My Custom Range Box Design

Well, I finally got tired of spending time at launches digging through a messy, disorganized, single compartment range box. So, I decided to design and build my own range box, specifically for my personal needs. Of course, those needs could change in the future, but the design I've got should last me for quite a while.
However, I'm not completely sure what to build it out of. Preferably something cheap and not too thick or heavy that can be cut with a small handsaw, so right now I'm leaning towards 3/8" or 1/4" plywood.
A picture of the design is attached below. Let me know if you have any comments/concerns! Oh, and the box is 3" deep.

Good project. Of course you could just buy a Husky Professional Organizer tool box at Home Depot for $29.95 and be done with it.

Anyway, I think you will wind up with a box that's too heavy if you go with 3/8" ply or even 1/4". Check out building a framework of 3/8"x3/8" or 1/4"x1/4" strip stock and covered with 1/8" door skin ply sheets. This will be plenty strong without weighing a ton.

Check out QQUAKE's rocket box build thread here on TRF.

Husky box? Meh, I could probably build this thing for like, 4 bucks.
As for weight, I'm not too concerned about that, as the only places I will be carrying it is to bring it to/from my car, and to/from my table at the launch. I would build a frame and skin it, but I'm too lazy.
Doesn't Qquake fly mostly high power? I don't plan on flying anything bigger than a medium F for quite some time.

The problem you are going to run into with using the thin plywood is how to join it at the corners. With thicker stock you can use rabbet joints or even butt joints and glue nails, but with 3/8" or 1/4" there isn't enough glue surface for a box that size, IMHO. The bottom will add a lot of strength, but it will still be prone to twisting which will pop the corners loose. You could add corner blocks, but that will eat away volume in the two engine compartments. Maybe just swapping the engine and plug/ignitor columns and putting the plug compartments in the corners will allow you to use corner blocks and still have enough room.

3/8" is way overkill for a box that size for that lightweight load. 1/4" is plenty for the sides. Consider 1/8" luan ply (door skin) for the dividers (or even Coroplast) and the bottom, and glue the bottom to all the dividers to keep it from bowing.

Thanks for the advice. For some reason it never occurred to me to make the dividers out of a thinner material. :bangpan: I will definitely be doing that. Might take me a while to get to it though, with seven rockets under construction. (How did I let this happen?! :y

Since most of my rockets are somewhat larger, this is my range 'box':smile::wink::smile:
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Rocketjunkie said:

Since most of my rockets are somewhat larger, this is my range 'box':smile::wink::smile:
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Ooh, yours has wheels! How convenient!

Rocketbuilder said:

Ooh, yours has wheels! How convenient!

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Not to mention the internal combustion engine...
(I am, of course, assuming that is not an EV of some sort...)

If you're sold on building it yourself great - it's a good project. If not entirely, these Stanley boxes are cheap and spacious (and stackable...)

Just buy one these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...sropa-20&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=B003GSL6I8
and your are set.


I have one that's about 8 years old if not older.


JD

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Rocketbuilder said:

Husky box? Meh, I could probably build this thing for like, 4 bucks.
As for weight, I'm not too concerned about that, as the only places I will be carrying it is to bring it to/from my car, and to/from my table at the launch. I would build a frame and skin it, but I'm too lazy.
Doesn't Qquake fly mostly high power? I don't plan on flying anything bigger than a medium F for quite some time.

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"Rocketry" and "Economical" are two words that are rarely used in the same sentence. :lol:

Due to the time crunch you're experiencing with having seven rockets in the build queue, maybe it's time to reconsider the store bought range boxes.

The orange box in the first picture is an $8 Home Depot tool box that I use for LP motors, hardware and reloads. In the first picture, the box in the upper right is a $25 Husky tool box designed to hold larger power tools that I use for HP motor hardware and reloads. The last two pictures are of my actual "Range Box". It's the Husky Professional Organizer that's $29 at Home Depot and I use it for tools, tape, chutes, spare parts, motor adapters, epoxy, CA glue, my ID badge, spare launch cards, etc.

