Launch tower for 54mm min. dia. at Balls 28 (in three weeks!!!)

Not sure if this is a good thing to ask, or not, so please forgive if it is not.

I have a 54mm minimum diameter project that I plan on launching at Balls in a few weeks. I have not yet built the tower. It is a 4 fin design, and will fly on an L1030.


Is there anyone that will be down there that will have a tower for a 4 fin 54mm min. dia. bird, that would be willing to let me launch mine from it?

Is it a standard thing that you always build your own?

I have some ideas on how I will build it, but if there will be a tower down there that it is okay to use, that would be greatly appreciated.

If you can't find a tower, which I would be surprised, you can also use the FARG (Fly Away Rail Guide). Wildman sells a nice one.

I have used one on a 54 mm MD, with motors that produce more impulse of the rail than the L1030, without any issue. I just broke mine after about a dozen launches, after it came down on a rock.

I expect that there will be more than one tower there that my rocket would fly right out of.

I have read about fly away rail guides, and that is not the route I want to take.

If I have to build one, I may opt for BB plywood rings, wrapped in a couple layers of aluminum foil, and with some sort of blast shield to minimize any burn scar to the playa. I think that plywood rings like this would be sufficient for one launch, at least. At this moment, I do not want to allocate the resources to have some aluminum plates machined for a launch tower.

Chris_H said:

I expect that there will be more than one tower there that my rocket would fly right out of.

I have read about fly away rail guides, and that is not the route I want to take.

If I have to build one, I may opt for BB plywood rings, wrapped in a couple layers of aluminum foil, and with some sort of blast shield to minimize any burn scar to the playa. I think that plywood rings like this would be sufficient for one launch, at least. At this moment, I do not want to allocate the resources to have some aluminum plates machined for a launch tower.

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I have a tower made put of .75 EDM tubing and half inch Baltic birch . It's made for up to a 4 inch rocket. Cost is under 100 total . I built it in 2000 , and it's still going strong. Use your rods as support and structure . Keep it simple .

Cool! Good to hear that. I have lots of BB ply in my shop. Did you mean EMT conduit? I am not familiar with EDM tubing. I was planning on using 3/4 conduit, as it is here and in the 'extras' pile.

Still, if there were a tower already there, that would be efficient. If not. A plywood and EMT tower is not a big project.

Chris_H said:

Cool! Good to hear that. I have lots of BB ply in my shop. Did you mean EMT conduit? I am not familiar with EDM tubing. I was planning on using 3/4 conduit, as it is here and in the 'extras' pile.

Still, if there were a tower already there, that would be efficient. If not. A plywood and EMT tower is not a big project.

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Yes EMT. My auto correct felt EDM was the better choice lol .

3stoogesrocketry said:

I have a tower made put of .75 EDM tubing and half inch Baltic birch . It's made for up to a 4 inch rocket. Cost is under 100 total . I built it in 2000 , and it's still going strong. Use your rods as support and structure . Keep it simple .

Click to expand...

Got any pictures? I also have a 54mm bird to fly at BALLS