Flying Porta-Potty....?

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ActingLikeAKid

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I was kicking around this idea. Apparently an actual one has been launched (because of course)... but I was thinking something much smaller - kind of like the Squirrel Works phone box rocket. The twist would be (and here's where it might get tricky: I'm envisioning either a thin metal or epoxy-clad 90 degree bend at the top of the mmt, so when the exhaust gases pop out, the charge goes to the side, opening the door and knocking out a long, white TP-looking streamer.


It's utterly silly but I think it could be fun. I'm open to suggestions.
 
Do it! I built a LPR coffin rocket that pops its lid. The ejection chamber is separated from the section that holds the 'chute. There is an elastic strap to keep the lid on its hinges.
 
I miss the Estes Kit. It was a great kit to build and fun to fly. It is unfortunately long gone.
 
go full scale.. the Michigana Rocketry guys did it..
[video=youtube;KSkPTr5xSeE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSkPTr5xSeE[/video]

YOU DO IT!
 
Go for it!

Kyle Michaelson at LDRS / Rocket Challenge.
In an interview - they said they planned to have the TP roll out, but it was not to be..............

[video=youtube;PHVoS3kPVqM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHVoS3kPVqM[/video]
 
The twist would be (and here's where it might get tricky: I'm envisioning either a thin metal or epoxy-clad 90 degree bend at the top of the mmt, so when the exhaust gases pop out, the charge goes to the side, opening the door and knocking out a long, white TP-looking streamer.

Do it +2! :)

However you likely don't need a 90 degree elbow...I believe the pressure from the ejection charge should blow out whatever side is weaker/designed to pop.
 
I actually purchased one about 12 years ago and finally lost it in a tree. It looked JUST like a Porta Potty. The fins were made from plexiglass. The portapotty sat on two slabs of wood as I recall and the center was 24mm. The plastic covering, was similar to the squirrelworks police rocket. The top was white and looked just like the real thing. A center piece of wood fit into the 24mm motor tube. That was attached to a very long white streamer that looked just like toilet paper. I swore I still had the instructions somewhere around but looked a few months ago and no go. It was an awesome rocket!
lil_johnny_rocket.jpg
 
This is one rocket that people would just fly the C*** out of it.

In thinking about that coffin rocket, I just figured out a way I'd try to make the door stay closed during the upward flight phase... a variation on a piston would have a pin that hooks into a loop to keep it closed, it's just the part of getting to closed and locked that I haven't figured out. Of course if it didn't work properly, the results would be grave indeed.
 
I actually purchased one about 12 years ago and finally lost it in a tree. It looked JUST like a Porta Potty. The fins were made from plexiglass. The portapotty sat on two slabs of wood as I recall and the center was 24mm. The plastic covering, was similar to the squirrelworks police rocket. The top was white and looked just like the real thing. A center piece of wood fit into the 24mm motor tube. That was attached to a very long white streamer that looked just like toilet paper. I swore I still had the instructions somewhere around but looked a few months ago and no go. It was an awesome rocket!
View attachment 294143

I missed an opportunity to buy one. I guess I will have to scratch build one.
 
I missed an opportunity to buy one. I guess I will have to scratch build one.

I've been trying to keep my eye out for the Estes Porta Pot-shot for years now (they were disco'd before I got into rocketry); however they are hard to come by and when they do pop up on ebay for sale, it's often too cost prohibitive for one who plans to launch it. I've also been trying to see if anyone makes a smaller scale plastic novelty version to do a PMC (one more like the Estes or common Porta Johns I see around than the one linked above, although Steve's link does give me hope :)).

Regarding the TP streamer idea, it'd be really cool to try that; however would a streamer be enough to bring it down safely without damage? Normally something like this would require large add-on fins, a lot of nose/top weight or both. Maybe a chute at the end of the TP steamer?
 
The old farts could just use an extra pair of DEPENDS they have laying around for the chute. Our Pad Fuhrer banned the use of DEPENDS as heat shields/wadding in higher powered rockets. TP streamers deploying off the roll from the sides at launch would be cool, and could help stability, but that would be a fire hazard in the drier parts of the country.
 
Built my own TARDIS which is a similar shape. Took a while to get the stability right.

815cb1f1c4880f319b81a0672a78a821.jpg


Usually flys on a D24 or D21

https://www.ausrocketry.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=4402&hilit=+Tardis
 
The old farts could just use an extra pair of DEPENDS they have laying around for the chute. Our Pad Fuhrer banned the use of DEPENDS as heat shields/wadding in higher powered rockets. TP streamers deploying off the roll from the sides at launch would be cool, and could help stability, but that would be a fire hazard in the drier parts of the country.


TP streamers do seem to POISE a fire hazard, I'd bet you'd only be able to use it in wet conditions...
 
The Estes wadding I have seems to be a bunch of short pieces vs. a long one.
 
I would build one with doll house bricks then brag to the bulletproofers that it is built like a brick outhouse. That I had to use so much modeling clay for nose weight I had to roll it out like a Baker and pinch off a loaf. With our cub scout level of maturity I think the potty mouth humor would go over quite well.
 
I actually purchased one about 12 years ago and finally lost it in a tree. It looked JUST like a Porta Potty. The fins were made from plexiglass. The portapotty sat on two slabs of wood as I recall and the center was 24mm. The plastic covering, was similar to the squirrelworks police rocket. The top was white and looked just like the real thing. A center piece of wood fit into the 24mm motor tube. That was attached to a very long white streamer that looked just like toilet paper. I swore I still had the instructions somewhere around but looked a few months ago and no go. It was an awesome rocket!
View attachment 294143

Just a slight quibble; the SquirrelWorks Police Call Box has very little plastic but a whole lotta balsa (and love !) :)

View attachment 294273police_call_box02.jpg
 
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