King Kraken (L1 Certification) Build Thread

[rbelknap]

Yeah, go with the September 2009 file. There were some questions about the cross section and mass of the tubes so the other one was whipped up. I'll have to remove it and re-burn the CD's.
You wouldn't believe some of the alterations I've been asked about: extending the airframe, adding Ebays, changing the tube length and diameter, cluster mounts etc... etc...

We love it....

Cool, I was hoping that was the answer, as the September file simmed better on the motor I'm looking at using. I was looking at marginal stability with the other file. I will still re-run the simulations after I get my final weights and CG figured out.

BTW - I'm glad I figured out that the mystery CD wasn't just a drink coaster, and actually has some neat-o stuff on it. (I was playing with some of the other .rkt files while I let the epoxy set up in the nose cone.)

[Pem Tech]

Cool, I was hoping that was the answer, as the September file simmed better on the motor I'm looking at using. I was looking at marginal stability with the other file. I will still re-run the simulations after I get my final weights and CG figured out.

BTW - I'm glad I figured out that the mystery CD wasn't just a drink coaster, and actually has some neat-o stuff on it. (I was playing with some of the other .rkt files while I let the epoxy set up in the nose cone.)

Drink coaster...

If I can ever find the original labels I printed for the CD's it would be great. It lists the RKT files, the OOP kits, the Destructions, the Pink Book, RockSim software and various and sundry items.

[rbelknap]

Continuing on, I've made some progress over the last few evenings. First up, I hand-beveled the canards and re-installed them in the nose cone.



Then I drilled a 3/8" hole in the NC and dropped in the nose weight. I probably didn't need the extra hole, but it helped allow me to see what was going on when using a long rod to compress the clay into the the tip. (I wanted to keep things as level as possible.)



If you look closely, I added divots to the nose weight with the intention of giving the epoxy more surface area to grip.)

I’ve never used epoxy before. I bought a small dual plunger of stuff from the hardware store, but when I mixed the epoxy and the catalyst together, it had the consistency of thick peanut butter. I guess it's intended more for on-the-spot home/boat repairs. There was no way I was going to be able to get this stuff to drip into the NC to secure the nose weight. Maybe I can use what's left for the shock cord mount, but that part isn't ready yet. Time to move on until I can run to the hobby shop and get something better.

[rbelknap]

I’ve decided not to do a zipperless design, and build the kit per the Destructions. So, I carefully inspected the tubes, determined which were destined to be the airframe, and glued them together using the coupler and wood glue. (Although, I kind of wish I had waited until I had the tube fins cut and spirals filled. The coupler could have been employed as a curved sanding block for the internal spirals.)

I filled the seam between the airframe pieces, using a new application technique. (To be detailed later.)



Lets see, I guess it’s time to talk about marking those tubes. First, the marking guides were freed from their unjustly flat prisons, but then were forced to contort themselves around the body and fin tubes. Lines were marked, and then extended using a piece of angled aluminum. I noticed that one end of each of the fin tubes was marred slightly, so after consulting the destructions, I made sure to line the marred ends up with what would eventually be the discarded pieces of tubing. (This is why they weren’t chosen for the airframe. Pretty smart, eh?)

[rbelknap]

Time passes...

On my way home from work one night, I was able to swing by the LHS. 15-minute hobby epoxy was used to secure the nose weight and squidly canards. (Note the lovely mixing/application device.) This is the first time I've used epoxy, (well, second - if you count the aborted attempt earlier in the week...) so I only managed to dribble a little tiny bit on my shirt. At least I had the foresight to cover the table with some scrap plywood. (Note to self, when cutting a hole to turn the plastic bag into an epoxy piping bag, hold that corner up, so the epoxy doesn’t start running immediately...)



Once the epoxy was in the nose, I slowly twirled it around to make sure the canard tabs were covered and then let the nosecone sit tip-down to finish curing.

[rbelknap]

Now the fun begins. I had the fin tubes partially marked up, but still needed to layout the cutting lines. I made sure to re-read (and then re-re-read) the Destructions about marking the fins to make sure I understood what, exactly was being asked of me. Once I had the measurements marked out, and then double checked, I needed to find a flexible marking guide of some sort. This role was filled by a couple of strips of cardstock taken off of opposite sides of and 8.5x11 sheet and taped end to end with the factory cut edges aligned (and marked “true” - so as to avoid unnecessarily wonky lines.) Once I got my head wrapped around the method needed to mark up the cuts for the fins. this went pretty quickly.



