Viperfixr
Born Again Rocketeer
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2009
- Messages
- 1,474
- Reaction score
- 73
This is a re-post from what was originally posted yesterday at RP, since some people just look at one or the other. Anyway, enjoy...
First, some pictures. Here is what it looked like box opened:
I pulled out an Apogee Blue Streak (18mm min diameter) and threw it into the SRAT.
Fins were perfectly aligned! Wow, and not that much fuss. I was excited about tool.
Then used the tool to apply fillets, using one of the magnets inside the body to lock it down very effectively.
The SRAT actually made the process easy and quick, more so than if I'd used the normal method (blocking the tube in place with whatever I could find on the bench).
Blue Streak done, I moved on to a Mercury Engineering Invader (3" body tube, 24mm MMT).
Fins came out outstanding. Hmmmm...this might be a keeper!
And then fillets on the Invader. The 3" body tube fit on the SRAT very securely with magnets.
With that done, onto the tough test--an Estes Quark (13mm min diameter--TINY). My daughter is the one using it and built this rocket herself with just a little coaching on how to use the SRAT.
And, pulling it out minutes later (used CA on these fins).
Fins did not come out perfect, and it was difficult arranging everything in place. Then again, the first time I made a rocket this size, it gave me big fits--using the SRAT was still easier and the fins straighter than our Estes Swift 220.
Quick overall reaction after using it for three rockets--dang, why didn't I get something like this sooner! Now I want one for larger MPR & HPR!
I'll post more comments later. We have a LOC Starfighter 152, Estes CC Express, Qmodeling Raptor, Estes Commanche 3 and another Estes Swift 220 in the near build list.
First, some pictures. Here is what it looked like box opened:
I pulled out an Apogee Blue Streak (18mm min diameter) and threw it into the SRAT.
Fins were perfectly aligned! Wow, and not that much fuss. I was excited about tool.
Then used the tool to apply fillets, using one of the magnets inside the body to lock it down very effectively.
The SRAT actually made the process easy and quick, more so than if I'd used the normal method (blocking the tube in place with whatever I could find on the bench).
Blue Streak done, I moved on to a Mercury Engineering Invader (3" body tube, 24mm MMT).
Fins came out outstanding. Hmmmm...this might be a keeper!
And then fillets on the Invader. The 3" body tube fit on the SRAT very securely with magnets.
With that done, onto the tough test--an Estes Quark (13mm min diameter--TINY). My daughter is the one using it and built this rocket herself with just a little coaching on how to use the SRAT.
And, pulling it out minutes later (used CA on these fins).
Fins did not come out perfect, and it was difficult arranging everything in place. Then again, the first time I made a rocket this size, it gave me big fits--using the SRAT was still easier and the fins straighter than our Estes Swift 220.
Quick overall reaction after using it for three rockets--dang, why didn't I get something like this sooner! Now I want one for larger MPR & HPR!
I'll post more comments later. We have a LOC Starfighter 152, Estes CC Express, Qmodeling Raptor, Estes Commanche 3 and another Estes Swift 220 in the near build list.
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