29mm motor tube is about 1.21" OD, so I cut the center holes with a 1-3/16" hole saw. Final sizing of the center holes is done with a coarse sanding drum in a Dremel.

I've heard some guys prefer adjustable hole saws, but I've never liked them. I've even heard that some use the double cutter version to cut the OD and ID at the same time. You definitely need a drill press for these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004T7P2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ITB399A/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20


124.JPG

125.JPG

127.JPG

128.JPG

129.JPG

130.JPG

131.JPG

132.JPG

dremel01.jpg

dremel02.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I use hole saws. The body tube is LOC 3.1", which has an ID of about 3". The hole saws have an 1/8" kerf, so a 3-1/4" will cut an approximate 3" OD ring. I mount the cut rings on the lathe, and size them with a coarse file and/or a chisel, depending on how much material I need to take off. The 29mm motor tube is about 1.21" OD, so I cut the center holes with a 1-3/16" hole saw. Final sizing of the center holes is done with a coarse sanding drum in a Dremel.

I've heard some guys prefer adjustable hole saws, but I've never liked them. I've even heard that some use the double cutter version to cut the OD and ID at the same time. You definitely need a drill press for these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004T7P2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ITB399A/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Well shoot! I don't have a drill press. I want one but still don't have one. Takes me awhile to make centerings ring using old hand tools.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Well shoot! I don't have a drill press. I want one but still don't have one. Takes me awhile to make centerings ring using old hand tools.

You can use cup style hole saws (like I use) in a hand drill. The problem with the adjustable is they're out of balance by design. Frankly, I'd be afraid to even trying to use one in a hand drill. One problem with cup style hole saws, is you need mandrels for them. The larger sizes use one mandrel, and the smaller sizes use a different one. Zoro has pretty good prices. I haven't ordered anything from them yet, but I'm about to. I'll let you know how their service is.

https://www.zoro.com/i/G7440142/

https://www.zoro.com/i/G7582793

https://www.zoro.com/i/G8072181/

https://www.zoro.com/i/G7466995/
 
What Jim said about a drill press to use a fly cutter.

I use a 12" drill press and hole saws to cut my centering rings. I don't have a lathe so I use my drill press to trim the outside diameter. Easy peasy...stack the centering rings on a 1/4" diameter hex bolt, secure stack to bolt with washer and hex nut, secure hex bolt into drill press chuck, adjust chuck height so there is a small gap between bottom of stack and drill press table. Fire up drill press (low to medium speed), dress stack edge with a square Perma-grit sanding block...the long square one keeps your fingers away from danger. Check stack fit frequently against the body tube.

Dressing the inside edges for a motor mount is a bit more tedious and involves spindle sanding (drill press can be used for this) with manual final fitting. Best results happen when you stack the two or three motor centering rings together and process the stack as a single unit. Rubber cement works well but I have also used blue tape aound the edges.
 
It doesn't take me long at all to sand the inside diameters to fit the motor tube with a Dremel. I use the closest hole saw I can. 15/16" for 24mm; 1-3/16" for 29mm; 1-5/8" for 38mm; and 2-3/16" for 54mm (or 2-1/4" if you dare).
 
That one's pretty good, but it's too big and on a white background.
 
I use hole saws. The body tube is LOC 3.1", which has an ID of about 3". The hole saws have an 1/8" kerf, so a 3-1/4" will cut an approximate 3" OD ring. I mount the cut rings on the lathe, and size them with a coarse file and/or a chisel, depending on how much material I need to take off. The 29mm motor tube is about 1.21" OD, so I cut the center holes with a 1-3/16" hole saw. Final sizing of the center holes is done with a coarse sanding drum in a Dremel.

I've heard some guys prefer adjustable hole saws, but I've never liked them. I've even heard that some use the double cutter version to cut the OD and ID at the same time. You definitely need a drill press for these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004T7P2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ITB399A/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Wheel and circle cutter in the drill press.I also put masking tape on the bottom of the plywood as it helps the splintering that can occur while you cut them out.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Got the rail button blocks epoxied to the centering rings and sanded smooth. And epoxied the forward and center rings to the motor tube.

039.JPG

039b.jpg

040.jpg

041.jpg

042.jpg

044.jpg
 
I marked the locations of the rail buttons on the body tube. Then epoxied the motor mount in. I almost blew it, after I had pushed the motor mount into the body tube, I realized that I hadn't tightened the nuts on the u-bolt. Fortunately, I used 15 minute epoxy, so I had enough time to remove it, tighten the nuts, and reinsert it. I had drilled pilot holes in the aft centering ring, to put screws in to remove it. That way I can put internal fillets on the fin tabs.

052.JPG

053.JPG

054.JPG

055.JPG

056.JPG

057.JPG

058.JPG

059.JPG

060.JPG

061.JPG
 
I cut the fin slots, and got the fins epoxied on. Next will be internal fillets.

062.JPG

063.JPG

064.JPG

065.JPG

066.JPG

067.JPG

068.JPG

069.JPG

070.JPG

071.JPG
 
The fins look bigger than I expected. I'm glad I reduced them by 10%. But I like it! I like it a lot!

072.JPG

073.JPG

078.JPG

079.JPG

081.JPG
 
I decided that I got enough epoxy on the fin tabs when I installed them, so I'll forego internal fillets. But I did my usual lame but functional external fillets with Titebond No-Run No-Drip wood glue. I also noticed that I did something wrong when I match sanded the fins. Nothing I can do about it now.

084.JPG

087.JPG

088.JPG

089.JPG

090.JPG
 
I can't see anything out of place in the pictures. Is this the rocketry version of find Waldo?

This picture could have been taken at my home. Rocket building in the kitchen and fish tanks in an adjoining room.
 
I can't see anything out of place in the pictures. Is this the rocketry version of find Waldo?

This picture could have been taken at my home. Rocket building in the kitchen and fish tanks in an adjoining room.

I have two aquariums in another room. A 16g and 46g.
 
Back
Top