Rube Goldberg Lander

[JAL3]

After shaping, the plugs were withdrawn and had their beveled edges test fitted together. They fit.

 

[JAL3]

A bit of Titebond II was smeared across one of the beveled faces and the two plugs were pressed together and then separated and allowed almost to dry.

 

[JAL3]

When the glue had almost set, a bit more was spread and the two pieces were pressed together again. This time, care was taken to make sure the tick marks lined up so that the resulting coupler would be at a 45 deg angle. The two pieces were clamped together to dry.

 

[JAL3]

While the spliced coupler set up, boom tube #3 was located and a baffle was glued into place near the upper end with Titebond III.

 

[JAL3]

Pod tube 3 and its attendant reducer were located and the two were joined with an application of Titebond III.

 

[JAL3]

When the spliced coupler had sat for a while in the clamp, I figure it was safe to remove and inspect. I did not use it yet, however, because I wanted to give the glue a chance to fully cure.

 

[JAL3]

A ring of Titebond III was swabbed around the upper end of the boom tube and the angled coupler was inserted (after fishing through the kevlar!). Great care was taken to make sure the alignment ticks lined up.

 

[JAL3]

Motor tube #3 was located and a pair of opposing lines was marked along its length. For this long tube, a doorframe worked better than the Estes Angle.

 

[JAL3]

A template was applied to the upper end of Motor Tube 3 and it was cut to the angle in the same way as all the others.

 

[JAL3]

Another pair of balsa BT50 plugs was selected, marked and drilled in the same manner as before.

 

[JAL3]

The plugs were then sanded to their angle and a bit of Titebond III was swabbed through their interior for some protection. It makes no difference that the plugs are of different lengths. I ordered what was in stock.

 

[JAL3]

The bottom tip of Motor Tube 3 was scuffed with some sandpaper and then a light ring of JB Weld was applied.

 

[JAL3]

The inner fitting of a Rocketarium.com motor retainer was then slipped into place and the excess JB Weld smoothed into a fillet with my finger.

 

[JAL3]

The pieces for the recently fabricated angled coupler were glued together with a double glue joint.

 

[JAL3]

A fairly arbitrary mark was made on the upper end of the boom tube to align the top ping pong ball. The first ball was then slid into place and glued with Titebond Molding and Trim Glue (hereafter TMT).

 

[JAL3]

Pod Base Tube 3 was then glued to the angled coupler with Titebond III. Extreme care was taken to make sure the alignment was good.

 

[JAL3]

The first ball was given a while to set up and then the next six were added using TMT, each snugged up against the previous ball.

 

[JAL3]

Believe it or not, the angled slices in the tubes were not all that pretty. I didn't figure they would be and planned on some wiggle room.

 

[JAL3]

Some Bondo Spot and Glazing Putty was applied to the seam and smoothed out with a finger.

 

[JAL3]

The JB Weld on the motor tube was by no means cured at this point but I did deem it to be stiff enough so that I could place the outer ring. That way it won't get lost as easily!

 

[hornet driver]

Well, won't we be sanding and filling for a while!!op:

 

[JAL3]

I took a look at Drogue Pod 3, previously glued together, and figured that it would not hurt anything to go ahead and glue the other recovery pods to their transitions. Pod 1 was as Pod 3. Pods 2 and 4 were similar but with longer tubes.

 

[JAL3]

Well, won't we be sanding and filling for a while!!op:

You've figured out the down side.

It will keep me off the streets.

 

[JPVegh]

Ah, now I see, your building a rocket powered Cootie.

 

[JAL3]

When the putty had dried, I started sanding away the excess using paper, a sanding stick and, occasionally, a file.

 

[krusty]

I'm starting to think Thunderbird 3-ish ??

This is very cool whatever it is!!

Krusty

 

[JAL3]

The problem with putty, though, is that it is delicate and not very durable. To help make it more so, I drizzled some thin CA into the putty and let it soak in.

 

[JAL3]

There were still a few, smaller divots in the joint so, after the CA had set, another layer of putty was applied.

 

[rbelknap]

Ah, now I see, your building a rocket powered Cootie.

you mean one of these guys?



I remember playing this game a bunch with my sister. We also just used to build them and play with them sans game.

 

[JAL3]

you mean one of these guys?

View attachment 133179

I remember playing this game a bunch with my sister. We also just used to build them and play with them sans game.

Thanks for the reference. I've been trying to figure that one out.