qquake2k
Captain Low-N-Slow
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2010
- Messages
- 13,574
- Reaction score
- 65
I'm considering building an upscale Mean Machine, and thought I'd open up a discussion. It would be 4" diameter, 190" (15.8ft) long, and have a 54mm motor mount.
Body Tubes - I have read on here that upscale MM's made from unfiberglassed cardboard tubes can be flexible and bow in flight. I have no desire to fiberglass this or any other rocket. Plus, it needs to separate into three sections for transport anyway, and there would be some flexibility in the joints. So I'm thinking about phenolic tubes from Giant Leap. I know phenolic can be brittle, but it's also stiffer, which is why I'm considering it. I thought about Blue Tube, but it's a LOT more expensive, and can be sensitive to humidity. My thought is to use phenolic airframes and phenolic couplers. Giant Leap has 48" long sections of coupler, so I can cut it into 12" lengths, adding a bit more stiffness overall.
Nose Cone - I've decided on a LOC 4" nose cone. I know it's shorter than a scale nose cone would be, but it has a rounded tip like the Estes nose cone. I thought about turning a nose cone, but it's difficult to find 5" square basswood stock. Plus it would add an awful amount of weight to the top, and the stability is already over 6 calibers.
Deployment - I haven't decided yet whether it will be single or dual deploy.
View attachment really_mean_machine_54mm_phenolic4.ork
Body Tubes - I have read on here that upscale MM's made from unfiberglassed cardboard tubes can be flexible and bow in flight. I have no desire to fiberglass this or any other rocket. Plus, it needs to separate into three sections for transport anyway, and there would be some flexibility in the joints. So I'm thinking about phenolic tubes from Giant Leap. I know phenolic can be brittle, but it's also stiffer, which is why I'm considering it. I thought about Blue Tube, but it's a LOT more expensive, and can be sensitive to humidity. My thought is to use phenolic airframes and phenolic couplers. Giant Leap has 48" long sections of coupler, so I can cut it into 12" lengths, adding a bit more stiffness overall.
Nose Cone - I've decided on a LOC 4" nose cone. I know it's shorter than a scale nose cone would be, but it has a rounded tip like the Estes nose cone. I thought about turning a nose cone, but it's difficult to find 5" square basswood stock. Plus it would add an awful amount of weight to the top, and the stability is already over 6 calibers.
Deployment - I haven't decided yet whether it will be single or dual deploy.
View attachment really_mean_machine_54mm_phenolic4.ork