The Porsche DX3

[patelldp]

You finished the coupler...let that sink in. You may have a problem!

Just kidding. Looks really nice!

 

[dixontj93060]

I'll be honest with you... I couldn't fly it. I'd just put it on a shelf to pull out as a demo when friends and neighbors ask about my rocketry hobby.

 

[r12ski]

Good Lord, man! That finish could be on a Ferrari! (Or a Porsche!)

Except if it was a Ferrari, the rocket would be delivered to the field by a Ferrari technician then brought back to the factory after launch, and would have a tendency to catch on fire. (Proof: Ferrari FXX Ferrari 458 Recall)

 

[Nathan]

Except if it was a Ferrari, the rocket would be delivered to the field by a Ferrari technician then brought back to the factory after launch, and would have a tendency to catch on fire. (Proof: Ferrari FXX Ferrari 458 Recall)

And would require $8,000 scheduled maintenance every few years.

 

[AfterBurners]

I think the rocket is an example of what you really can do with a can of spray paint, good procedures and a lot of elbow grease. I agree it is way too nice to fly...at least that's how I feel, but I can't bring myself to spend that much time. I would just ding, scratch or worse yet blow it up some how. I think I get a decent paint job on most of mine and they look good from a few away. If it was a scaled model I might tend to take more time on it.

 

[neond7]

I suddenly realized how crappy my paint jobs are!!

Great job..... That thing is too pretty to launch!! I'm still wiping all the mud off of a few of mine from the launch earlier this month.

 

[Nathan]

I think the rocket is an example of what you really can do with a can of spray paint, good procedures and a lot of elbow grease.

Lately I have started throwing away the rattle cans when they are about 3/4 empty, before they start spraying unevenly and spitting blobs of paint. I'd like try using a good spray gun but that would require also spending about $500 for a high volume air compressor, a lot of $$$ to spend just to paint rockets. But I might do it anyway considering how much I spend on rattle can paint every year.

I agree it is way too nice to fly...at least that's how I feel, but I can't bring myself to spend that much time. I would just ding, scratch or worse yet blow it up some how. I think I get a decent paint job on most of mine and they look good from a few away. If it was a scaled model I might tend to take more time on it.

One advantage of living on the east coast is being able to fly rockets at a sod farm with nice soft grass instead of in a rocky windblown desert.

 

[CarVac]

One advantage of living on the east coast is being able to fly rockets at a sod farm with nice soft grass instead of in a rocky windblown desert.

They're not rocky, but...sand is not much better than rocks.

And the dust. I still have Black Rock dust in my rockets.

 

[DeeRoc29]

Dust, yes. But no trees. No trees for miles and miles!

 

[Zebedee]

Dust, yes. But no trees. No trees for miles and miles!

But then how do you appease the tree gods to guarantee a successful launch?

Edit: Fantastic looking rocket and a very nice car.

 

[Dad Man Walking]

...I'd like try using a good spray gun but that would require also spending about $500 for a high volume air compressor, a lot of $$$ to spend just to paint rockets...

Oh now, don't get us started on the benefits of owning an air compressor. It's not just for painting rockets, keeping your bench free of dust, or even keeping the tires on your Porsche perfectly inflated. Think outside the box...

- Filling beach balls, rafts, and other various pool toys.
- Filling 100's of balloons for party decorations
- Converting stomp rockets into ballistic missiles
- Converting home-made science project soda bottle water rockets into soda bottle water ballistic missiles
- Converting PVC marshmallow blow guns into non-lethal riot control weapons
- Modifying nerf guns so that you can reach the squirrels on the bird feeder from a concealed location
- Filling (and refilling, and refilling, and refilling) rocket balloons as a kid's party activity
- Making funny squeaky fart noises with the blow gun and your hands
- Starting a new tool collection (impact wrenches, socket wrenches, air chisel/hammers, die grinders, cut-off tools, spray guns, etc.)
- Starting to rotate your tires yourself because you bought the impact wrench and now have to justify the purchase to your wife.
- Rotating her tires, too.
- Obsessing about how to plumb your shop for compressed air so you are never more than arm's length from a connection
- Getting brand new hoses (even thought the old ones worked fine) because you like the color better

All of the above and more were made possible with a Campbell-Hausfeld 25-gallon horizontal tank compressor with an old-school cast iron pump that my wife got me for Christmas 20 years ago. I was so appreciative that I got her a vacuum cleaner the following year (but trust me, I must have gotten some signals mixed up on that one).

Oh...almost forgot the best use of all. I won't try to put words to this, you can see for yourself (safe for work unless you work at PETA):

Air Skinning a Coyote - YouTube
Inflating a Raccoon - YouTube

 

[CZ Brat]

OMG. Your rocket makes the Porsche look plain and boring. Now you have to do the same thing to the Porsche. Or don't put them next to each other again.

 

[blackbrandt]

Oh now, don't get us started on the benefits of owning an air compressor. It's not just for painting rockets, keeping your bench free of dust, or even keeping the tires on your Porsche perfectly inflated. Think outside the box...

