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- Nov 5, 2016
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I've started working on a new build at 1/88th scale of the Space X Crew Dragon that flew Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 30, 2020. You can view the launch here.
The goals of this build are ambitious:
1: 1/88th Scale so BT-60 tubes can be used for the body
2: A working two stage rocket with the Crew Dragon as the second stage
3: Hidden fins for the second sage based on Tim's design at Apogee Rockets
4: Working landing fins based on Antsinafrica's design on Thiniverse.
5: No glue, so parts can be replace as needed.
I will also leverage Apogee Rockets' Falcon 9 Crew Dragon since it was scaled for BT-60 tubes.
The two stage ignition will work like my previous Falcon Heavy where a BT-50 tube carries the ejection charge to ignite the second stage motor in the Crew Dragon.
I plan to use the same rear ejection technique as I have used before. But I am planning to move the upper motor centering ring down to the level of the top of the landing legs where small magnets will hold them in place until the ejection charge ejects the motor tube assembly. Then the landing legs will be deployed into landing position using the tension of those tiny rubber bands used for dental braces.
Lastly, I plan to attach the recovery parachute line of the first stage to the top of the body (rather than out of the bottom) so the F9 lands "legs first" (before it tips over and explodes).
If this new design works out, I'll carry this forward to a Falcon Heavy II that integrates the new landing legs and hidden fins for the second stage.
The 3D printing will be done on a Prusa i3 MK3s 3D printer and all of the designs will be created using FreeCAD software.
Here is the first print of the landing legs section. I forgot to change the filament to white...
The goals of this build are ambitious:
1: 1/88th Scale so BT-60 tubes can be used for the body
2: A working two stage rocket with the Crew Dragon as the second stage
3: Hidden fins for the second sage based on Tim's design at Apogee Rockets
4: Working landing fins based on Antsinafrica's design on Thiniverse.
5: No glue, so parts can be replace as needed.
I will also leverage Apogee Rockets' Falcon 9 Crew Dragon since it was scaled for BT-60 tubes.
The two stage ignition will work like my previous Falcon Heavy where a BT-50 tube carries the ejection charge to ignite the second stage motor in the Crew Dragon.
I plan to use the same rear ejection technique as I have used before. But I am planning to move the upper motor centering ring down to the level of the top of the landing legs where small magnets will hold them in place until the ejection charge ejects the motor tube assembly. Then the landing legs will be deployed into landing position using the tension of those tiny rubber bands used for dental braces.
Lastly, I plan to attach the recovery parachute line of the first stage to the top of the body (rather than out of the bottom) so the F9 lands "legs first" (before it tips over and explodes).
If this new design works out, I'll carry this forward to a Falcon Heavy II that integrates the new landing legs and hidden fins for the second stage.
The 3D printing will be done on a Prusa i3 MK3s 3D printer and all of the designs will be created using FreeCAD software.
Here is the first print of the landing legs section. I forgot to change the filament to white...