24mm Minimum Diameter scratch build

So, I was making breakfast this morning and after making my wife a breakfast sandwich I grabbed some aluminum foil to keep her sandwich warm until she was ready to eat. It was the last little piece of foil and then I saw the roll...

The roll is thick-wall cardboard with a 24mm ID. I got to checking fitment of a spent E12 motor case, grabbed a hook and motor block, and got to work. The tube isn't really long enough for a motor that size, but then I checked a roll of parchment paper we had in the kitchen and it's the same size! Unrolled the parchment, stole the tube, and rolled the parchment back up and put it back in the box.

So far, all I have done is the motor mount, but I plan on glassing the tubes, light-ply fins and balsa nose cone. From there, I'll decide on recovery, but I'm thinking streamer and mid-split airframe.

Pics to come as the build progresses!

The Reynolds Rocket!

Pretty sweet. I love how we find random items and want to make them fly.

You should check out Mach1rocketry.com they has some new thin wall fiberglass kits in that size. Way easier then classing a cardboard tube.

Eric said:

Pretty sweet. I love how we find random items and want to make them fly.

You should check out Mach1rocketry.com they has some new thin wall fiberglass kits in that size. Way easier then classing a cardboard tube.

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Oh, I know I can get a kit but I'm unwilling to pay good money for a rocket that I have a very good chance of losing on an E, haha! Plus, I wanted a little project to pick away at. In all honesty, high-performance, high-altitude isn't really my thing mainly because of the greater chance of losing it, but this will be super cheap and fun to build!

Tyler, paper a set of fins made from Styrofoam meat trays. Build a frame from wood sticks: 1/8' x 1/4" basswood, fill the center wit eh Styrofoam. Wrap with old phone bills..

A couple of items to get me going...

Actually, I've decided to go with 1/16 light ply and glass it. I've never really done any glass work, so this will be good practice on something unimportant. Lightweight glass, Deluxe Materials Eze-Cote finishing resin. Looking forward to it.

Not a lot to show, as I had no time last night, but here's a little mock-up.

You have a big container of old spent rocket motors?

Nathan said:

You have a big container of old spent rocket motors?

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Lol, yeah. That's one of those cheese ball tubs. Just sort of a fun collection I started last year. Hope to finish filling it up next season. Maybe build something with the tubes haha!

Nathan said:

You have a big container of old spent rocket motors?

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This is where it came from, lol.

Nathan said:

You have a big container of old spent rocket motors?

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Tyler P said:

Lol, yeah. That's one of those cheese ball tubs. Just sort of a fun collection I started last year. Hope to finish filling it up next season. Maybe build something with the tubes haha!

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Your pic reminded me that my kids love saving spent motors for some reason, so I need to hang on to a Red Vines bucket.

Fun little project for next to nothing cost! Shame about that nose cone fit though, maybe some of your glass can build it up a tad.

dhbarr said:

Your pic reminded me that my kids love saving spent motors for some reason, so I need to hang on to a Red Vines bucket.

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I have spent casing examples in sizes and impulses lined up on one of my shelves at work. Makes a nice little display and conversation starter. From A10 to I212, plus my K500 and M1297 nozzle from IREC.
The high-power examples startle folks that only think of hobby lobby rockets. (Cesaroni produces good souvenirs if the liners survive)

A couple weeks ago, an older colleague came by and saw my Motor lineup and F9 and said "Oh! I used to do that when I was a kid! Are they still around? I used to get uh....what were they, Estes rockets, yeah. Do they still make those?" I told him they do indeed still make them, and he's gone off and ordered a Tandem-X set for his neighbor kid!

Nytrunner said:

Fun little project for next to nothing cost! Shame about that nose cone fit though, maybe some of your glass can build it up a tad.

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Yeah, the thicker wall tube doesn't line up the cone like an Estes tube. That end needs to be trimmed a little for damage anyway, and I was definitely hoping I could build up the cone a bit with the glass work.

I wanted a build and just stumbled across this tube that I decided would be it, haha! I'm $20 CDN in so far, lol.

A bit of progress on the build. I started designing and cutting out the fins. I really like the looks of the fins on the Frenzy, so I used a similar design. I also decided to make a set of forward fins, seeing as its a little longer. I haven't completely decided on how far forward the uppers will be yet. That may be decided with some sim work.

I'll also be using a three fin design.

Glued some fins on and now I have what roughly looks like a rocket!

Looking good!

Glassing started this morning. Upper tube and fins are done and one set of lower fins done. I'll be building up the bottom portion of the nose cone to match the thick wall tubing, as well.

Once all the glass is laid down I'll be recoating and sanding with Eze-Kote until the whole thing is nice and smooth.

Ready for sanding and recoating and then primer!

I'm now ready for primer. Probably going to lay it down this afternoon.

Primer is on. Going to let it cure up and then start liquid mask application for the painting fun!

looking sweet Tyler!

dr wogz said:

looking sweet Tyler!

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Thanks, Paul! My fin glassing could use a little practice but overall not too bad. To be fair, I did do the glassing of the fins after I installed them on the rocket. I won't make that mistake next time, haha!

I'm really impressed with how much stiffness the glass gives the tubes, even with really light glass cloth! I might have to do this on the Argent I have coming.

Try Ultracote next time, on both the fins & tubes! adds the strength, but no need to paint!

(I'm and Ultracote guy..)

I do enjoy covering. Did a 32.5% Carden Yak about 7 years ago. Mostly Monokote but I like Ultracote too.

Glassing was more for learning. I've never glassed anything before, so thought I'd give it a shot to see how it's done. Not super difficult but a little practice would definitely give nicer results.

Did you Ultracote that big Goblin?

nope, paint all the way!

But I have covered a few fins in the past. I have thought of doing a tube in the future, along with fins.. Someone has a 'how to' video on applying Monokote to tubes & fins..

dr wogz said:

nope, paint all the way!

But I have covered a few fins in the past. I have thought of doing a tube in the future, along with fins.. Someone has a 'how to' video on applying Monokote to tubes & fins..

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I think the trick with using covering material would be making sure that the seams are sealed properly. If they aren't you may get a flapper, lol! I do have a little bit of material kicking around the shop. I'll grab another tube from somewhere and see how it goes.

Did some masking this morning. Tape applied, design drawn out on tape, pattern cut out of tape.

Ready for first colours.

Pearl black laid down and masking peeled back. I'll let this cure and then I'll give it a couple good coats of liquid masking film to work on the remainder of the colours.

Tyler P said:

Pearl black laid down and masking peeled back. I'll let this cure and then I'll give it a couple good coats of liquid masking film to work on the remainder of the colours.View attachment 367196 View attachment 367197

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Cool little scratch build going on here! The flame masking is pretty sweet...