1/37scale U.S. Shuttle rocket glider

[burkefj]

I decided to build a US shuttle to counter the Soviet and Moonraker versions I made but modified with a little more scale fuse profile, the flared rear and oms pods. 1:37 scale. 9mm depron wing tail and formers, 3mm rolled fuse skin, laminated and carved nose and oms pods. 24mm for E-6 hopefully under 13 oz rtf. Fin fits into a pocket slotted into the formers, rail buttons on the bottom this time as the flared rear got in the way of side mounted buttons. Hatch in the front to access battery and rx via a hollowed out section in the nose.

 

[burkefj]

Oms pod and fuse skin complete, openrocket printed transition on photo paper for the nozzle. Will be a bit heavier than my similar sized Buran since each oms pod weighs .29 oz so will need more nose weight, and fuse is 25% wider/taller meaning more material used Oms made from laminated sections with a hollow to save weight then carved and sanded to shape. Nose laminated from 15 sections with a hollow for battery and nose weight.

 

[burkefj]

Nose shaped

 

[burkefj]

Airframe done and sanded, battery hatch fit and pocket melted to put the nose weight

 

[burkefj]

Finished up the hand cut markings, Found a Nasa decal so put it on the wing, just need to install radio and balance, looks like with the extra oms pods and nose weight it will be closer to 13 ounces rtf which is still ok.

 

[burkefj]

A few more details as I get motivated..

 

[ljwilley]

looks great!

 

[burkefj]

Another family photo, wing is the same 1:37 scale, fuse on the Buran is 4.25" and moonraker 4" BT-101 based, shuttle 5.25", the Moonraker weighs 16.1 oz rtf, Buran is the lightest at 11.2 oz rtf and the shuttle 13.4 oz rtf, interesting how heavy the light BT-101 is, and how much even lightweight oms pods in the tail and a 25% increase in body width with identical construction and components adds 1.8 oz over the Buran just due to the extra foam weight. Interstingly the actual lead added for the Buran and shuttle was identical 1.45 oz, the larger width foam nose was heavier by the amount added by the oms pods and glue so nose weight was the same but overall weight higher. Just extra nose foam, OMS pods, skin area, former area and glue add up a lot even at these light weights.

 

[burkefj]

Here are the first two flights, with the scale bits it is a big of a piggy, but still flew fine..

 

[burkefj]

Got in 12 flights today in dead calm, did a little tweaking of battery/rx placement for cg and boost trim and got in very nice flights, around 25-30 second glide times which isn't terrible given the weight and dragginess, looks great in the air.

 

[burkefj]

I decided I really want it lighter, so I'm building another one but with the 4.25" based fuse I used in the Buran. It's a straight fuse without the rear flares, and use use 6mm for the formers instead of 9mm, a lighter 2.5 mm spar, and I'll sand the OMS to a contour to fit the fuselage curve, so it will have the look of the shuttle, but will give me more exposed wing area, less drag and hopefully be closer to my Buran in terms of performance, I've already got the wing/fuse/fin and one OMS built and attached...stay tuned.. Hopefully under 12 oz rtf for this one.

 

[burkefj]

 

[burkefj]

Ok, 6 oz now all framed up compared to 5.75 for the Buran. On a funny note I get in from the garage when working on these sanding and carving and it looks like I've been in a snowstorm...Did a quick balance and right now it's about 11.5 oz rtf estimated, vinyl will add some, looking promising.

 

[burkefj]

Halfway done with markings but Im out of black vinyl to finish the tail and payload bay markings. Waiting on Amazon .

 

[burkefj]

6.78 oz decorated, servos arriving today, still on track for 12oz rtf..

 

[ljwilley]

Wow! Your skill with that foam is unmatched! It really is amazing that you can make a cool looking glider shuttle with some foam and RC equipment.

 

[burkefj]

Wow! Your skill with that foam is unmatched! It really is amazing that you can make a cool looking glider shuttle with some foam and RC equipment.

Thank you, it is a lot of fun since the material is so fast and easy to work with.

 

[burkefj]

All done, right at 12oz!

 

[burkefj]

Flew great, zero trim changes, did a roll on the maiden, my wife did the video, it's very hard to do with the small video screen....best glide on the first flight at 50 seconds, just shy of the Buran! I had to trim some out of other the videos but they were similar.

 

[ljwilley]

Great flight! Also I like your cats!

 

[burkefj]

Great flight! Also I like your cats!

Thanks, I didn't notice them becore!

 

[burkefj]

Beautiful weather again today and two more flights.

 

[RickEly]

All done, right at 12oz!View attachment 634329View attachment 634330

You are the rocket glider Master! That is beautiful Frank

 

[ljwilley]

I cannot believe that that huge thing weighs only 12 grams! That foam is amazing. I will have to try to make a rocket glider from it someday.

 

[burkefj]

I cannot believe that that huge thing weighs only 12 grams! That foam is amazing. I will have to try to make a rocket glider from it someday.

Ounces not grams, but it's still really neat, I agree

 

[ljwilley]

I meant to say ounces. Not sure why I said grams!