Time to begin cutting. With a fresh #11 blade installed, I began scoring the tubes. My method was as follows: 3-4 passes with the blade increasing pressure each time allowed me to get most of the way through the tube, then I did a final pass using a gentle slicing/sawing motion to completely sever the cardboard. I ended up using a fresh blade for each fin tube.



On a side note, the discarded ends of the fin tubes make lovely stuffed-animal crowns. Not to mention that coloring/decorating them gives your 4-year-old something to do at the other table so he’s not bumping the one you’re cutting on in his attempt to watch what you’re doing.

[rbelknap]

With the 4 fins cut, I couldn’t resist doing a “dry-fit” and taking a picture. (blue tape was used to gently secure the fins to the BT.)



With that out of the way it was time to fill those pesky spirals. I REALLY didn’t want to spend the next couple of days trying to sand down CWF that was applied too thickly (again.) So this is what I did:

1) I applied the CWF with my finger instead of a paintbrush.
2) Then I used an old customer loyalty card to scrape off the excess filler while it was still wet.



I suppose any small piece of plastic would work here; an old gift card, a redeemed subscription card for that online game your kid keeps bugging you about, one of those fake cards that credit card companies stuff in their offer letters now-a-days, a library card, last year's medical insurance card, an expired credit-card, an un-expired credit card... (although that last one could probably be put to better use buying rocket parts instead. May I suggest a King Kraken? They’re a lot of fun to build.)

Anyway, setting the tube fins (and launch lug - spirals to fill there, too) aside to dry, I began tackling the motor mount.

Another father’s day has come and gone without the appearance of a dremel, so I pulled out the heavy-duty cutting blade from my x-acto set, and got to work on the forward centering ring. The plywood was no match for a sharp edge hungry to be put to use after years of sitting in that wooden case watching jealously as the #11 all the attention.



The Destructions have both the forward and the aft centering rings positioned 2 inches from their respective ends of the MMT. I test fit the MMT and CR together, but I think I’m going to move the aft CR back (maybe to ¾ of an inch) leaving room for the Aeropack retainer I plan to order this weekend (along with some other stuff *cough* H143-SS *cough* Pro-38 3G case and spacer *cough* *cough* pro-DAT tool *cough* *cough* *cough*)



Excuse me. I’m not sure what happened there. I think I need to go get some water...)

Ahh. That’s better. Now, where was I? Oh, right - the end. (For now.)

[rbelknap]

I wonder if I should have spread all those posts out over the course of a day or two. Oh well. too late now.

[Pem Tech]

Good plan. Smokies for the squideriferousness! H-143 should do you well!

Later!

--Coop

HAZZAH!

[Pem Tech]

On a side note, the discarded ends of the fin tubes make lovely stuffed-animal crowns. Not to mention that coloring/decorating them gives your 4-year-old something to do at the other table so he’s not bumping the one you’re cutting on in his attempt to watch what you’re doing.

AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
How adorable......
Oh, and good job on the tube fins.
You are a man who apprecinates squidiferousness.

[Coop]

On a side note, the discarded ends of the fin tubes make lovely stuffed-animal crowns. Not to mention that coloring/decorating them gives your 4-year-old something to do at the other table so he’s not bumping the one you’re cutting on in his attempt to watch what you’re doing.

[/QUOTE]

This is GREAT! Love it!


Later!

--Coop

[rbelknap]

AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
How adorable......
Oh, and good job on the tube fins.
You are a man who apprecinates squidiferousness.

Thanks, getting those fins cut correctly has been what I was most worried about on this build. The fins, I think, are what make this such a great looking kit, and I wanted to do it justice.

(Now I just need to worry about priming/painting it well enough to do it justice.)

[rbelknap]

This is GREAT! Love it!


Later!

--Coop

Thanks - there are still 2 more "crowns" to decorate. That will be a quick arts-n-crafts project for this evening. (They need stickers, I think.)

[rbelknap]

I'm planning to start the 4-year-old's "Baby" Kraken this weekend. I'll use it as a guide as his big brother builds the other LPR Kraken kit I bought. (Look for another build log soon, I guess.) I already had the 7-year-old sand the body and fin tubes for both kits.

Layne, what font is used on the King Kraken decal you sent with the kit? I'm thinking about getting some made for the LPR kits that say "Little Kraken" and "Squiddo"

I'll tell the story behind those names in the LPR Kraken build log.

[Pem Tech]

The font is Papyrus .....

And can't wait for the next build thread.

