I built a model rocket of the Martian Congressional Republic Navy's light torpedo from the Sci-Fi show "The Expanse".
It is 24.5" long, and has a 24mm engine mount, and weighs 5.15oz empty (6.78oz with a D12-5). Estimated launch height is about 640 feet on a D12-5 engine, and I plan to try out some Aerotech D10/D21 engines in it.
If the rocket flies well, my son has convinced me to build a second one for display purposes only.
I also have a United Nations heavy torpedo on the drawing board (Rocksim) and hope to do a Belter torpedo also.
I altered the original design and added 65lb cardstock exterior raised "panels" to the design to add more detail.
One potential glitch is that due to the limited clearance between rear body tube (BT-80) and inner main body tube (BT-70), there was only room for a internal 1/8" launch lug. Redesigning the rear to allow a 3/16" lug would have required using a larger and much heavier-walled piece of body tube. I won't know how it works until spring, when I can fly the rocket.
The hardest part of the build was the decals. I had planned to print them out on white backed decal paper, and then use some of the spraypaint from the can (decanted and applied with a brush), but it was pretty difficult to blend the metallic paint, and I am not at all happy with the results.
Another problem was that even while using white backed decal paper, the metallic basecoat showed through the white portion of the decals, requiring me to handpaint white on the white areas of the "Navy" and "CR" decals.
I will be building a UN torpedo, and plan to have vinyl stickers made for it and a second MCRN torpedo (if it flies well enough).
Internal 1/8" launch lug in the rear of the body tube:
Rear view of the rocket, showing the internal launch lug. There is a standard launch lug on the front of the rocket as well. I also used a removeable Kevlar shock-cord and a 24" parachute.
Original images (screenshots) from the show:
It is 24.5" long, and has a 24mm engine mount, and weighs 5.15oz empty (6.78oz with a D12-5). Estimated launch height is about 640 feet on a D12-5 engine, and I plan to try out some Aerotech D10/D21 engines in it.
If the rocket flies well, my son has convinced me to build a second one for display purposes only.
I also have a United Nations heavy torpedo on the drawing board (Rocksim) and hope to do a Belter torpedo also.
I altered the original design and added 65lb cardstock exterior raised "panels" to the design to add more detail.
One potential glitch is that due to the limited clearance between rear body tube (BT-80) and inner main body tube (BT-70), there was only room for a internal 1/8" launch lug. Redesigning the rear to allow a 3/16" lug would have required using a larger and much heavier-walled piece of body tube. I won't know how it works until spring, when I can fly the rocket.
The hardest part of the build was the decals. I had planned to print them out on white backed decal paper, and then use some of the spraypaint from the can (decanted and applied with a brush), but it was pretty difficult to blend the metallic paint, and I am not at all happy with the results.
Another problem was that even while using white backed decal paper, the metallic basecoat showed through the white portion of the decals, requiring me to handpaint white on the white areas of the "Navy" and "CR" decals.
I will be building a UN torpedo, and plan to have vinyl stickers made for it and a second MCRN torpedo (if it flies well enough).
Internal 1/8" launch lug in the rear of the body tube:
Rear view of the rocket, showing the internal launch lug. There is a standard launch lug on the front of the rocket as well. I also used a removeable Kevlar shock-cord and a 24" parachute.
Original images (screenshots) from the show:
