Quantum Tubing

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Arsenal78

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What can quantum tubing handle? I'm rebuilding a 3" Honest John and decided to try quantum tubing but it's a lot flimsier than I thought it would be. Debating on just eating the cost and ordering some LOC tubing. I flew my original rocket on H550's but I'm skeptical on the quantum tubing. Doesn't help that I also ordered a PML Mini BBX the other day that has quantum tubing.
 
As per the FAQ on PML's site:

"2. It is not intended for near-mach (transonic) or above-mach (supersonic) flights.
(See our online FAQ for information on mach and near-mach flying)"

I recall reading on their site, some years ago, to stay under Mach .8
 
I extended a PML Endeavour and every time I fly it on anything more than an Aerotech 38/600 reload it wobbles like a pool noodle! But it holds together. QT is tougher than people give it credit for.
 
It sure does paint nice and pretty! SAAHMOOOOTH!
Andrew
 
I flew my L1 and L2 (I205 and J425) with QT and they were both straight as an arrow. The L1 had a bit of a late deploy, and you can see a white "stress mark" where it wanted to zipper but couldn't. Flew it like that on the J425 and it had no problems. Good stuff except when it gets cold.
 
I've built one rocket out of Quantum tube and watched in horror as the ejection charge went off as the rocket left the rail. The fin can and nose cone survived.I
But I love the stuff and do hope to build more rockets out of Quantum Tube in the future. Finishes super easy.

Keep it away from acetone though, that isn't pretty.
 
As long as you're not flying mach, it will perform well. I've used it on a number of rockets over the years, as well as a lander I'm building right now, and never had any issues with it. Because of the anticipated stress on landing, I've added a section of coupler where the legs are bolted to the quantum tube. But I've never done that with any of my other normal builds using quantum tubing.

Flown up to J motors with it, with no issues whatsoever. Go ahead and build the Mini BBX.
 
If you want strong but lightweight tubes, try MAC Performance canvas phenolic.
Normally I would’ve done cardboard or phenolic but I’m a bit on a time crunch (launch at the end of the month) so I didn’t want to spend a lot of time filling and sanding the spirals
 
I think we deserve photos now
I don't think I got any photos.

Acetone...dissolves it, I guess would be a good term. I was using it to clean the fins prior to laying fillets. Where the acetone ran, it dissolved the QT. Luckily I caught it quick enough to wipe it off and keep the damage to a minimum; and the rocket finished great even with the streaks in it from the acetone. They should warn about such things though. I don't recall seeing anything about it in their site or in the instructions.

I know folks use acetone to smooth ABS printed parts and I've read QT is almost ABS, so guess maybe I shoulda knew better.
 
Normally I would’ve done cardboard or phenolic but I’m a bit on a time crunch (launch at the end of the month) so I didn’t want to spend a lot of time filling and sanding the spirals
MAC's phenolic is smooth like fiberglass. My one experience with it was not the best. Pinholes galore. But it's light and tough, and finishes easily. I'll build another MAC eventually, the pinholes didn't scare me away. My Ethos recently came down under an bundled main, 70 ft/s I think it was. No damage.
 
Filler primer and some spot putty are your friends when it comes to this.
MAC's phenolic is smooth like fiberglass. My one experience with it was not the best. Pinholes galore. But it's light and tough, and finishes easily. I'll build another MAC eventually, the pinholes didn't scare me away. My Ethos recently came down under an bundled main, 70 ft/s I think it was. No damage.
 
Filler primer and some spot putty are your friends when it comes to this.
Yep. I use filler primer. When I don't buy the wrong stuff that is, like I did not long ago. 4 coats and still see spirals...grrrr.

It wasn't until I laid my black base coat did I notice the pin holes, wasn't expecting them for sure, but they were pretty bad. I just had to do more coats, got it looking really, really good too. Really proud of it in fact.
 
Yep. I use filler primer. When I don't buy the wrong stuff that is, like I did not long ago. 4 coats and still see spirals...grrrr.

It wasn't until I laid my black base coat did I notice the pin holes, wasn't expecting them for sure, but they were pretty bad. I just had to do more coats, got it looking really, really good too. Really proud of it in fact.

I have noticed that the majority of the pinholes on the MAC Canvas are concentrated just after the vertical seam. Yeah, black, especially gloss, is my nemesis. This is one reason why I have moved toward matte black. It doesn't highlight the imperfections as much as gloss, plus I like the look, and it's more practical.
 
I have a few MAC birds but I’ve only painted one. I used automotive filler primer and had zero issues with pin holes. I have noticed though that it’s rather prone to cracking on hard landings. It’s quite light and strong in the vertical axis but it’s fairly brittle across axis. I’ll leave a photo of how well it can be finished if you use good paint. 56141226281__2AB92665-083D-45B0-A4E9-8AB7405922B8.jpg
 
I don't think I got any photos.

Acetone...dissolves it, I guess would be a good term. I was using it to clean the fins prior to laying fillets. Where the acetone ran, it dissolved the QT. Luckily I caught it quick enough to wipe it off and keep the damage to a minimum; and the rocket finished great even with the streaks in it from the acetone. They should warn about such things though. I don't recall seeing anything about it in their site or in the instructions.

I know folks use acetone to smooth ABS printed parts and I've read QT is almost ABS, so guess maybe I shoulda knew better.

The kits I’ve built had an extra paper slip about what chemicals to use and not use on the quantum tube.
 
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