SpaceShipTwo

[lakeroadster]

Here's a BT-80 based version of the SpaceShipTwo. It's a 29mm rear eject.

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[OzHybrid]

Not seeing a mass object for Richard Branson.

 

[lakeroadster]

Plywood Fins

Cut the fins out of 1/4" Plywood

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[BABAR]

Will this have a removable cone or a smooth joint?

 

[BABAR]

I am surprised @burkefj hasn’t don’t a glider version of this yet (more likely he hasn’t and i just missed it!)

 

[ljwilley]

Awesome rocket! Keep us posted!

 

[neil_w]

Wow, heavy... how much nose weight?

 

[lakeroadster]

Gluing the Base Fin

Cut the body tube and started gluing the base fin.

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[lakeroadster]

Wow, heavy... how much nose weight?

14.3 ounces.. a 1" dia stud that's 4" long.​

 

[lakeroadster]

Will this have a removable cone or a smooth joint?

Smooth. I'll build the nose cone, install the nose weight, swing test the rocket, then glue the nose cone on.​

 

[lakeroadster]

Gluing the Base Fins, Day 02

Rinse and Repeat

 

[bad_idea]

Not seeing a mass object for Richard Branson.

Will Saddam Hussein suffice?

 

[burkefj]

I am surprised @burkefj hasn’t don’t a glider version of this yet (more likely he hasn’t and i just missed it!)

I've done both ss1 and ss2

 

[burkefj]

The tail cone removes for boost due to CG reasons..

 

[jqavins]

Gluing the Base Fin

Cut the body tube and started gluing the base fin.

View attachment 604714 View attachment 604715View attachment 604745 View attachment 604746​

Most people would have settled for laying the tube on top of the flat panel. Once again, your craftsmanship is most impressive.

Rear eject is clearly a good idea, to keep those long cantilever fins from hitting the ground first. But it seems like those same fins present a potential hazard to rear ejection, with the likelihood of the 'chute snagging on them. Do you have a plan for that?

 

[lakeroadster]

Gluing The Side Fins

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[lakeroadster]

Most people would have settled for laying the tube on top of the flat panel. Once again, your craftsmanship is most impressive.

Rear eject is clearly a good idea, to keep those long cantilever fins from hitting the ground first. But it seems like those same fins present a potential hazard to rear ejection, with the likelihood of the 'chute snagging on them. Do you have a plan for that?

They are spaced out far enough that it should not be an issue.

 

[lakeroadster]

Cutting the Elevons and Horizontal Stabilizers

Cut from 1/4" plywood, sanded down to 3/16" thick.

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[BABAR]

My name is Root!

 

[lakeroadster]

Gluing the Elevons

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[lakeroadster]

Wing Glue Fillets

I went ahead and attached all 4 fins at the root. That way I can do all the fillets, wings and fins, at one time.

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[BABAR]

Wing Glue Fillets

I went ahead and attached all 4 fins at the root. That way I can do all the fillets, wings and fins, at one time.

View attachment 605440​

That statue is pretty handy!

 

[NTP2]

You make the sport cars of rockets.

 

[MALBAR 70]

Wing Glue Fillets

I went ahead and attached all 4 fins at the root. That way I can do all the fillets, wings and fins, at one time.

View attachment 605440​

Hey! I have that exact same "circle of friends".
Now I know what to use it for.

 

[lakeroadster]

Nose Cone and Rear Transition

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[lakeroadster]

Nose Cone Ballast

I used a 1" dia stud x 4-1/4" long and a 3/16" eye bolt. These were glued into the nose cone.

 

[lakeroadster]

Nose Cone Gluing To Fuselage

I first used Titebond Quick and Thick around the front of the shoulder and inserted the nose cone into the tube. I then applied Gorilla Wood Glue to the shoulder inside the tube.

 

[lakeroadster]

Recovery Spool - Day 01

Started building the Recovery Spool. The stuffer tube centering rings where glued into the 29mm motor tube. The Fuselage was used as an alignment fixture, I used a cardboard ring as a centering device to hold the parts in alignment while the stuffer tube centering rings dry.

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[jqavins]

Lakeroadster works in mysterious ways.

It looks from the OR picture like you will have like a centering ring out at the front of the stuffer tube, as one would expect. And I assume that the piece of corrugated cardboard you're showing above is that going to be that centering ring*. So why make a cardboard fake CR as a fixture for this step when you could use the real one?

Actually, I've discovered during a previous build that you can laminate two pieces of that stuff with the corrugations perpendicular, like plywood, and get something surprisingly strong and stiff. But you have a single piece there.

 

[lakeroadster]

Lakeroadster works in mysterious ways.

It looks from the OR picture like you will have like a centering ring out at the front of the stuffer tube, as one would expect. And I assume that the piece of corrugated cardboard you're showing above is that going to be that centering ring*. So why make a cardboard fake CR as a fixture for this step when you could use the real one?

Actually, I've discovered during a previous build that you can laminate two pieces of that stuff with the corrugations perpendicular, like plywood, and get something surprisingly strong and stiff. But you have a single piece there.

Cardboard gives me a chance to install and use the ring as a fixture.

The actual ring will be made from basswood and will have a relief for the lower wing, as well as a notch for the lifting eye. Once the assembly is dry I'll finalize the design of the actual ring.

It's a scratch build / scratch design, not a "kit", all the parts aren't available in a bag. I make the parts as I go. Nothing mysterious about that.