- Filling beach balls, rafts, and other various pool toys.
- Filling 100's of balloons for party decorations
- Converting stomp rockets into ballistic missiles
- Converting home-made science project soda bottle water rockets into soda bottle water ballistic missiles
- Converting PVC marshmallow blow guns into non-lethal riot control weapons
- Modifying nerf guns so that you can reach the squirrels on the bird feeder from a concealed location
- Filling (and refilling, and refilling, and refilling) rocket balloons as a kid's party activity
- Making funny squeaky fart noises with the blow gun and your hands
- Starting a new tool collection (impact wrenches, socket wrenches, air chisel/hammers, die grinders, cut-off tools, spray guns, etc.)
- Starting to rotate your tires yourself because you bought the impact wrench and now have to justify the purchase to your wife.
- Rotating her tires, too.
- Obsessing about how to plumb your shop for compressed air so you are never more than arm's length from a connection
- Getting brand new hoses (even thought the old ones worked fine) because you like the color better

All of the above and more were made possible with a Campbell-Hausfeld 25-gallon horizontal tank compressor with an old-school cast iron pump that my wife got me for Christmas 20 years ago. I was so appreciative that I got her a vacuum cleaner the following year (but trust me, I must have gotten some signals mixed up on that one).

Oh...almost forgot the best use of all. I won't try to put words to this, you can see for yourself (safe for work unless you work at PETA):

Air Skinning a Coyote - YouTube
Inflating a Raccoon - YouTube

I need to try some of these...

I was considering airstarting a motor off a pneumatic launch piston... Could be cool...

 

[DAllen]

You finished the coupler...let that sink in. You may have a problem!

That was my first thought. Freaking incredible.

 

[UPscaler]

Looks absolutely amazing!


Nice car too...I can't tell if it has back seats or not. Is that a 911 or a Cayman?


Braden

 

[Nathan]

Looks absolutely amazing!


Nice car too...I can't tell if it has back seats or not. Is that a 911 or a Cayman?


Braden

2008 911 Carrera S
AKA Porsche 997.1
AKA VW Beetle on steroids

It has back seats but no human older than about 7 years old can fit back there.

 

[DuctTapeandRocketFuel]

Totally awesome! Looking forward to see it in the air.

 

[Onebadhawk]

Totally awesome! Looking forward to see it in the air.

James,,,,,,,
That rocket is going up with one of my shock cords in it,,,,,,,,,,
I'm the proud grandpa,,,,,,lol,,,,,,,,,lol

Teddy

 

[UPscaler]

2008 911 Carrera S
AKA Porsche 997.1
AKA VW Beetle on steroids

It has back seats but no human older than about 7 years old can fit back there.

I know all about that scene. My aunt used to drive a supra. No legs allowed in the back seats.

Sweet car!


Braden

 

[Nathan]

First flight, with a H225 at MDRA on 11/16

 

[AfterBurners]

Nathan did you get any video of the flight?

 

[Nathan]

Nathan did you get any video of the flight?

Yes I did. But being nervous watching my L1 certification attempt, I held the camera vertically instead of horizontally. That works okay for photos but not for video. So the video is sideways. If you want to watch a sideways video, here it is. The ceiling was very low that day but we had a waiver to fly to 2000 ft. The DX3 simmed at 1625 ft on a H225. It disappeared into the clouds in less than 2 seconds and didn't reappear until 90 seconds later, descending slowly on its big 4 ft Fruity Chute.

[video=youtube;BcssIzE2NrA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcssIzE2NrA[/video]

 

[Johnmon88]

That finish is just simply AMAZING! If I could get a paint finish to come out looking like that I wouldn't have to put vinyl wraps on my rockets. HOWEVER, Mark does do a superb job on his wraps. I designed this wrap for my FG Super DX3 and he made it come out perfect.

 

[qquake2k]

Congrats on the great flight! I use Freemake Video Converter to edit my videos. It will rotate them, as well as other things.

https://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/

 

[Nathan]

Thanks I try that. I've been using Windows Movie Maker which works well but it can't rotate videos.

 

[BLKKROW]

Virtualdub is a great product.

 

[stantonjtroy]

All four of the rockets he had on hand that day looked AWESOME! Congrats, Nathan, On a great Cert and a goog weekend of flying.

 

[conman13]

im sure its already been asked but what type of paint,filler/primer,clear,wax did you use?

 

[AfterBurners]

Lately I have started throwing away the rattle cans when they are about 3/4 empty, before they start spraying unevenly and spitting blobs of paint. I'd like try using a good spray gun but that would require also spending about $500 for a high volume air compressor, a lot of $$$ to spend just to paint
rockets. But I might do it anyway considering how much I spend on rattle can paint every year.



One advantage of living on the east coast is being able to fly rockets at a sod farm with nice soft grass instead of in a rocky windblown desert.

I agree about the sod farms. I'm stuck with rock hard lake beds

 

[Nathan]

im sure its already been asked but what type of paint,filler/primer,clear,wax did you use?

This rocket was finished using Duplicolor filler primer, Duplicolor black enamel, Duplicolor Perfect Match silver lacquer, and Duplicolor clear enamel. Both the final color coat and the clear coat were wetsanded and polished with medium polish and then finishing polish. Then it was waxed using Chemical Guys 5050 car wax.

For a step-by-step description of my finishing process, check out this thread.