Tube from the trash.

[Willie]

I found a tube the in the trash last week and set it aside...

Yesterday, I glued some balsa together...

Tonight I turned that balsa into a nose cone. It was harder than I thought to keep it perfectly symmetrical, but at least it looks like a nose cone.

Next, how to make a homemade motor mount?

Then, design a fin that keeps the CP below the CG.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

Uh oh. Looks like you're hooked. Be very careful. Soon you may find stray tubes following you home. It starts off with just one. Then more and more accumulate. Quickly, all the closets and spare storage spaces are filled with "orphan" tubes needing a good launch. You've been warned!

 

[CRC]

suscribed, keep us updated

 

[jlnel]

THIS is what I'M afraid of. My girlfriend is really into gift wrapping and offers to do it for her friends and co workers... I think I'll need a storage unit! :y:

Uh oh. Looks like you're hooked. Be very careful. Soon you may find stray tubes following you home. It starts off with just one. Then more and more accumulate. Quickly, all the closets and spare storage spaces are filled with "orphan" tubes needing a good launch. You've been warned!

 

[PhlAsh]

My coworkers bring me all manner of Plotter Paper cores. 2 of the 3.25"x18" tubes coupled make a perfect 2x BT-60. I've got 8 of 'em already conjoined into 4 - guess what I'm making...

 

[Kirk G]

My coworkers bring me all manner of Plotter Paper cores. 2 of the 3.25"x18" tubes coupled make a perfect 2x BT-60. I've got 8 of 'em already conjoined into 4 - guess what I'm making...

A blender?

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

My coworkers bring me all manner of Plotter Paper cores. 2 of the 3.25"x18" tubes coupled make a perfect 2x BT-60. I've got 8 of 'em already conjoined into 4 - guess what I'm making...

A blender?

A Leaning Tower of Pisa scale model?

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

My coworkers bring me all manner of Plotter Paper cores. 2 of the 3.25"x18" tubes coupled make a perfect 2x BT-60. I've got 8 of 'em already conjoined into 4 - guess what I'm making...

A didgeridoo?

 

[JStarStar]

You can cut centering rings out of cardstock using a regular drafting compass with an Xacto knife locked in place of the pencil/stylus. (Turn the blade in the direction of the stylus.)

Cut the pattern just outside the line -- leave yourself a mm or so of margin --- then use sandpaper/a nail file to sand it down to the precise size.

It takes a few practice runs to get it right, but eventually it's not tremendously hard.

 

[dward]

To keep up with trash theme, why not use empty cereal boxes for your card stock. You can doubleply them for added stability.

 

[Willie]

I'll attempt the compass on a cereal box tonight, and post the results.

My wife may not be thrilled with yet another rocket, but at least at this rate, it won't cost much.

Now, for a name for this trash can creation.

 

[wetmelon]

This image https://www.nakka-rocketry.net/pix/finplan.gif from https://www.nakka-rocketry.net/fins.html is a pretty easy standard size fin that has more area than is /actually/ needed in most cases that I've found.

 

[Willie]

I took moment to complete a layout on OpenRocket.



I think it looks good.

 

[Willie]

I made up some CR from the recommended cereal box, and assembled the motor mount. It is now drying.

While the glue was drying, I cut some 1/8 bass wood for the fins. They are way too thick and heavy. Should I go with 1/16 balsa, or what I have?

 

[JStarStar]

If you really want to go with a bargain-basement rocket, if there is enough of the cereal box left, you could cut out two-sided cardboard fins.

 

[Willie]

If you really want to go with a bargain-basement rocket, if there is enough of the cereal box left, you could cut out two-sided cardboard fins.

The basswood is from my first HPR build. I used the wood for the Av sled. So, since I have the material, wood it is.

 

[K'Tesh]

I nominate the name Oscar for this rocket...

 

[PhlAsh]

A didgeridoo?

View attachment 150611

getting closer...

 

[Willie]

Rounded the leading edge of the fin, Tapered the trailing edge.

Two of the three fins are glued on. Launch lug cut from an Estes igniter storage straw. I might yet get both on tonight.

I have some old tyvek to make the parachute, but I don't know what to make the SC from, nor the parachute cords.

Since this is a creation from the trash can, it needs to be on the cheap.

 

[MALBAR 70]

Looking good so far. Shock cord material is quite inexpensive. I picked up several packages of round elastic (5 meters per pack) at Wally World yesterday for .97 each. I use it to replace the "rubber band" shock cord that some kits have.

Parachute shroud lines can be made from heavy thread, I believe most people use what is called carpet thread. I have no idea on the price but it can't be that expensive.

 

[Willie]

All done but the launch.

Completed the epoxy fillets using 5 min epoxy.

Used braided nylon cord for the SC. 5x the body length.

Parachute is Tyvek octagon 16" across, 18" cords.

OpenRocket model lead to .25 oz added to nose cone. Stability with a C6-5 is 1.01 and weight at 2.94 oz. empty weight at 2.125.

Playing with the Tyvek has me concerned about how well it will open, and how well it will slow the decent.

 

[Willie]

Final revision of OpenRocket with all work done.

 

[jlnel]

X2..lol

I nominate the name Oscar for this rocket...

 

[Willie]

I nominate the name Oscar for this rocket...

Oscar it will be. I'll add his image to a fin to make it official.

 

[Willie]

Maiden flight today at DARS launch. Straight up, and nice soft landing. This one falls on the positive side. Now, I need to actually paint the thing....

 

[CRC]

Good to hear it flew, maybe you should just clear coat it, leaving it in it recycled looking state.

 

[faciemcfaceface]

I've been tasked with making a similar "trash" rocket for a school project but it has to fit an ESTES C6-3 motor. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with any "trash" tubes that would fit that motor, or if anyone is familiar with any techniques to adapt a motor to fit a larger tube.

 

[dhbarr]

I've been tasked with making a similar "trash" rocket for a school project but it has to fit an ESTES C6-3 motor. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with any "trash" tubes that would fit that motor, or if anyone is familiar with any techniques to adapt a motor to fit a larger tube.

Roll up copy paper for your motor tube and coupler, plastic wrap/aluminum foil core tube for the body, fins your choice, papier mache nosecone, cardboard CRs, surveyor tape streamer.

 

[GlenP]

Do you know the trick of using the metal strip from an old auto windshield wiper blade to bend your own engine hook?

 

[JStarStar]

As all old school rocketeers know, standard paper towel tube is pretty much the same size as a BT-60, which should fly well on a C6-3.

If the rule is you can't use any "stock" parts, everything has to be "scavenged," you can roll the 18mm motor mount tube out of plain typing paper and cut a thrust ring/ engine block out of a spent motor casing.