Neil_W's half-baked design thread

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I'm rather partial to the Warp-core (with warp 9 propellant!), but that liberator intake looks cool!

Also......Is there any chance those three tubes may be cluster capable? Your life looks like it could use some complication lol
 
SquirrelWorks Liberator-like intake on the third. If anyone's still monitoring this thread I'm genuinely interested in opinions on these.

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FWIW, that 3rd design has a serious air trap. Pemberton had me redesign a model for him with an intake like that, and it had serious stability issues. It wasn't until I made it so the air traveled through it, that is stabilized.
 
I'm rather partial to the Warp-core (with warp 9 propellant!), but that liberator intake looks cool!

Yeah, those are my two favorites at the moment. The proportions on the other two aren't quite right, will need to fiddle with those further.

Also......Is there any chance those three tubes may be cluster capable? Your life looks like it could use some complication lol

A chance... yes. Although construction would be challenging, if outward appearances didn't change.

FWIW, that 3rd design has a serious air trap. Pemberton had me redesign a model for him with an intake like that, and it had serious stability issues. It wasn't until I made it so the air traveled through it, that is stabilized.

Interesting. There are *lots* of models out there with air traps (including the aforementioned Liberator) and I'm not aware of most of them having, uh, "exhaust ports".
 
I looked at that Liberator and thought, "maybe it has something to do with the positioning of said "air trap" Theirs is more toward the center of the rocket. Layne's was more to the rear

Layne's rocket.

20160713_183008.jpg

My version

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How many different tube sizes does that use?

and is there a record for Most Tube Sizes Used in A Single Rocket?
 
How many different tube sizes does that use?

In the recent batch there are four sizes: BT60, BT55, BT50, and BT5.

and is there a record for Most Tube Sizes Used in A Single Rocket?

I'm sure there is, and equally sure that it's more than 4. I got disabused of such notions when I imagined the record for most ping-pong balls in a rocket, and then I was shown this Shrox monstrosity. That whole thread is gold BTW.

So what is the record for most sizes in a single rocket? No idea. Might make a good topic for a new thread.
 
Another slight variation of the warp core. There are an infinite number of ways to do this, I feel like I'm barely scratching the surface.
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Another slight variation of the warp core. There are an infinite number of ways to do this, I feel like I'm barely scratching the surface.
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Interesting... I think I prefer the original style of short warp core though. 3 motors would be really cool... If it were me I'd do a core MMT and outboards- fly a single 24 for casual, or any number of other motors for the "real deal"...

I'm working (read: planning) on a Mercury Atlas with that in mind- mainly 18mm but I can fly it with 13mm outboards if I want. C6/2xA3 gives a fair approximation of the real "stage-and-a-half" burn. This was of course long before Dual Thrust motors...:wink:

Now I want a sci-fi rocket with outboards too. So many projects, so little time...
 
Hmmm, just looked and apparently it was never posted with a straight, short, ribbed warp core. Imagine the most recent one but the same core style as the PD1.

Make sense?
 
(Yet) another warp core variant:
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Back in the Avalon days (seems so very very long ago) I had actually thought of wrapping a warp core in helixes but didn't have a design to use it in. This seemed like an appropriate place to trot it out.
 

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I can't seem to put this design down. I'm fairly settled on most things other than the fin shape. Here's two alternatives; the second one makes it a closer sibling to Plasma Dart 1. Dunno which I like better at the moment.
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I could actually build this at some point. Really need some good ideas for decor.

Now I'm going to try to take this design in a slightly different direction.
 

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So I was futzing around with a new design, and loaded it into the new dev version of OR. Due to a known bug, it displayed all crazy in 3D mode... but I thought it looks kind of cool, probably better than my original design:
cool_bug.png

Gonna use this image as a starting point for a new design. Harkens back a bit to Nibiru-X, but still has its own look.
 
First pass:

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Not a bad start. Probably need to re-open this (and others) in the new version of OR once it's ironed out, so I can properly experiment with pod variations.
 

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Two things are becoming clear to me:
1) This thread has lost most of its juice. Possibly I have worn out my welcome with posting so many variants of the same designs. Should I keep going here? Change what I'm doing? Put this in a different subforum? For now I will soldier on.

2) I continue to be preoccupied with the Plasma Dart 2. I might even build it at some point. The cut tube work in the rear should be an interesting task.

Today I tried another warp core variant because it popped into my head and I realized I could do it in OR. It's shown above the red line in the following image:
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Despite all the fun I'm having with the warp core, though, I feel like I'm gravitating more towards the "scoop" version below the red line. The scoop seems like it integrates more nicely with the 3 "engine" tubes in back. I've gone to the clipped delta fins with this one instead of the forward-swept fins with strakes because I was starting to become uncomfortable with the similarity of this design to the Squirrel Works Liberator, a design I really like a lot but do not want to copy (even if inadvertently). I think the design above is sufficiently distinct so that it doesn't look like rip-off (opinions?)

I have little idea how to attack the decor on this one. Will have to fiddle.

BTW, I'm certainly not giving up on the warp core, just might use it elsewhere instead.
 

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I like this thread- it gives me all sorts of ideas for things I'll never build... Keep it coming!
 
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1) This is your thread. You can post whatever comes out of your head and somebody will find it interesting. If it feels burdensome at any point, give it a break. Then come back when the fit strikes you. (or after you've built a couple of them lol)

2) I continue to remain a staunch supporter of the long-core Plasma Dart 1. Reminds me of Voyager.
 
Exactly. Just do your thing Neil. We all follow this thread with interest.
 
I fixed the image above.

Thanks all for the encouragement, I apologize for asking for it. I'll keep going. I actually really enjoy posting to this thread, just like to take a step back on occasion and verify if anyone else is getting anything out of it.

2) I continue to remain a staunch supporter of the long-core Plasma Dart 1. Reminds me of Voyager.

I l like that one too, but from my standpoint it's basically finished (other than paint). PD2 is more interesting from a build standpoint I think.
 
Two things are becoming clear to me:
1) This thread has lost most of its juice. Possibly I have worn out my welcome with posting so many variants of the same designs. Should I keep going here? Change what I'm doing? Put this in a different subforum? For now I will soldier on.

The way I see it is, you are posting your morphing designs online, where I'll do the same thing, but in Autocad, until I get the end result I am looking for. At least you are gathering opinions and suggestions where I am not. You fuel their minds, we fuel yours. Nah, you're giving us something to think about and even inspiring others to build your designs. KUDOS!
 
one suggestion for how to make that warp core, look for sparkly/reflective gift wrapping paper, and glue that around a body tube. This is similar to some of the Estes kits like the Emerald Streak, heck you might even be able to use the payload body tube from that kit, it has a similar look to what you are toying with in your artwork.

https://www.estesrockets.com/002436-emerald-streaktm
 
one suggestion for how to make that warp core, look for sparkly/reflective gift wrapping paper, .....

I already tried that and came up with nothing worthy. Tried a few box dept stores, Hobby Lobby, Michael's,.....nothing really zinged me. If you know where to find something, how bout letting us in on it.
 
maybe after Thanksgiving more of a variety of wrapping paper will show up in the typical department stores, just look for the metallic wrapping papers, usually it comes in reds and greens, or golds and silvers, some with textures or patterns that might be suitable. The artwork just reminded me of the Emerald Streak:

002436_main_2_1.png
 
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