What did you do rocket wise today?

[jlabrasca]

This morning I cut out fins from a template for a Cherokee D clone. I’m planning on building the 18” version with the plastic nose

Diameter?

If its the original BT55 version Semroc sells the kit.

BT-55

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.
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Is this thing on?

 

[rharshberger]

I’ve seen the kit online but I have enough stuff in my work area to build one though I wish I had the decals to do it right.

My kids and I just usually scratch build most of our rockets...we have plenty of kits from our early days...but we like to look up plans and try and clone them with what we have.

It’s all fun!

IIRC Semroc sells the decals separately.

 

[SeanW78]

Super Big Bertha

• SeanW78
• Jan 16, 2020

Received this beauty. Should be a fun build.

 

[Doug Holverson]

I started building a couple Mini-Dactyl clones.

 

[@modelrocketguy]

L3 Cert?

Yes sir!

 

[bibbster]

Works well as a gloss clear coat. Formerly called Future (among many, many other names).

I'll second that! Its self leveling and provides a tough finish. I use it exclusively on my slot car builds.

 

[Wm Reid]

This morning, my junior engineer helped me glue on the fins of our clone Cherokee D. Benjamin is 4 & loves to help me ‘put the glue on’. (The photo shows the beginning of the fillet process.)

More to follow

Reid

 

[RocketT.Coyote]

Wiped drool from muzzle after viewing Boyce Aerospace Catalog.

 

[Wm Reid]

IIRC Semroc sells the decals separately.

Brilliant, thanks [emoji1360]

 

[prfesser]

Laid out 8 bulkheads/centering rings, to be Dremel-cut this afternoon if it'll warm up just a bit. When I can't find my compass or trammel points, I just trace around the end of the tube, then find the center and drill.

I expect most of you know this dodge for finding the center of a circle, but just in case: Take the corner of a sheet of paper, or any other right-angled item with a sharp point. Place the point on the circle. Mark where the sides cross the circle. The line connecting those two intersections is a diameter.

Now just do it again at a very different angle. The diameters cross at the center.

 

[jqavins]

View attachment 403811

That's a really funny lookin' nose cone!

 

[mbeels]

That's a really funny lookin' nose cone!

I bet it's got a great margin of stability

 

[Wm Reid]

That's a really funny lookin' nose cone!



[emoji23][emoji23]

 

[bibbster]

My daughter and I worked on this project. Not sure what we are calling it yet, but if it doesn't fly it will at least make a cool lamp! Lol

 

[Joshua Westbrook]

My daughter and I worked on this project. Not sure what we are calling it yet, but if it doesn't fly it will at least make a cool lamp! Lol

Eggscaliber!! Nicely done!

 

[GalantVR41062]

I worked on some final touches on the MC Torrent built light, less then 42oz w/o motor. I also got 2 coats of primer on the nose cone and drilled the 3 holes for push pins to hold the nose cone on the payload tube.

~John

 

[bibbster]

Eggscaliber!! Nicely done!

Thanks! We hope to get the launch lug and lights installed this weekend.

 

[jqavins]

That's an egg with a very large caliber.

 

[NAR29996]

Sitting in a chair at the field watching rockets fly. Flown a few myself

 

[Tobor]

I joined Tripoli today.

 

[JCRL]

Received my 1:3 scale CSXT GoFast kit today #9 out of 100. Thanks @Buddy Michaelson

CSXT was my inspiration for getting into rocketry and I'm just so happy to own a piece of civilian spaceflight history.

 

[John Taylor]

I joined Tripoli today.

Good job!

 

[Tobor]

Good job!

Thx. I think reading "Large and Dangerous Rocket Ships" was the final motivator to add my support.

 

[Bill Hanson]

Managed to destroy my Featherweight Magnetic Switch.

Had just got my avionics sled all wired up, waved the magnet over it to test. Turned on as advertised.

Waved the magnet (their big one) over the sled to turn it off, and the sled jumped up to the magnet, which (of course) stuck straight across the power terminals. LED went “pop” and smoke rose from the switch. Toasted. Thank goodness my RRC3 seems to have survived.

Think I’m going to dip the magnet in acrylic to prevent this in the future. Maiden flight of my MD 38mm is on hold — but Featherweight has already shipped me a new switch. Thanks for quick response!

 

[Wm Reid]

Look what came today! My beautiful (and tolerant) wife is Canadian...I’m getting this one into my build queue for this spring!

I also spent a little time on the Cherokee D project...the motor mount is built and installed. I need to order the decals for it and then wait for decent weather to do a little paint work [emoji1360]

 

[Nytrunner]

Enjoying the old techniques from the Pro Series Patriot.
-Laminated centering rings
-Aluminum flash protector for the aft end
-Not enjoying the warped old die cut wood. Makes laminating them together a challenge

 

[Flyfalcons]

Thought I had my video editor issues licked, so I spent seven hours editing launch footage. Then the program wouldn't save the file as a movie. Oy vey..........

 

[jeffjblack]

Video from yesterday.

It's the 1st 2020 public launch for Southern Arizona Rocketry Association. I just built a new rocket with 3D printed parts. This rocket flies fine. But, gripping drama as the 2nd flight suffers a CATO or catastrophe at take off.



#ModelRocketry #SARA #CATO

 

[hprocketeer]

Excellent editing and detail of CATO in progress. 2 thumbs up. But sorry for the loss and damage to body and recovery system.
I am sure the mess form has been filed.

 

[Hooked On Rockets]

I ordered 2 sets of HoJo printed fins for my newly acquired Estes kits.....
I laid all the balsa fins out, 5 pieces per fin, then researched here on TRF for sanding/shaping techniques....there are MANY awesome ways to do it!!
But it looks like from the postings, it took about 1 hour-ish for each fin just for the sanding/shaping.....plus the glue up for each fin.....plus the learning curve for working with this shape for the first time.....and then, when you're done, you have fragile balsa fins, so then you "super saturate" with CA...materials cost....
So..I did the math,...8 fins-8 hours-my pay rate = $360.00
VS. 2 sets of PETG printed fins with a fiberglass core for $24.00 shipped...from a fellow TRFer.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Estes-Hone...487465?hash=item23cf0b6b69:g:GucAAOSwqtRd1c1m

Hard to ague with that math!!!

Edit,

Forgot to mention, I finally bought some wood glue (Titebond II) for the first time in my life for rockets...
and may try assembling a rocket with no epoxy, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE!!!