June or July I would guess, provided that Trump doesn't ground all our flights by spending his weekends in Bedminster...
Alcubierre Build Thread
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Are you taking pre-orders? Put me down for one.
And you need to come up with a NRW logo. Hopefully as flashy as your designs. Cheers.
And you need to come up with a NRW logo. Hopefully as flashy as your designs. Cheers.
You can send me an advance payment, if you don't mind waiting until... I dunno, the cows come home?
If ya want detailed plans, though, that I can do.
I actually wasted a few minutes yesterday thinking about that. I have a name and a logo idea, but, as I soon realized, no graphic design skills. That put an end to that.
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Sounds like it's time for a TRF logo contest......I actually wasted a few minutes yesterday thinking about that. I have a name and a logo idea, but, as I soon realized, no graphic design skills. That put an end to that.
So, as previously reported in the "What did you do today" thread, Alcubierre flew last weekend at the Radical Rocketeers launch. It flew on my first Questjet, a C12-4. "Up" was great; not too high but straight and true and it really looked great flying, particularly seeing the tail ring traveling away.
Unfortunately, for reasons undetermined, the parachute ejected but did not open. During the descent, the nose cone gave a pretty good smack to the top half of the ring near where it joins the wing:
It may never look perfect again, but a decent fix should be doable here, and I do really want to fly it again.
Step 1: Glue the ring back down. It let up at the end, as shown, and also the joint with the dorsal fin. My first attempt to fix this with TBII failed; I was too impatient to hold it in place without also inspecting other things, and I failed to hold it steady enough. Eventually it let go, so I reapplied some more TBII and tried again. This time I sat there nearly motionless for nearly 15 minutes:
Yes, my hand was pretty uncomfortable by the time I finally let go. This time it seemed to hold.
Next step will be to repair the crushed part of the ring. I think I'm going to pour some medium CA in there and squeeze it shut, then finish off with some CWF and touch-up paint. Anyone have any better ideas?
Unfortunately, for reasons undetermined, the parachute ejected but did not open. During the descent, the nose cone gave a pretty good smack to the top half of the ring near where it joins the wing:
It may never look perfect again, but a decent fix should be doable here, and I do really want to fly it again.
Step 1: Glue the ring back down. It let up at the end, as shown, and also the joint with the dorsal fin. My first attempt to fix this with TBII failed; I was too impatient to hold it in place without also inspecting other things, and I failed to hold it steady enough. Eventually it let go, so I reapplied some more TBII and tried again. This time I sat there nearly motionless for nearly 15 minutes:
Yes, my hand was pretty uncomfortable by the time I finally let go. This time it seemed to hold.
Next step will be to repair the crushed part of the ring. I think I'm going to pour some medium CA in there and squeeze it shut, then finish off with some CWF and touch-up paint. Anyone have any better ideas?
lakeroadster
When in doubt... build hell-for-stout!
Ouch! Bummer on the chute issue and the resulting damage.
What kind of chute?
Any launch photo's?
I'd be really cautious about using CA on a finish painted rocket... I'd be inclined to remove the embedded paint with an X-Acto knife, place wax paper on both sides, clamp the fin using an Irwin Quick Grip clamp (You may have to make some fixtures since it's a curved surface) to make it flat, then pour in some Gorilla wood glue (it's pretty runny and will run into voids, unlike TBII). After the glue is dry, unclamp and apply multiple applications of TBII to build up the surface.
CWF has very little strength at all.
What kind of chute?
Any launch photo's?
I'd be really cautious about using CA on a finish painted rocket... I'd be inclined to remove the embedded paint with an X-Acto knife, place wax paper on both sides, clamp the fin using an Irwin Quick Grip clamp (You may have to make some fixtures since it's a curved surface) to make it flat, then pour in some Gorilla wood glue (it's pretty runny and will run into voids, unlike TBII). After the glue is dry, unclamp and apply multiple applications of TBII to build up the surface.
CWF has very little strength at all.
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I'll second the launch photo request, at least it looks repairable.
Standard plastic chute. Note I *never* have problems with my plastic chutes. I think something must have gotten tangled up, but there was no clear evidence after it landed. I'm just calling it an unfortunate fluke at this point.
There's a not-so-great photo of it on the rod, but I'm still working on acquiring it (don't ask
). Will post here once I get it.I don't think *strength* is required so much as *hardness* to hold the thing together in a mass; this fix is not structural. The reason I like the CA idea is that it flows in easily and dries crystal clear, and I *think* I could control where it goes pretty well. However, pouring in wood glue is a valid alternative. White glue is another possible alternative that might dry clearer (yeah I'm gonna try to repaint, but the less stray yellow I have to deal with, the better.
Will ponder. Unfortunately I probably get only one shot at it; once I pour whatever type of glue in I'm pretty much committed, and there's no way I can think to do a practice run.
Final thought: I believe *any* glue poured in there will create the desired strength. The challenge is to make is look good.
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Ouch!
Did you get any more glamour shots before the flight?
Did you get any more glamour shots before the flight?
Not really, but I'm pretty satisfied with the shots I took beforehand. Also I feel like I can get it looking pretty good after the repair, although we'll see about that. I *definitely* feel I can get it flyable again, which is my main goal. It looked really cool in the air.
Checked my repair from last night and the ring seems to be held down nice and tight, so that's good. Next up is to fix the crushed ring.
Was thinking about this and realized I have a couple of test ring pieces still lying around. A couple of 1-2" pieces of that should work nicely to clamp the repair area.
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A picture format that might accentuate this bird would be a nighttime outdoor shot with a flash.
