Ok, I know that there is a Snark inspired or sport-scale rocket out there ("Snarky"). However, I am curious if I can do a scale Snark with minimal modifications from scale.
Assuming I can push CG forward close to the front tip of the wings, the biggest issue I see is that small vertical tail fin (and lack of other vertical surfaces). Ideally I would like to make the boosters work as drop-away boosters but if I can get them to function as static boosters with smaller / shorter burn engines I think I will be ok with that as well.
I am wondering about making the ramjet intake actually work as an intake to help stabilize the model some (via GDS / induction stabilization). To accomplish this, I am considering recessing the engine 2cm, leaving boat tail and ramjet portion more or less hollow w/ rear opening (I could have an enclosed duct and could model a conical exit in the rear), channeling the engine into a motor mount tube (so ejection charge goes into BT-80 tube and is isolated from the induction portion of boat tail). I will deal with melting boat tail issues later if this works... This approach has something in common with the "thrust augmentation" threads (but my main goal is stabilization). My assumption is that since the intake is right below the body tube it would primarily take air in from the sides (and below) and that this would have some yaw stabilizing effect. I know it would be stronger if it was more rearward but scale is what it is.
The boat tail is the most complex part here and existing STLs are pretty poor (I even bought one that looked good when it was skinned but was pretty rough once you removed the coloring). So I started from scratch and drew the cross-sections based on existing plans (setting up for a cylindrical body tube to interface with front section of the boat tail).
I am learning how to use Fusion 360 to better loft these extrusions together - came out pretty good so far (I should have left off top rectangular rear part since I can add it later).
Here is roughly where I am at so far. Should be a fun experiment even if it does not work
Assuming I can push CG forward close to the front tip of the wings, the biggest issue I see is that small vertical tail fin (and lack of other vertical surfaces). Ideally I would like to make the boosters work as drop-away boosters but if I can get them to function as static boosters with smaller / shorter burn engines I think I will be ok with that as well.
I am wondering about making the ramjet intake actually work as an intake to help stabilize the model some (via GDS / induction stabilization). To accomplish this, I am considering recessing the engine 2cm, leaving boat tail and ramjet portion more or less hollow w/ rear opening (I could have an enclosed duct and could model a conical exit in the rear), channeling the engine into a motor mount tube (so ejection charge goes into BT-80 tube and is isolated from the induction portion of boat tail). I will deal with melting boat tail issues later if this works... This approach has something in common with the "thrust augmentation" threads (but my main goal is stabilization). My assumption is that since the intake is right below the body tube it would primarily take air in from the sides (and below) and that this would have some yaw stabilizing effect. I know it would be stronger if it was more rearward but scale is what it is.
The boat tail is the most complex part here and existing STLs are pretty poor (I even bought one that looked good when it was skinned but was pretty rough once you removed the coloring). So I started from scratch and drew the cross-sections based on existing plans (setting up for a cylindrical body tube to interface with front section of the boat tail).
I am learning how to use Fusion 360 to better loft these extrusions together - came out pretty good so far (I should have left off top rectangular rear part since I can add it later).
Here is roughly where I am at so far. Should be a fun experiment even if it does not work
