I've got a few old launch lugs that I'm going to use for current scratchbuilds. For 1/8" rod the launch lugs measure about 5/32" diameter. I observe that frequently the 1/8" lugs seem a bit snug on a normal rod. What I don't have is a lug for 3/16" rods so I am going to "roll my own". And strangely enough the only problem I've had with a rocket hanging on the rod during launch was using a 3/16" lug on 3/16" rod. I may roll mine just a bit larger than 7/32".
One of my current builds is an Estes Goblin. I pulled its pieces out of the bag and measured- it has 2 pieces of launch lug that are only 3/8" long. I think my Estes ESAM also has tiny little launch lugs like that. I think the tiny little piece of launch lug is strong enough, but it doesn't give much area to glue to a tube. I had a launch lug come off of a rocket during launch many years ago and it wasn't good so now I'm careful to put several layers of glue fillets on and even over the launch lugs.
Has anybody else had problems with tight launch lugs? Launch lugs coming off of rockets?
I should have added this- the rockets with tiny 3/8" long launch lugs had 2 of them so you can locate them on the airframe pretty far apart. I think this is better than having one launch lug that is 1" or 2" long.
One of my current builds is an Estes Goblin. I pulled its pieces out of the bag and measured- it has 2 pieces of launch lug that are only 3/8" long. I think my Estes ESAM also has tiny little launch lugs like that. I think the tiny little piece of launch lug is strong enough, but it doesn't give much area to glue to a tube. I had a launch lug come off of a rocket during launch many years ago and it wasn't good so now I'm careful to put several layers of glue fillets on and even over the launch lugs.
Has anybody else had problems with tight launch lugs? Launch lugs coming off of rockets?
I should have added this- the rockets with tiny 3/8" long launch lugs had 2 of them so you can locate them on the airframe pretty far apart. I think this is better than having one launch lug that is 1" or 2" long.
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