FAT BOY in progress

[AfterBurners]

Since I have the day off the 4th and I hope with pay I decided to work on my FAT BOY. I started this not long ago, but wanted to finish up some other projects before diving back into it. Picture are the fins cut from 1/8" balsa. I just coated them with CA and waiting for them to dry so I can sand them. Never used this technique before so I thought I would try it on this build. I might come back over them "lightly" with some FnF to fill in any imperfections, but I don't know if it is really necessary. Any feed back on this would be great.

As you can see the body tube is actually 10" not 8". I had some tubing left over and didn't want to waste so I decided to extend the length slightly. This also gives me more room for the laundry and I mounted a 3.75" engine tube to accept "E" motors (LOC). The center rings are 1/8" lite ply that Bill @ BMS cut for me. He does excellent work! I also reinforced the aft portion of the body tube with a tube coupler and used CA on exposed edges including the motor mount tube.

The nose cone's seams were filled with squadron green putty, which has been drying for a few days. I need to sand it, but see no rush. The stuff sands like butter and produces some nice results.

I also used a Kevlar shock cord and eye screw to fasten it the forward center ring.

Recovery will be an 18" Topflight chute. Should bring it down nicely.

I'll probably post more pictures as the build continues, but nothing in detail.

[bradycros]

I also used a Kevlar shock cord and eye screw to fasten it the forward center ring.

Looks like a fun build.
Could you post a picture of the kevlar eye screw, I've never seen one.

[AfterBurners]

Looks like a fun build.
Could you post a picture of the kevlar eye screw, I've never seen one.

I probably wasn't clear enough. I attached Kevlar to an eye screw. Opps sorry

[sodmeister]

As i posted in the other FatBoy thread ,I also stretched my FatBoy by 3" and used TTW Basswood fins ,Kevlar SC and like you ,an 18" thin mil Topflight chute ,but made it into a 4 x 18mm cluster.The 18" chute is a great choice ,for this great ,straight flying rocket.

I need to clone more with various clusters !

Cheers

Paul T

[AfterBurners]

4x18 seems like an excellent choice. I'm running an 18" in mine too

[sodmeister]

Yessir,its a little heavy ,and I don`t like plastic chutes.....no darn good in my eyes, so the thin mil nylon is great ,just plenty of wadding.I do indeed find a lot of my waddnig from the previous launch and gather it ,ready fo another launch.I sure do have the cluster bug since that launch ,great fun.I finally flew my FlisKit TRES......now that is a great rocket ,everybody should have that one in their stash and ready to fly.....SWEET KIT !!!

A FatBoy with 5 or 7 18mm motors would be a great project !

Paul T

[AfterBurners]

Check out my thread on the cluster I built.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthr...tures-attached

[jd2cylman]

When I attended my first club launch, I was told by a fellow rocketeer that "It is a crime against humanity to build a Fat Boy stock." I think that quote gets attributed to Rick Gaff.

Adrian

[AfterBurners]

When I attended my first club launch, I was told by a fellow rocketeer that "It is a crime against humanity to build a Fat Boy stock." I think that quote gets attributed to Rick Gaff.

Adrian

I have another nose cone and body tube and some 3x24 lite ply center rings so I might start another one, but this time build a booster stage.

[jd2cylman]

I have the plywood fins and the nosecone left from mine. Gonna rebuild soon. Just puttin the finishing touches on a 29mm Big Daddy clone first.

Adrian

[AfterBurners]

On the single engine FAT BOY I'm just using 1/8" balsa, but on the cluster / booster FAT BOY I plan on using 3/16" balsa for added support. I'm debating if tumble recovery on the booster stage will cause any damage?? Maybe I can use a streamer or two small chutes to bring it down slower? The dry lake bed is a pretty hard surface.