What did you do rocket wise today?

[Doug Holverson]

I started a resin print of my recreation of the Roc-a-Chute Mark II nose. I'm going to start another big test print of an Aero-Pad leg after supper.

BTW, how do you handle resin fluid inside a PNC? I'm thinking about adding a drain hole in the tip and a vent hole in side of the tenon.

OT: I'm going to be interviewed by Zinc Comics at 8 CDT tonight. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwa3sBS4O9lJsD69e4PV4KQ

 

[Mugs914]

Finished this up. Gonna let the decals dry for a bit then flat clear coat. A bit of weathering after that perhaps...

 

[Nytrunner]

My most successful weathering technique involve flying the rocket a couple times

 

[Cl(VII)]

In addition to fill a bunch of orders (thanks guys) I got the sacrificial paint on the Falcon 75 a step closer to done.

 

[Joshua Westbrook]

I finished assembling the sr71 and finally got my temporary launch pad assembled for my mid power rockets. I also managed my first g launch of my initiator.

 

[rharshberger]

Just finished up measuring and making a OR file for a built TLP Nike Ajax kit I borrowed in hopes of eventually cloning it.

 

[Nytrunner]

Painting in the last but of favorable weather before rain descends on rocket city. May be just me, but this looks kinda funny

*edit: incidentally, there is now a very angry spider on my deck. Probably has something to do with being spray painted half red

 

[les]

Made a guide and glued the strakes/fins on

 

[Mugs914]

Glued the strakes/fins on what? That is really cool looking...

 

[kuririn]

Glued the strakes/fins on what? That is really cool looking...

Maybe Semroc Hydra 7?

 

[neil_w]

Made a guide and glued the strakes/fins on

What's the process for cutting or sanding down the nose cones to fit like that?

 

[kuririn]

What's the process for cutting or sanding down the nose cones to fit like that?

Split nose cones in half.
Wrap sandpaper around body tube and sand sand sand.
Stop, check fit of shoulder in booster tube.
Sand
Fit
Sand
Fit
Sand
Fit
Done.
Do that five more times.
Same technique as the old Estes Saturnian:
https://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/eirp_39.htm

 

[neil_w]

Thanks. I like that design, hadn't seen it before.

 

[Mugs914]

Maybe a few (dozen) more "sand fits"...

 

[NAR29996]

Put the first color coat on my 4" PML AMRAAM. This will be my level 2 rocket, if I can ever finish it.

Sorry about the sideways photo.

 

[Nytrunner]

Put the first color coat on my 4" PML AMRAAM. This will be my level 2 rocket, if I can ever finish it

Ah! The tape stairsteps on the fins! I know them well.....

Good luck!

 

[PatD]

I worked at a Tribal College for 19 years as an IT guy and also taught Astronomy from time to time. I retired the end of this past June. Two years ago the College was invited to participate in the the First Nations Launch Competition. So I became an advisor the the student team. We took 3rd place that year but didn't do so well last year. The FNL is sponsored by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium which is funded by NASA to promote STEM education. WSGC also sponsors a college (non-Tribal) competition. So if there is a college in your area you might be able to help out their rocket team.

https://spacegrant.carthage.edu/

I also think that just about every state has something like this.

Interesting coincidence. I was at the BSRA (Big Sky Rocketry Assn) launch yesterday and the advisor and team were down from Lame Deer Tribal College to do some filming to promote rocketry in their community and test fly their scratch built rocket on an M. They have been involved with the First Nations Launch Competition. The flight was nominal with good recovery. I launched a saucer to show them base drag stabilization which they found interesting but odd. Long drive for them, but I think they enjoyed the launch.

 

[John Taylor]

Finished my LOC High-Tech.

 

[Mugs914]

Picked this up at Hobby Lobby yesterday. It must be the HL exclusive version of the Sterling Silver. All of the part numbers are the same for the two kits, only the instruction sheet and face card differ.

If you haven't seen either one, they are 18mm minimum diameter two stagers. Would be easy to lose on C6s! Streamer recovery may help a bit...

Cool looking rocket for a TFNC, I think. Or is it a SFNC?

 

[Billys2001]

My five year old daughter wanted to know what I was doing on the computer so I showed her Open Rocket. We built a small LPR design with some very unique free form fins. I think I'm going to have to build it now.

 

[Nytrunner]

A T3 and stratologger fit snug in the PVC threaded coupler at the base of this 4" nose cone. Just need front stop blocks for the batteries, a switch for the altimeter, and zip ties to keep everything in place.

No drilling delays on the Hot Bird.

 

[John Taylor]

My five year old daughter wanted to know what I was doing on the computer so I showed her Open Rocket. We built a small LPR design with some very unique free form fins. I think I'm going to have to build it now.

Future high power flyer!

 

[Doug Holverson]

I accidentally spilled and wasted a bit of expensive resin despite trying not to in my Roc-A-Chute PNC. I'n going to try putting a vent hole in the tenon of today's print and see if it drains when it prints.

I also made another aborted test print of an Aero-Pad leg. It had horrific layer shifting that oddly seems to be specific to this part. I'm going to try again with a lower bed speed today.

 

[Doug Holverson]

Update: both test prints have been started.

 

[Doug Holverson]

Another update: the white, blue, and orange resin has been delivered. I will change out colors after the current print is done.

 

[Doug Holverson]

The PNC with the vent hole retained less resin then the previous print. I'm going to see how well this works as I work up into reproducing Centuri PNC-8s and above.

The Aero-Pad leg is only 33% into a print. It's still too early to tell if it's going to come out OK.

 

[neil_w]

The PNC with the vent hole retained less resin then the previous print. I'm going to see how well this works as I work up into reproducing Centuri PNC-8s and above.

The Aero-Pad leg is only 33% into a print. It's still too early to tell if it's going to come out OK.

Doug,
A humble request, if I may:


Pictures please!!!

 

[jqavins]

May be just me, but this looks kinda funny

No, it's not just you.

The PNC with the vent hole retained less resin then the previous print. I'm going to see how well this works as I work up into reproducing Centuri PNC-8s and above.

What about printing it as a two piece? The cone and the base would each be printed with the closed side up and a gaping hole beneath.

Anyway, on Sunday I changed out the power supply in my dead computer for a spare I found in the garage, and now it's alive. (It's Alive!) Good thing, 'cause if that didn't work there was basically no hope; it's so old that if it had been the motherboard I would have had to replace the processor, RAM, and video card along with, and I haven't the budget for that. Anyway, the first thing I did yesterday was a RockSim design for another funky concept. Still no internet at home, so I'll have to remember to put pics on a thumb drive and bring them here to work.

 

[Nytrunner]

Guess I just need to knock down any paint dams leftover and try a clear coat to stick the decals in place for all time

 

[mbeels]

Guess I just need to knock down any paint dams leftover and try a clear coat to stick the decals in place for all time

I like it, that paint job came out great. Did you mask all the colors on the fins, or are those decals?