Basically support the model with a black painted dowel with a motor casing in the end ( black painted paint stick), set it up against a fence or something so you have it steady and hands free. Behind the model should be nothing within the field of the flash (probably 50 or 100 feet.)
Ideally use a tripod for stability, if a phone camera something to lean on.
You end up with a rocket pic with a jet black background. The only rockets that this doesn’t work well with are ones that are mostly black.
Basically support the model with a black painted dowel with a motor casing in the end ( black painted paint stick), set it up against a fence or something so you have it steady and hands free. Behind the model should be nothing within the field of the flash (probably 50 or 100 feet.)
Ideally use a tripod for stability, if a phone camera something to lean on.
You end up with a rocket pic with a jet black background. The only rockets that this doesn’t work well with are ones that are mostly black.
Interesting setup, maybe I'll try that sometime. For this one... no more glamor shots until it's fixed up.
Since I detest doing the same thing for fins (when I cannot use a jig) I now put two droplets on the ends of the gluing area with thick CA. Then fill in the rest of the area with wood glue, leaving a small separation between. Hold in place for two minutes while the CA grabs. Then watch Netflix and stuff your face.
Nytrunner
Pop lugs, not drugs
But not with glue
Hey man, to each his own.
Quick fix test: I bashed one of my old spare test rings with a glass block, and was able to inflict some damage just not "shatter". Something like this:
I poured some glue into the damage, and then clamped it with two additional pieces of the ring that I cut off previously (sorry no pic).
When the glue was dry, I smoothed out the whole mess with CWF, and when I got the shape close enough, I applied a layer of CA to harden the surface. Result:
That seems pretty decent. Whether this will work as well on the "shattered" wood in the real model remains to be seen, but I'm satisfied that the process is as close to correct as I can muster.
I poured some glue into the damage, and then clamped it with two additional pieces of the ring that I cut off previously (sorry no pic).
When the glue was dry, I smoothed out the whole mess with CWF, and when I got the shape close enough, I applied a layer of CA to harden the surface. Result:
That seems pretty decent. Whether this will work as well on the "shattered" wood in the real model remains to be seen, but I'm satisfied that the process is as close to correct as I can muster.
OK, here goes.
Before:
Apply TBII liberally into the damage area:
Clamp as described above, with two pieces cut from an old "test ring", and waxed paper in between:
Those little clamps squeeze nice and tight, they're making a mess of the two clamp pieces but that's fine.
How does it look when dry? We shall see, but not tonight.
Before:
Apply TBII liberally into the damage area:
Clamp as described above, with two pieces cut from an old "test ring", and waxed paper in between:
Those little clamps squeeze nice and tight, they're making a mess of the two clamp pieces but that's fine.
How does it look when dry? We shall see, but not tonight.
OK, here goes.
Before:
View attachment 386373
Apply TBII liberally into the damage area:
View attachment 386374
Clamp as described above, with two pieces cut from an old "test ring", and waxed paper in between:
View attachment 386375
Those little clamps squeeze nice and tight, they're making a mess of the two clamp pieces but that's fine.
How does it look when dry? We shall see, but not tonight.
Who makes this rocket... I’ve seen the kit somewhere before and now can’t find it
I make this rocket, and no you haven't.
Nytrunner
Pop lugs, not drugs
Here's a link to the original manufacturer concept.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/neil_ws-half-baked-design-thread.140478/page-7
Edit: Oop, Neil beat me to it
Prototype from Neil's Rocket Works. Hopefully coming soon to a store near you.
"Three Points Rocket Foundry" was the name I was gonna go with, for my fictional company that will never exist.Prototype from Neil's Rocket Works. Hopefully coming soon to a store near you.
What I can see if it looks really cool, I must have it confused with another one. Keep on building that custom stuff... I’m thinking of one made by 3D RocketryI make this rocket, and no you haven't.
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You should still do something with that name, get a Logo made up or copyright the name, I like it as well."Three Points Rocket Foundry" was the name I was gonna go with, for my fictional company that will never exist.
lakeroadster
When in doubt... build hell-for-stout!
I stumbled across this photo on the net a couple days ago.... it's got that similar "fly-hoopty" look.
Oh yeah, that’s cool. I’m tempted to get one from 3D that has the ring (stabilizer?) on it just for the build experience.
lakeroadster
When in doubt... build hell-for-stout!
It's a good testament to the design that the final rocket is reminiscent of the original image that inspired the rocket. It's come full circle.
Took the clamp off, and now it looks like this:
That's pretty good; it's basically back to 1/8" thick, the whole thing is a pretty solid mass, and just the edge is junked up. Next step is some CWF to smooth it out (I also applied it to the ding on the wing):
As of now I think it's flyable again. It should look more than good enough once I apply the cranberry touch-up paint to the repair areas.
There is one additional damage spot: the nearby pod cone seems to have taken a glancing blow:
All I'm gonna do here is apply a coat of CA to seal and harden it. Anything I do to repair the cosmetics will be unlikely to make it better, and since it faces the ring it's not very visible unless you go looking for it.
That's pretty good; it's basically back to 1/8" thick, the whole thing is a pretty solid mass, and just the edge is junked up. Next step is some CWF to smooth it out (I also applied it to the ding on the wing):
As of now I think it's flyable again. It should look more than good enough once I apply the cranberry touch-up paint to the repair areas.
There is one additional damage spot: the nearby pod cone seems to have taken a glancing blow:
All I'm gonna do here is apply a coat of CA to seal and harden it. Anything I do to repair the cosmetics will be unlikely to make it better, and since it faces the ring it's not very visible unless you go looking for it.
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