grimlock3000
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2004
- Messages
- 173
- Reaction score
- 0
I am planning to build up a couple of cheap Estes rockets up for F launches in the next couple weeks. One will be a Stormcaster, the other will be a Fat Boy. I have the two kits and the "E" sized mount for the Stormcaster. The BT80 engine mount for the Fat Boy should show up soon. I built my own 12V controller to launch the motors and should have a custom launch pad soon after a couple trips to Home Depot.
I am planning to build each kit with epoxy fillets, Kevlar shock cord sections, nylon chutes, and the Fat Boy will be modified with a bulkhead in the nose cone to allow more room in the body tube. My primary area of concern is the fin strength. I tried coating some fins with CA glue in the past but it did not dry smooth and once I sanded the fins flat, they did not gain much strength.
For motors, I am going to go with Aerotech F21s since they will slide right in to 24mm mounts. The F21s are availible to me, unlike a lot of other Aerotech engines.
On with the questions... First up, what is the easiest way to reinforce the fins to get good results? If I go with the CA route again, what type of CA glue are you all using? Would a 6 second delay F21 be OK in both rockets? I do not have RSim or anything to sim with...
I am planning to build each kit with epoxy fillets, Kevlar shock cord sections, nylon chutes, and the Fat Boy will be modified with a bulkhead in the nose cone to allow more room in the body tube. My primary area of concern is the fin strength. I tried coating some fins with CA glue in the past but it did not dry smooth and once I sanded the fins flat, they did not gain much strength.
For motors, I am going to go with Aerotech F21s since they will slide right in to 24mm mounts. The F21s are availible to me, unlike a lot of other Aerotech engines.
On with the questions... First up, what is the easiest way to reinforce the fins to get good results? If I go with the CA route again, what type of CA glue are you all using? Would a 6 second delay F21 be OK in both rockets? I do not have RSim or anything to sim with...