Vector Six

I had so much fun building the Semroc Vector V that I decided to build another one using Estes parts lying about the house; specifically, a BT-55 for the fin can and BT-20 for the main tube. This one will have six fins because that's one more than five, making it the "Nigel Tufnel version," I suppose.

To start, I cut six fins out of iTunes gift card hang tags, using the pattern from the original Centuri plans. These were glued to a 2 1/4" length of BT-55 to form the fin can.

The engine tube is a 3" length of BT-20. The tube coupler is a scrap of one of those yellow engine spacer tubes Estes puts in their kits. I'm all out of engine hooks, so this model will use friction for motor retention.

The shroud was made using the shroud generator at the New Century Rocketry site. The pattern is attached.



Next step is to glue the shroud to the upper centering ring and glue that assembly to the upper end of the motor tube.

The upper body tube is a 6" length of BT-20. This was marked for the six vanes, and a half-inch wide wrap of 65# cardstock was glued on 5/8" from one end.

The vanes are cut from strip balsa, using my old NWSL Chopper to assure a uniform length.

The vanes are glued on, and this subassembly is finished.

The nose cone is going to be the long pointy one that comes in the NC-20 package.

Next step will be to paint all the subassemblies.

im subscribing just for the spinal tap reference however i love this rocket and seeing a scratch build will be very helpful! thanks and keep it up

Here we are with all four subassemblies painted, the shock cord installed in the upper body tube, and the engine mount mated to the fin can.

And...we're all done!