The seed for this build was planted around a campfire at a ROC launch back in 2014. We were talking about our last Wildman black Saturday purchase, which included four 1 grain 54mm CTI cases. Not that we needed the cases, but Wildman was including a free closure with each case ordered. I commented that I had no idea what we could use them for, and Jack G. (What's up Hobbies) got up and went over to an old container and dug out three plywood centering rings with five 54mm holes in them. They fit 7.5" LOC tubing.
We didn't do anything with them until October 2015, when they announced that LDRS 35 would be at Lucerne dry lake with ROC. that's when we decided to build a rocket and name it after Jack G's semi-truck "Tweety Bird".
We Ordered a bunch of parts and got a team together to build a "Large, Dangerous Rocket Ship". Long story shortened slightly, couldn't get it done in time for that launch. It sat until they announced that LDRS 37 would be held in Central California with TCC. Tripoli Central Calif. was Jack's "home" field, so what better place to debut this rocket. So we are back at it again, still having time challenges with the team, but making progress.
Yesterday morning Guy Smith showed up to help set up the rotisserie. We got the payload tube sleeved and epoxied with some old West Systems 105/205, the hardener had changed color, but it still set up OK:
While that was rolling along and setting up, we stuck the fins into the motor mount assembly. The fin can and motor mount had been built during our previous attempt, so it was fairly easy to assemble. We had a build day last month that got a small can mounted on top of the MM assembly to hold a PET-2 timer and LiPo battery for air starting the outboard motors. We cut out a small door above the top centering ring for access:
I ran two pair of wires down to two sets of terminal blocks mounted on the bottom of the lower centering ring:
Now we are putting it all together with Rocketpoxy on the fin roots and PML foam between all the motor mount tubes:
Fins are all stuck on and curing:
Payload tube is cured and epoxy is in the green stage, so we are pulling it off the rotisserie and trimming the ends off:
Ready for foam:
Kris is mixing and I'm pouring:
Sharon is bringing me alcohol soaked towels and Q-tips to clean up any foam that isn't in the right place:
Joyce is taking most of the pictures and cleaning up some epoxy that leaked into the payload tube:
Almost done with the foam:
Final fitting of the aft centering ring:
More rocketpoxy to hold it in place:
Finally, the last ring is in place:
Stand it up and let the epoxy flow down onto the bottom ring:
Yesterday was a very productive day, and I was inspired by all we got done. Most of the big stuff is complete, so I'm putting all the smaller stuff together now.
More to come!
We didn't do anything with them until October 2015, when they announced that LDRS 35 would be at Lucerne dry lake with ROC. that's when we decided to build a rocket and name it after Jack G's semi-truck "Tweety Bird".
We Ordered a bunch of parts and got a team together to build a "Large, Dangerous Rocket Ship". Long story shortened slightly, couldn't get it done in time for that launch. It sat until they announced that LDRS 37 would be held in Central California with TCC. Tripoli Central Calif. was Jack's "home" field, so what better place to debut this rocket. So we are back at it again, still having time challenges with the team, but making progress.
Yesterday morning Guy Smith showed up to help set up the rotisserie. We got the payload tube sleeved and epoxied with some old West Systems 105/205, the hardener had changed color, but it still set up OK:
While that was rolling along and setting up, we stuck the fins into the motor mount assembly. The fin can and motor mount had been built during our previous attempt, so it was fairly easy to assemble. We had a build day last month that got a small can mounted on top of the MM assembly to hold a PET-2 timer and LiPo battery for air starting the outboard motors. We cut out a small door above the top centering ring for access:
I ran two pair of wires down to two sets of terminal blocks mounted on the bottom of the lower centering ring:
Now we are putting it all together with Rocketpoxy on the fin roots and PML foam between all the motor mount tubes:
Fins are all stuck on and curing:
Payload tube is cured and epoxy is in the green stage, so we are pulling it off the rotisserie and trimming the ends off:
Ready for foam:
Kris is mixing and I'm pouring:
Sharon is bringing me alcohol soaked towels and Q-tips to clean up any foam that isn't in the right place:
Joyce is taking most of the pictures and cleaning up some epoxy that leaked into the payload tube:
Almost done with the foam:
Final fitting of the aft centering ring:
More rocketpoxy to hold it in place:
Finally, the last ring is in place:
Stand it up and let the epoxy flow down onto the bottom ring:
Yesterday was a very productive day, and I was inspired by all we got done. Most of the big stuff is complete, so I'm putting all the smaller stuff together now.
More to come!