New scratch build, X-Plane SST

[sodmeister]

That looks great Jim ,you always aim to please with your fine builds....Bravo on another beauty !!

You know what my friend ,I personally would not worry too much about the canopy decal ,and just burnish it down as well as you can and call it finished.

You risk making things worse and then may end up regretting it in a huge way.

I think it looks just fine.....I myself would be very pleased with that rocket you made, and damn proud to call it mine !!!!!

Take care and be proud of another masterful job.

Sincerely yours

Paul T

 

[thobin]

Sweet.


TA

 

[qquake2k]

That looks great Jim ,you always aim to please with your fine builds....Bravo on another beauty !!

You know what my friend ,I personally would not worry too much about the canopy decal ,and just burnish it down as well as you can and call it finished.

You risk making things worse and then may end up regretting it in a huge way.

I think it looks just fine.....I myself would be very pleased with that rocket you made, and damn proud to call it mine !!!!!

Take care and be proud of another masterful job.

Sincerely yours

Paul T

Wow, I got the Sodmeister seal of approval. I'm leaving it!

 

[cwbullet]

I've never liked the "backing plates" (or whatever you call them) that come with u-bolts. I prefer a larger footprint. So I make my own from 1/8" x 1-1/4" aluminum bar.

I really like the back plates you have made. I am going to have to try my hand at making them.

 

[Spooks]

Wow, I got the Sodmeister seal of approval. I'm leaving it!

Great move...I would!!

 

[EeebeeE]

For a stationary sander I use a vibrating sander, turned upside down and clamped into my vise. Wish I had a lathe. I do have the drill press as well as a smaller dremmel version, which can be turned sideways. Another important piece I have which is relatively inexpensive is a decent miter saw, which I have bolted down.

This is my personal rocketry lair.

 

[qquake2k]

I really like the back plates you have made. I am going to have to try my hand at making them.

They're real easy to make. All you need is a drill, a bit, and a hacksaw. I usually drill the holes slightly oversize, so the u-bolt doesn't bind.

 

[qquake2k]

For a stationary sander I use a vibrating sander, turned upside down and clamped into my vise. Wish I had a lathe. I do have the drill press as well as a smaller dremmel version, which can be turned sideways. Another important piece I have which is relatively inexpensive is a decent miter saw, which I have bolted down.

This is my personal rocketry lair.

Nice looking shop! You know, I sized the fiberglass bulkheads for my Milestone by putting them in a drill and holding them against a stationary belt sander. I bet you could do the same thing with plywood bulkheads or rings by holding them against your vibrating sander.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?44764-Mile-High-build-thread&p=427263#post427263

 

[cwbullet]

I agree nice work shop. I am not happy working in my living and dining room.

How do you get the edges of the backplates so smooth?

 

[qquake2k]

I agree nice work shop. I am not happy working in my living and dining room.

How do you get the edges of the backplates so smooth?

I sand the edges of the backplates with my stationary belt/disc sander.

 

[qquake2k]

I got some work done on the electronics. I bought these 1" long spacers from OSH, and cut them into 1/4" pieces to use as standoffs for the altimeters.

 

[qquake2k]

I had to mount the battery holders crosswise, so I could get zip ties underneath them.

 

[qquake2k]

You know me, I'm always redoing things. I realized that I didn't have room on the sled to mount the switches. So I made a longer sled.

 

[qquake2k]

These are the switches I'll be using. I'll be mounting them to the front and back of the sled with some brackets I'll make, and will reach through the vent holes with a screwdriver to turn them on and off. I'm not mounting the switches in the ventband of the av-bay, because my plan is to use this same sled in Bluto. I also got the terminal blocks mounted to the av-bay bulkheads.

 

[qquake2k]

I used 1/16" x 1-1/2" aluminum for the switch brackets. I would have used narrower stock, but that's all I could find in 1/16" thick.

 

[qquake2k]

Looking good.

 

[qquake2k]

I can't believe how well the brackets turned out.

 

[qquake2k]

I got the battery holders remounted. I was able to mount them parallel to the sled this time.

 

[qquake2k]

I got the altimeters remounted. Getting that last standoff in there was a bear!

 

[Sailorbill]

I had to mount the battery holders crosswise, so I could get zip ties underneath them.

I just drill holes through the sled to pass my zip ties through. This not only hold the battery and holders together but holds the whole package to the sled. I put one zip tie long ways and one cross ways. That way nothing moves that is not supposed to.

 

[bill2654]

I always learn new tricks with your build threads. Won't all your wires be right up against the bulkhead with your terminals at the end like that?

 

[Spooks]

I wish I had half the talent AND tools you have Jim!!

 

[Quaranta]

Looking great. I'm really looking forward to flight pics!

 

[qquake2k]

I just drill holes through the sled to pass my zip ties through. This not only hold the battery and holders together but holds the whole package to the sled. I put one zip tie long ways and one cross ways. That way nothing moves that is not supposed to.

Now that's a good idea!

 

[qquake2k]

I always learn new tricks with your build threads. Won't all your wires be right up against the bulkhead with your terminals at the end like that?

I'm not quite sure what you mean, Bill. There will be small spaces between the ends of the sled and the bulkheads, certainly enough room to pass wires. And what new tricks can I possibly teach you?

 

[qquake2k]

I wish I had half the talent AND tools you have Jim!!

I don't know about talent, but I am blessed with some nice tools.

Looking great. I'm really looking forward to flight pics!

I am too. I can't wait to fly this bad boy!

 

[qquake2k]

Got the altimeter wiring done.

 

[qquake2k]

I decided to mount some LED's on the switch brackets, hoping that I'll be able to see them through the vent holes. The LED's are 5mm that I got off Ebay some time ago. I drilled holes in the brackets with a #9 drill bit, which turned out to be perfect.

 

[qquake2k]

I'll put some silicone sealer on the backs of the LED's to hold them in place. As soon as I get the vent holes drilled, I'll see if this was even worth my efforts.

 

[Hogan3276]

This build has been a lot of fun to watch! The small details you add are outstanding!

I look forward to seeing the final build and flight pics...

Todd