Originally posted by matt_taylor
Nice looking saucer you have there, how did u construct it?
thanks
matt
Thanks Matt,
It was a fun project to build and the flight was way too quick. When I originally mentioned that I wanted to fly a saucer for my L2 everyone was all for it. When I showed up the following month, bird in hand so to speak, it ruffeled a few feathers, but the powers that be finally succumed to Her Majesty and all ended well
The top and bottom of the saucer is simple poster board with four layers of glass. The top and bottom are seperated by a reinforcing ring of foam backed board going all the way to the 38mm motor mount, like an 18" donut with a 38mm hole
OOPS, don't forget the launch lug! Straight Estes BT-5. I had originally thought of using a rail, but I was worried the extra internal cavity going all the way thru may weaken the structure.
Glassed everything I could to the MMT, and then glassed some more
Let dry for a weekend.
The entire thing is filled with expanding foam. Having the top and bottom partitioned helped in the curing of the foam, half of the volume to cure at a time instead of one big blob. Let dry some more. I had foam creeping out of the vent holes for about 48 hours. Mega slow but keep checking and removing flash until it stops. Let dry some more...
I cleaned it up a little and threw a coat of primer on the Friday before the launch. It still needs a lot more finishing but I'm not sure I will. She's a tough old girl and since she was born in Kentucky, I may leave her with her 'native' ruggedness.
Good luck and post pics!
Patrick