really need help with zipperless design

[3boydad]

I want to start making all my rockets zipper less. i need someone to beak it down for me. what pieces i need to get. how to do it. i have used the 3x the rocket legnth with kevlar ad i got a small zipper. very upsetting after the work i put into that bird. im afraid to launch any of my birds with long kevlar now.

[Rex R]

this (imo) is the heart of the zipperless design, not so much the baffle, but the shock cord attachment to the lower portion of the rocket. set up this way there is very little chance of zippering the fincan (the hard to repair section) and a reduced chance of damaging the upper section. hth
rex

[[POW]Eagle159]

Where do attach the shock cord to in the upper section? Is it still to the bottom of the nose cone?

[Rocketbuilder]

Where do attach the shock cord to in the upper section? Is it still to the bottom of the nose cone?

As I understand it, yes. Of course, this raises the question of why it doesn't zipper the top section, but presumable it's because it is so much lighter.

[cwbullet]

The nose section can be zippered but that is much more rare. It continues in the same path and is lighter. Less weight means less mommentum and less likely to damage the tube.

[3boydad]

this (imo) is the heart of the zipperless design, not so much the baffle, but the shock cord attachment to the lower portion of the rocket. set up this way there is very little chance of zippering the fincan (the hard to repair section) and a reduced chance of damaging the upper section. hth
rex

how does one make one? what supplies are needed? thats where i need help. know once i make one i can master it. but right now i am not sure how to do it.

[Rex R]

if you used loc 3" tubes it is fairly easy, order one tube coupler for 3" loc airframe tube and a bulkhead (total of 2 if you want to make it into a baffle), the bulkplates come with a hole in the center and iirc an eyebolt. drill a series of 1/4" holes around the outside circumfrence, insert eybolt, epoxy this plate in one end of the coupler(loop facing the front), epoxy the coupler into the open end of the lower tube leaving half the coupler length sticking out. insert what ever type of baffle innerds you want into the coupler before you glue it in place. apply superglue to the exposed coupler and allow it to set, sand smooth with 320 grit sandpaper untill the upper tube fits.
rex

[rstaff3]

ROL Info-Central has an explanation of zipperless construction. Follow the link, then click on Design-->Airframe-->zipperless.

[3boydad]

so basically you just use a coupler, epoxy think ply, drill holes with and eye hook for shock cord. sand down till upper tube fits nice? i see it says no wadding is needed? i will still be using kevlar i have tons for my shock cord. i do have tublar nylon, but its the smaller end stuff u get in sewing dept at wally world.

[3boydad]

if you used loc 3" tubes it is fairly easy, order one tube coupler for 3" loc airframe tube and a bulkhead (total of 2 if you want to make it into a baffle), the bulkplates come with a hole in the center and iirc an eyebolt. drill a series of 1/4" holes around the outside circumfrence, insert eybolt, epoxy this plate in one end of the coupler(loop facing the front), epoxy the coupler into the open end of the lower tube leaving half the coupler length sticking out. insert what ever type of baffle innerds you want into the coupler before you glue it in place. apply superglue to the exposed coupler and allow it to set, sand smooth with 320 grit sandpaper untill the upper tube fits.
rex

im stocked up with estes tubes atm. can i not use those? like i have enough to build 20 rockets. from a,b,c,d,e and 29mm engines.

[Rex R]

was using Loc as an example, the nice thing about the Loc bulkheads is that they are already the right size to glue into their couplers. for estes stuff you'll probably have to make your own (or resize) bulkheads.
rex

[bradycros]

im stocked up with estes tubes atm. can i not use those? like i have enough to build 20 rockets. from a,b,c,d,e and 29mm engines.

No, you'll find it's absolutly impossible to use Estes tubes. You can sent them all to me and start over with the right tubes.