I have been thinking for a while about stabilizing a rocket without fins. Should be easy. Basically move the center of pressure back on the rocket.
To do that I built a paper cone to cover the fin area. It flew straight. My next modification will be to reduce the cone diameter and then the taper.
My test mule came to me in a state park about 15 years ago. I found the tube (with US Army insignia) which had plastic motor/fin mount and some broken fins. After carving a balsa nosecone and rebuilding the fins I've flown it numerous times.
I recently lost it (with fins) in my own forest for about 2 or 3 weeks which included a couple of inches of rain. It is getting rough. Not my usual build quality.
To do that I built a paper cone to cover the fin area. It flew straight. My next modification will be to reduce the cone diameter and then the taper.
My test mule came to me in a state park about 15 years ago. I found the tube (with US Army insignia) which had plastic motor/fin mount and some broken fins. After carving a balsa nosecone and rebuilding the fins I've flown it numerous times.
I recently lost it (with fins) in my own forest for about 2 or 3 weeks which included a couple of inches of rain. It is getting rough. Not my usual build quality.
Last edited: