Looking for creative ideas

[LW Bercini]

Here is a scratch design I did around 1990. It hasn't flown in 30 years and I'd like to give it a bit of a facelift.

I have never been totally happy with the way it looks. Is it the boring paint job, or is there something about the actual design that is lackluster? Anybody have suggestions? How about you Neil_W?

 

[neil_w]

OK, since you asked, here are two immediate thoughts:

1. Good paint scheme saves almost any rocket, which is why there are so many beloved classic rockets that are just 3FNC or 4FNC. Also the hardest area for me, maybe second only to naming. So: yeah, that paint scheme is pretty boring, definitely room for improvement there. Also the easiest fix, once you come up with something better.
2. As they are implemented, those forward-swept strakes feel ungainly to me (are they supposed to be wings?) I might like them better if they interacted in a more interesting way with the canards, or if the leading edges were.... I dunno, somehow a bit different.

I don't have any instant answers to either one, would need to ponder. If you provide dimensions or better pictures I can enter it into OpenRocket and monkey around with it, which I am always up for.

Are you looking to physically modify that one or build a new one based on that design?

 

[mbeels]

Just a quick thought, what about connecting the two parts, like so:

 

[neil_w]

Just a quick thought, what about connecting the two parts, like so

That would be good in conjunction with increasing the leading and trailing sweep of the canards to match the angle of the strakes. Or maybe just the trailing sweep, that'll make the negative space between the fins a parallelogram. Nervous about bringing the CP too far forward in that plane with larger canards.

(sorry no quick mockup, will do it in OR later)

 

[LW Bercini]

Are you looking to physically modify that one or build a new one based on that design?

To physically modify this one

 

[GlenP]

looks like a good candidate for conversion to a gap stager.

 

[neil_w]

Starting point in OR. Pretty close I think.

I like it better now that I'm looking at it this way. The real one would probably look better under better lighting.

 

[neil_w]

Here it is with the strakes trimmed back to be parallel to the canards:


And then connect the strakes to the canards:

Another variation, I probably like this one best of all:


LW, what do you think of this general direction? Pretty straightforward modification so far. Still needs paint update.

 

[neil_w]

Quick bit of doodling on the paint scheme... trying to keep it simple, just adding to what's there.


More to come, but I'll wait for feedback.

Is it obvious that I enjoy this?

 

[mbeels]

I like that, the stripe is a nice addition. I think that a third contrasting or complementary color somewhere in there would help. I've sometimes used a site like this to try and find color combinations I like.

 

[neil_w]

Yes, a third color would be good, not sure where. For now I did the quickest thing I could think of which was to match the existing red.

 

[neil_w]

Tried blue and didn't like it. Dark grey?

Yes, I added antennae to the wings, and cut down the top and bottom canards. Last thing would be a decal on the vertical stabilizer.

 

[LW Bercini]

Tried blue and didn't like it. Dark grey?
View attachment 413492
Yes, I added antennae to the wings, and cut down the top and bottom canards. Last thing would be a decal on the vertical stabilizer.

The "stabilizer" is just a fin. It is a standard 4 fin configuration.

I agree it needs a third accent color. I have no problem with changing the colors completely. But I do like that stripe design,

Scaling back on the 2 stakes is a good idea too.

I am not fond of connecting the stakes to the canards.

How would it look with something added to the "simple" fins?

 

[neil_w]

You mean just remove the connection? I can show something tomorrow.

 

[58pan]

I have never been totally happy with the way it looks.

I have a feeling the different angles on the canards and strakes is why.

 

[jhartman009]

What about splitting a body tube and gluing the two half-tubes to the two rear fins. Cut the leading edge of the half-tubes to match the coward sweep of the fins. Eliminate one forward and rear fin from the same side as the half-tubes. The result would be reminiscent of an F-105 with canards.

 

[BABAR]

add a small canopy up front. Possibly wingtip pods or tanks

 

[BABAR]

looks like a good candidate for conversion to a gap stager.

Easily doable. The problem is that the rear end may be somewhat heavy and even though it would likely tumble would probably crack a Fin. Would need to rig some sort of streamer or chute for the booster section . could be done by adding a separate cluster motor pod that ejects its own chute but maybe more than worth it for this model

 

[K'Tesh]

I would suggest a white red, orange and yellow paint scheme... Something like rays originating from the body tube/fin joint, and going across the fins only.

 

[LW Bercini]

Thanks a lot, guys! I appreciate your input.

 

[Alan R]

Add a canopy to the nose cone and soften that sharp edge where red meets white.

 

[neil_w]

Here are some images to use as raw material if anyone else wants to play around in an image editor like Alan did above. I've removed the connection between the strakes and canards (although I have come to love the look and will probably go work on this design for myself). I also removed the stripes from the canards because they look weird without the connection. ORK files is also attached. K'Tesh, have at it.

 

[BABAR]

Add a tail number and maybe some insignia on the tail and wings. A few “no step” decals, a few lines to simulate rudders and aelerons

 

[BABAR]

Add a scoop to the bottom and call it “Shnarky”

 

[jqavins]

For the paint scheme, my notion would be to increase the red to white ratio, maybe change the white to silver, then add some black edging. That might be on the red to white/silver borders, fin edges, or something like that.

A canopy might be a good idea, maybe on the nose cone or even maybe aft of that, which creates some interest in the large space between the canards and the nose.

Finally, what about cutting one of the large fin's leading edge so that it sweeps back, at the same angle as the one forward. Come to think of it, maybe that doesn't go so well with the canopy; either one would be good, but in my head they don't look good together.