Gary Larsen's Farside Rocket - A BT-80H Scratch Build

[lakeroadster]

Nose Cone

I turned the nose cone from a piece of pinyon pine we cut down on our property about 7 years ago. It has some worm holes which adds character. I may end up filling them with wood putty... we'll see.​

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[Blast it Tom!]

I hope to learn how you use my lathe some day! Nice work!

 

[lakeroadster]

I hope to learn how you use my lathe some day! Nice work!

Thanks.​

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The wood I used was actually a part of the trunk of the tree. I cut the one end square and then lagged it to the headstock. I leaned out of the way and turned the lathe on and it scattered the bark all over the shop! I wear a full face shield... but I wasn't expecting that to happen.​

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You can see the bark pieces in the photo of the shavings.​

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[MarsLander]

Need to start on the sister ship soon...

 

[lakeroadster]

Need to start on the sister ship soon...

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Not much of a challenge.. it's all pretty much symmetrical. Those bovines... they sure do build a "tight" rocket.​

 

[ReynoldsSlumber]

Those bovines... they sure do build a "tight" rocket.​

I mean, their aerospace engineering abilities are the cream of the crop, their orbital trajectory cowculations are udder perfection... and they personally generate methane fuel—all the rage in the launch industry these days—certified organic, even!

 

[jqavins]

After all, they can't jump over the moon without a boost.

 

[Daddyisabar]

Leave the worm wood holes! They will provide the up front aerodynamic forces needed to overcome the crookedness behind. Let nature take it's course. Fate, not rocket science, rules here. All natural fiber!

 

[lakeroadster]

Need to start on the sister ship soon...

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Not much of a challenge.. it's all pretty much symmetrical. Those bovines... they sure do build a "tight" rocket.​

Wow... Could I have been more wrong? More here.... Gary Larsen's Bovine Rocket

 

[lakeroadster]

Nose Cone Repair

The day after I turned the nose cone I noticed the crack was opening up... like considerably. I used a band clamp and clamped the bottom for 24 hours, periodically checking and re-tightening to close up the crack.​

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Then I applied wood glue and clamped it again. I'm pretty sure it's back to where it was when I initially turned the piece.​

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And, per @jqavins invitation, I added some glue to the other interior defect... ​

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[Daddyisabar]

No runs, no drips, no errors!

 

[lakeroadster]

Preliminary Swing Tests

I did a number of preliminary swing tests. The rocket appears stable. The canted nose doesn't appear to push the rocket askew.​

It gives me confidence to give this a powered flight.​

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[Daddyisabar]

The King of Swing!
Confidence is key!
Fear is the mind killer.
Press the button and let em fly...

 

[BABAR]

Nose Cone

I turned the nose cone from a piece of pinyon pine we cut down on our property about 7 years ago. It has some worm holes which adds character. I may end up filling them with wood putty... we'll see.​

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Leave the holes. Adds character.

 

[BABAR]

Preliminary Swing Tests

. The canted nose doesn't appear to push the rocket askew.​

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so this is one of the few times you say, “I cant”?

 

[OzHybrid]

Leave the holes. Adds character.

And the potential for a whistle...

 

[Capt. Eric]

And the potential for a whistle...

But the holes aren't in the original comic, so he "cant". A few rivets near the bottom only.

 

[lakeroadster]

But the holes aren't in the original comic, so he "cant". A few rivets near the bottom only.

Or aren't there? There's some kind of anomalies on the nose cone... just like there's something on the fins.​

Well within reason to leave them.​

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I mean, "Worm Holes" on a "Rocket", it's poetic justice.​

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[lakeroadster]

Fabricating The Lower Body Cone

Well, couldn't find any cardboard that was the correct thickness, so I used the cardboard from a Strawberry Frosted Mini Wheats box.​

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[neil_w]

Good choice of flavor!

Looks like that came out really good. I was wondering how well you'd be able to form it in partial segments like that.

 

[lakeroadster]

Good choice of flavor!

Looks like that came out really good. I was wondering how well you'd be able to form it in partial segments like that.

Thanks.... 2X​

I was originally going to install it in one piece. I quickly learned that a two piece would be needed. That way I could hold the section and allow the glue joints to set-up.​

 

[lakeroadster]

Rear Ring and Gluing The Cone

I made a couple openings in the cone to inject some wood glue into the upper section, and then let it set over night.​

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I trimmed the lower cone and then made a plywood ring to glue onto the rear cone centering ring. I'll glue this to the cone bottom to keep it from getting crunched.​

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[lakeroadster]

Photo Shoot

It's primer time... ​

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[BABAR]

Fabricating The Lower Body Cone

Well, couldn't find any cardboard that was the correct thickness, so I used the cardboard from a Strawberry Frosted Mini Wheats box.​

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So how much sodium and total calories?

I can see you have artificial flavors.

 

[OzHybrid]

Photo Shoot

It's primer time... ​

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We need a photo of you in a lab coat, clipboard and pens with pocket protector at launch time ...

 

[Capt. Eric]

We need a photo of you in a lab coat, clipboard and pens with pocket protector at launch time ...

And the goggles!. Don't forget the welding goggles.

 

[jqavins]

And the goggles!. Don't forget the welding goggles.

No welding goggles in the Larson cartoon.

 

[BABAR]

We need a photo of you in a lab coat, clipboard and pens with pocket protector at launch time ...

And in pumps.

 

[jqavins]

Where is the "Huh?" reaction emoji?

 

[lakeroadster]

And in pumps.

Sophia will do..