I’m building a LOC IV for my L1 cert. and I messed up. After carefully measuring and marking where the 3 centering rings were to be glued to the motor mount tube, I glued the mid ring in place and then glued the forward ring on the wrong end. Reversing the tube the forward ring is correct, but the center ring is too far forward by about 1-1/2” so the forward end of the fins will not mate. I’ve got a laser cutter so making a new centering ring is easy. I can think of 5 options:
Opinions? Thanks!
- Add additional centering ring in correct position. - Negative is adds weight and moves CG back.
- Try to cut around incorrect ring as close to tube as possible with jewelers saw. Negative - lots of effort and may cut or damage tube.
- Use it as is and not worry about mid centering ring being glued to fins. Sounds crazy, but I don’t think the original IV’s had a mid ring at all.
- Move motor tube back so center ring is in correct place and cut motor tube down. By far the easiest. Negative is GC moved back. As it is, a 360 motor doesn’t project out the existing tube and a 760 goes way beyond. Cutting down the motor tube the 360 is still completely enclosed.
- Throw it all away and quit rocketry (just kidding)
Opinions? Thanks!
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