Fiberglass Suppliers

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degreaser

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With the takeover of Rocketry Warehouse by Madcow and Wildman changing suppliers, the variety of fiberglass airframes, couplers and nosecones appears to have been reduced by quite a bit.

Performance Hobbies still has a good selection. Who else? Any favorite suppliers?
 
I do not think the selection has really decreased. Wildman decided to move on from Curtis/Performance and is providing really nice tubes and some great nosecones.

What is it you are looking for that you cannot find?
 
I do not think the selection has really decreased. Wildman decided to move on from Curtis/Performance and is providing really nice tubes and some great nosecones.

What is it you are looking for that you cannot find?


Yes, it has. For example rocketry warehouse had dozens and dozens of different airframe tubes, around 6 or 7 pages worth. Madcow has 1 page. It skips over 5" entirely and stops at 5.5". Wildman is similarly restricted from what they used to offer. I'm sure their quality is fine, I just need the older stuff.

Specifically, I'm looking for 5" and 8" materials.

[edit] Ah - thanks for the hint. I wasn't aware that Wildman was using Performance Hobbies stuff.
 
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Yeah, I have a first generation Dominator 4 I've decided to abandon the main chute bay as it's too short for my chute desires and I drilled 6 holes for the plastic rivets for retention on the ebay. Was going to use 2-56 screws. I'm going to ditch it, try to get a longer tube so I won't have trouble stuffing the needed
harness and chute in and get another ebay. I plan to use PEM nuts and 4-40 screws for securing the upper bay to the ebay.

My problem is where to find a compatible substitute for this black "Profusion" tubing? I was told it was black colored fiberglass and not carbon fiber, although
it looks a lot like CF.

I have no switch band on the ebay and put a thrust block on the sustainer to carry the load. The upper bay fits flush with the sustainer lip. Looks really clean.
I was going to use magnetic switches for the dual altimeters but with the WiFi switch and altimeter options, I will forego the precision mounting needed for a
mag switch and simply activate via the WiFi.

I have the boat tail retention but it's black as the red wasn't available then and I got the dual canister lids. I found plastic charge holders that press-fit very nicely into the canisters.

The basic rocket I paid $200.00 for as it was on special being just introduced. I paid extra for the dual canister bulkheads and boat tail retainer. This could
be an L3 candidate. Cotronics 4525 IP was used for internal and external fin fillets and as long as the electronics hold up, I'm confident is could take an N motor.
Of course due to ceiling restrictions I'd use a small M to do the cert. (Tracker nosecone too.)

Any suggestion if there's black tubing out there I could try to see if I can get the parts for the modification?

Kurt
 
With the takeover of Rocketry Warehouse by Madcow and Wildman changing suppliers, the variety of fiberglass airframes, couplers and nosecones appears to have been reduced by quite a bit.

Yes, it has. For example rocketry warehouse had dozens and dozens of different airframe tubes, around 6 or 7 pages worth. Madcow has 1 page. It skips over 5" entirely and stops at 5.5".

RW and Madcow have both always used tubing made by Curtis. That hasn't changed. Madcow has said they are going to phase in the full selection RW had as they get in stock.

My problem is where to find a compatible substitute for this black "Profusion" tubing? I was told it was black colored fiberglass and not carbon fiber, although
it looks a lot like CF.
...
Any suggestion if there's black tubing out there I could try to see if I can get the parts for the modification?

Profusion = Black FG which isn't in stock yet looking at madcow's site- https://www.madcowrocketry.com/4inch-g12-color-airframe/

They do have a few other colors, and natural in stock- https://www.madcowrocketry.com/4-inch-g12-airframe/

Being that it's made by Curtis, who made the tubes for the ProLine kits, it should be a perfect match.
 
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RW and Madcow have both always used tubing made by Curtis. That hasn't changed. Madcow has said they are going to phase in the full selection RW had as they get in stock.

Ok, that's good news. I was concerned that the variety and competition was drying up. I also have some black FG I got from Wildman so it would be good to have an alternate source.
 
Ok, that's good news. I was concerned that the variety and competition was drying up. I also have some black FG I got from Wildman so it would be good to have an alternate source.

They've slowing been adding...the good news is they're reporting in stock/not in stock on all products. RW just listed everything and some was being made to order I believe.
 
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The Profusion tubing and nosecones did have CF in them. Try one out with your tracker and see. But what is referenced in the Madcow link looks to be just black FG which was also sold by RW.
 
The Profusion tubing and nosecones did have CF in them. Try one out with your tracker and see. But what is referenced in the Madcow link looks to be just black FG which was also sold by RW.

interesting. I know for a bit tim was referencing "carbonite" I'm assuming that was profusion?

At any rate, they should all be the same size...my painkiller stuff fits in my old wild man black stuff
 
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The Profusion tubing and nosecones did have CF in them. Try one out with your tracker and see. But what is referenced in the Madcow link looks to be just black FG which was also sold by RW.

Hmmmmm, Curtis I'm told did the Profusion tubing and it has been stated they're simply supposed to be black colored FG. Would be nice to know. I've got a tracker nosecone for the Dominator 4 and if it's CF it will take a different tracking
arrangement or a different nosecone. Wildman is closer to me and if I had to, could drive up when he's around with my sustainer and check out tubing/couplers. Kurt
 
Hmmmmm, Curtis I'm told did the Profusion tubing and it has been stated they're simply supposed to be black colored FG. Would be nice to know. I've got a tracker nosecone for the Dominator 4 and if it's CF it will take a different tracking
arrangement or a different nosecone. Wildman is closer to me and if I had to, could drive up when he's around with my sustainer and check out tubing/couplers. Kurt

I ordered kits from one of the first waves of Profusion parts. A specific example is the nosecone for my RW Formula 98. I also was told it was black fiberglass and would have no effect. It wasn't. On launch day I had to flip my BRB around so the antenna was mounted out/below the nosecone bulkhead. Facing the other way there was significant signal attenuation.
 
I ordered kits from one of the first waves of Profusion parts. A specific example is the nosecone for my RW Formula 98. I also was told it was black fiberglass and would have no effect. It wasn't. On launch day I had to flip my BRB around so the antenna was mounted out/below the nosecone bulkhead. Facing the other way there was significant signal attenuation.

Sheeeeeooooot!, Not a good situation to be in with a DD rocket that's going to big air. Even with a small M the rocket is capable of close to 12k'. Aft facing wouldn't be of help because the main won't be out for some time. Kurt
 
Sheeeeeooooot!, Not a good situation to be in with a DD rocket that's going to big air. Even with a small M the rocket is capable of close to 12k'. Aft facing wouldn't be of help because the main won't be out for some time. Kurt

Well, that depends on if your airframe is Profusion. Mine wasn't. It was blue FG and the signal was fine after the rocket was buttoned up.
 
It was my understanding that profusion had graphite added to the resin. So not actually CF, but it probably has the same/similar effect on RF.
 
It was my understanding that profusion had graphite added to the resin. So not actually CF, but it probably has the same/similar effect on RF.

Actually, that is correct. Verified with RW years back after my NC anomaly.
 
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