I'm planning to start the 4-year-old's "Baby" Kraken this weekend. I'll use it as a guide as his big brother builds the other LPR Kraken kit I bought. (Look for another build log soon, I guess.) I already had the 7-year-old sand the body and fin tubes for both kits.

Layne, what font is used on the King Kraken decal you sent with the kit? I'm thinking about getting some made for the LPR kits that say "Little Kraken" and "Squiddo"

I'll tell the story behind those names in the LPR Kraken build log.

[o1d_dude]

Looking forward to seeing this one fly, Robert.

If you need a cert witness, look for me on the field at Snow Ranch.

[Salvage-1]

.... leaving room for the Aeropack retainer I plan to order this weekend (along with some other stuff *cough* H143-SS *cough* Pro-38 3G case and spacer *cough* *cough* pro-DAT tool *cough* *cough* *cough*)....

I thought that we CTI owners had no reason to be ashamed... now, as part of your group recovery class, you must prepare yourself for the awesomeness that is SKIDMARK!
The SS should be a real nice burn with the squiddly ink trail, but a SKID could do it with flare (pun intended)


Nice build thread

[rbelknap]

The font is Papyrus .....

And can't wait for the next build thread.

Thanks Layne, I've got that font. I'll look into getting some custom decals made. I'll make sure to link the new build thread to this one, or PM you once I've started.

Looking forward to seeing this one fly, Robert.

If you need a cert witness, look for me on the field at Snow Ranch.

Thanks Kit, I'll definitely keep an eye out. (Are you also a Pyro III by any chance? I'm looking into getting that license as well so I'm squared away with the state OFSM.)

I thought that we CTI owners had no reason to be ashamed... now, as part of your group recovery class, you must prepare yourself for the awesomeness that is SKIDMARK!
The SS should be a real nice burn with the squiddly ink trail, but a SKID could do it with flare (pun intended)


Nice build thread

A skidmark would be cool, but unless I'm mistaken, I can't use a sparky motor for my cert. flight. I must already be certified to purchase one. Once I get my cert, however, all bets are off.

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I'm enjoying this build a lot.

[rbelknap]

The destructions say to use epoxy when attaching the centering rings to the motor mount tube. Will the 15min hobby epoxy I have be sufficient, or should I break out the JB Weld with it's high temperature proerties for this? (Am I already falling into the trap of over-building? Would just plain old wood glue work?)

[Salvage-1]

the 15 min will be perfect!

[Pantherjon]

A skidmark would be cool, but unless I'm mistaken, I can't use a sparky motor for my cert. flight. I must already be certified to purchase one. Once I get my cert, however, all bets are off.

You can use a skid/sparky for your cert flight..The way it reads is that motors that require a certification prior to purchase can be purchased for use in attaining the certification..How else would you be getting the H143? So you can do your cert flight!

[Pem Tech]

EPoxy is fine or even wood glue....
My last KK was all woodglue construction and has flown on an CTI I motor.
Use whatever blows your skirt up...

[Salvage-1]

EPoxy is fine or even wood glue....
My last KK was all woodglue construction and has flown on an CTI I motor.
Use whatever blows your skirt up...

Which gives us an insight into Laynes next offering. A fully scaled replica of the famous Scottish sounding caber, complete with skirted airframe, or, as they call it, a Kilt!

[o1d_dude]

Which gives us an insight into Laynes next offering. A fully scaled replica of the famous Scottish sounding caber, complete with skirted airframe, or, as they call it, a Kilt!

Hey! I resemble that remark!



(Scored a 12:15 on that toss)

[Pem Tech]

The word "commando" keeps creeping through my mind stabbing it repeatedly with a shard of glass.

Hey! I resemble that remark!



(Scored a 12:15 on that toss)

[qquake2k]

Hey! I resemble that remark! (Scored a 12:15 on that toss)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzG_J7RCGS0

[rbelknap]

Maybe I should try to make an MMX clone of the kraken. Then I could have them in each size:

Wee
Not so wee
and FRIGGIN' HUGE!

[o1d_dude]

Maybe I should try to make an MMX clone of the kraken. Then I could have them in each size:

Wee
Not so wee
and FRIGGIN' HUGE!

Release the Kraken(s)!

[AHansom]

Maybe I should try to make an MMX clone of the kraken. Then I could have them in each size:

Wee
Not so wee
and FRIGGIN' HUGE!

If your ever at a TCC launch and we can drag race

[rbelknap]

Release the Kraken(s)!

You KNOW I'm going to have to shout that as I hit the launch button.