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- May 29, 2009
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Finished up the basic build on two scratch built scale sounding rockets today. As a lover of all things classic sounding rockets, especially the Astrobee D, many of what I build are sport scale models of various sounding rockets. I am currently working on slowly building a 2/3 scale Astrobee D custom kitted for me by MAC Performance, as well as recently completed a Aerotech Astrobee D. While looking at those two rockets, I decided I needed a smaller one, so I drew up a roughly 1/6 scale version. At 1/6 scale, the airframe should be 1" diameter, and from looking at the offerings from Balsa Machining, the Centuri ST-10 tube is a near perfect fit, and 1.04" diameter. The nosecone was picked up from Semroc at eRockets, and a 18mm motor mount came from them as well. Fins are cut from 3/32 balsa.
Now, I mentioned 2 scratch builds... While getting the measurements for the Astrobee D from Rockets of the World, I saw the Sandia Tomahawk. I currently have 3 versions of the Sandia Sandhawk built and waiting for their maiden flights, all from LOC: the 1.5" parkflyer, 3", and the 5.5", which is my L3 project. I figured the Sandia Tomahawk would be a good project for a similar scale to the small astrobee. BT60 tubing gives a roughly 1/6 scale. Nosecone was purchased from Rocketarium, as well as the 24mm motor mount, and the fins were cut from 1/8 balsa.
I am now waiting on warmer (and dry) weather to paint these two.
Now, I mentioned 2 scratch builds... While getting the measurements for the Astrobee D from Rockets of the World, I saw the Sandia Tomahawk. I currently have 3 versions of the Sandia Sandhawk built and waiting for their maiden flights, all from LOC: the 1.5" parkflyer, 3", and the 5.5", which is my L3 project. I figured the Sandia Tomahawk would be a good project for a similar scale to the small astrobee. BT60 tubing gives a roughly 1/6 scale. Nosecone was purchased from Rocketarium, as well as the 24mm motor mount, and the fins were cut from 1/8 balsa.
I am now waiting on warmer (and dry) weather to paint these two.