An "R"-powered rocket build

[Rail Dawg]

Chuck,
I just want to remind you that you should be communicating with the Tripoli C3RC pretty soon if you hope to see this fly at BALLS this year. It’ll require a review by the C3RC and the Tripoli BoD before being sent to FAA and Western Area FAA is backed up terribly the last I heard.

Thanks for the heads-up Steve! In fact I was working on it today... just nailing down the motor numbers and we should be good to go.

I did contact the C3RC a few weeks ago and gave them some preliminary stats on the rocket. Also contacted Tripoli Gerlach.

I'll push a little harder tomorrow and get the application into the committee this week.

Again... thanks!

Chuck C.

 

[Steve Shannon]

Thanks for the heads-up Steve! In fact I was working on it today... just nailing down the motor numbers and we should be good to go.

I did contact the C3RC a few weeks ago and gave them some preliminary stats on the rocket. Also contacted Tripoli Gerlach.

I'll push a little harder tomorrow and get the application into the committee this week.

Again... thanks!

Chuck C.

You’re good for time right now; I just wanted to remind you.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Chuck,

You should, also, start acquiring your new wardrobe . . .

Dave F.

 

[noah_carter13]

I see that the fin can is made out of aluminum. What are the fins themselves made out of? And what airfoil do you plan on using? Also what speed and/or altitude are you optimizing for (where will you spend the most time in flight but what is your projected apogee and max speed?)

 

[Rail Dawg]

I see that the fin can is made out of aluminum. What are the fins themselves made out of? And what airfoil do you plan on using? Also what speed and/or altitude are you optimizing for (where will you spend the most time in flight but what is your projected apogee and max speed?)

Hi Noah good questions.

The entire fin can is made of aluminum. The fins are based on the Nike Smoke. There's a 23" limitation on the root chord so the Nike Smoke design provides the best mach airfoil.

Optimizing for Max Q. Mach 2.1 - 2.5 projected altitude 40k give or take depending on final motor design.

Chuck C.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Airframes and couplers will be here in a few days.

Building a G-12 rocket ain’t cheap!

But I sure like the material. It’s some pretty tough stuff. I plan to use the methods in the bonding composites thread that’s a sticky at the top of the HPR forum.

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Chuck,

You might want to take a look at this item, for the "S" motor and beyond . . .

https://aeroconsystems.com/cart/specials/special-1-nosecone-and-boattail/

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Chuck,

You might want to take a look at this item, for the "S" motor and beyond . . .

https://aeroconsystems.com/cart/specials/special-1-nosecone-and-boattail/

Dave F.


View attachment 376311

That's pretty cool looking. We need 16" with a shoulder... I like the G-12 fiberglass type of nosecone.

The one for the current rocket is 5:1 ogive filament-wound (G12).

Thanks for looking into things though Dave. It's appreciated. I look at everything sent!

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Chuck,

You're very welcome . . . Just thought I'd pass it along.

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

FedEx brought me two big heavy boxes today.

Wonder what they might contain lol?

Chuck C.

 

[boatgeek]

Funny coincidence--FedEx just dropped of a package with a 1.4 label here. Nothing this scale, though! I hope the bite out of the box isn't important.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Funny coincidence--FedEx just dropped of a package with a 1.4 label here. Nothing this scale, though! I hope the bite out of the box isn't important.

I saw that bite but heck this is G-12. It's all good!

Cool you got your 1.4

My favorite number!

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

I saw that bite but heck this is G-12. It's all good!

Chuck C.

Chuck,

Hope all is safe in that box !

G-12 vs. Forklift . . . G-12 loses, Forklift wins.

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

 

[Ez2cDave]

Chuck,

Shiver me timbers . . .

Nice to see that components "ARR" arriving now . . . Soon, the build begins, Matey !

Dave F.

 

[levi seaton]

View attachment 376420

What wall thickness is the tube?

 

[Theory]

View attachment 376420

GAME TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Wallace]

Wall thickness/weights/dimensions when you have time please....

 

[Rail Dawg]

Heading off to fly for a few days guys but when I get home I'll do the measurements and weights.

During the build I'll post pics and of course will encourage lots of questions/suggestions!

Chuck C.

 

[Bat-mite]

Wow! When I bought my Formula 200, I thought it was the biggest rocket I would ever want. Now it seems tiny to me.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Heading off to fly for a few days guys but when I get home I'll do the measurements and weights.

During the build I'll post pics and of course will encourage lots of questions/suggestions!

Chuck C.

Chuck,

Looking forward to the build . . . and TONS of PICS !

During your absence, I suggest that all members of the Support Team ( aka "Steely-Eyed Missile Men" ) direct their efforts to the area of Recovery System development.

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Wow! When I bought my Formula 200, I thought it was the biggest rocket I would ever want. Now it seems tiny to me.

Hey I’ve been there too!

And this is only HALF the rocket lol.

Going to be fun!

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Hey I’ve been there too!

And this is only HALF the rocket lol.

Going to be fun!

Chuck C.

Chuck,

When does the "pointy end" arrive ?

Looking forward to seeing the Fin Can, too !

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Nosecone here shortly.

Fin can is going to be very cool. Big hunk of metal that’s for sure.

Actually good to have that weight on the tail. With such a long motor it’s needed.

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Nosecone here shortly.

Fin can is going to be very cool. Big hunk of metal that’s for sure.

Actually good to have that weight on the tail. With such a long motor it’s needed.

Chuck C.

Chuck,

What's the ETA on the Nose Cone and the Fin Can ?

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Nose cone within a week at most?

Fin can maybe 1-2 months max.

I did put in an order for 16” G-12 airframes/couplers and a 16” fin can lol.

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Nose cone within a week at most?

Fin can maybe 1-2 months max.

I did put in an order for 16” G-12 airframes/couplers and a 16” fin can lol.

Chuck C.

Chuck,

Be careful not to "finalize" that 16" Fin Can for the "S" motor, yet . . . Probably higher velocities & Fin design will need to be re-evaluated !

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

I hear you Dave. Lots of thought needs to go into it.

Chuck C.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Would like to give a quick shout-out to AMW/Pro-X.

https://www.amwprox.com/

Robert and Gloria Dehate have helped tremendously in getting the various parts needed for this big project. I highly recommend them for anything you might need rocket.

Thanks.

Chuck C.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Starting this week I’m going to wipe down the G-12 tubing inside and out with lacquer thinner. Every bit of the “release” and other contaminants need to be completely removed before sanding with 220 grit aluminum-oxide sandpaper. This is to prep the G-12 to best accept the U.S. Composites thin epoxy on the interior and primer/paint on the outside. For the stringers I’ll be using the Pro-Set epoxy but will discuss this once I get to that point on the build.

Another thing that needs to be done is removing a very thin layer on the OD of the centering rings. I ordered them just slightly too large. Haven’t measured exactly how much needs to be removed but it’s minor.

I’ve got a belt sander to do this work so it should go quickly.

After cleaning and sanding the G-12 I’ll start building the “coupler assemblies” which are the internal strength of the rocket. I’ll post pics once I get started so you can see what I’m talking about.

As always I’m on this forum to share the build and to listen to your ideas/suggestions. Sometimes you guys come up with a way of doing something that is faster and/or more accurate.

Thanks.

Chuck C.