Yes, a lot of gear but when I launch I'm never less than an hour away from home and when you need something so you can continue flying, you REALLY need it! It all fits in the back of my Bronco so it can't be too much stuff...I still have room left in the back. Maybe I need more rockets. :wink:

Actually, I realized I have 8 rockets under construction! :y::y::y::surprised:
But I am not really in much of a hurry, since I have until the third Saturday of July to build a new range box, 'cause I won't be able to go to my local club's June launch.
I'll also probably start a few more rockets before I finish all the ones I'm working on now...

Nice Idea, but it will be too heavy, and you have limited growth.

I have one of these.

https://www.basspro.com/Plano-758-005-Tackle-Box-4-Drawer-System/product/20887/98953?hvarAID=shopping_googlebase&om_mmc=shopping_googlebase

I use one of the stanley boxes from the previous post for my BP motors and smaller reloads. I use an Ammo Can for my larger reloads.

This box from MTM is what I plan to carry my range needs in. The one I have was used by my brother and myself to carry our supplies when we went to shooting matches. It's about 25 years old now but still going strong, full of oddball RC parts rather than ammo and stuff since I can no longer shoot competitively.

If you're set on using wood to make one look into getting lite ply fron the hobby shop. It will save a ton of weight but still provide plenty of strength for carrying your stuff.

Ok, you guys are starting to convince me. Next time I'm in a sporting goods store I'll see what kinds of tackle boxes they have that could be easily modified, and are decently priced. This way, I will have more time to work on the ten rockets I am currently building.

Rocketbuilder said:

Ok, you guys are starting to convince me. Next time I'm in a sporting goods store I'll see what kinds of tackle boxes they have that could be easily modified, and are decently priced. This way, I will have more time to work on the ten rockets I am currently building.

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The thing is ... no matter how large your range box is (or how large your collection of range boxes is), you'll quicky find that you need a larger one (or a few more of them).

I actually use a bunch of those plastic Stanley toolboxes that you can get at a department store or home improvement store for under $10 each. They are inexpensive, of a convenient size, and stackable. I have one that contains supplies for a model rocket launch; one with stuff for assembling reloads; one with sun screen, bug repellant, hand wipes, and other supplies; one with general toolsl; etc. Each is (or is supposed to be) labelled so I can quickly grab the right one.

At home, I also have ones with drill bits and saw blades; one with rotary tool stuff; one with electronics tools and parts; and so on. It makes it easy to grab just what I need for a specific job.

For model rocket motors I have one of the flat, compartmentized Stanley boxes that others have mentioned. I bought a big shotgun case for my motor casings, but am finding it a bit unwieldy and not very well made (it has those plastic catches that come off too easily). My reloads are in a metal, magazine-like tool box at home. I take what I need to a launch in one of the Stanley tool boxes.

The toolboxes I use don't have many individual compartments, so things aren't as organized within a box as much as I would like. For that reason, I carry small parts in a small, compartmented box I got from Harbor Freight. The parts box is similar to the Stanely box that holds my model rocket motors, but smaller.

A custom-built range box would be cool because you could design it specifically to your needs. But, as I joked above, your needs will change. And, I don't think you could easily build anything as light as the commercially available plastic boxes. Check out the tool aisle and the sporting goods sections of a department store and you'll find a wide assortment of tool and tackle boxes to choose from. Also, check Harbor Freight if you have a store near you. They have less of a selection, but the prices are pretty low.

-- Roger

For some reason, Harbor Freight never occurred to me. I do have a store near me, and I recall now seeing toolboxes at HFT and thinking, "That would be great for rocket stuff!" And they put out a 10% off coupon in the newspaper most weeks...
So yes, I will definitely be stopping in there sometime soon.

I finally got around to acquiring a new range box. I got it at Harbor Freight with a 20% off coupon. It's the perfect size for my needs, with the addition of some custom-made plywood dividers. Plus, I had this handy foam sitting around, which I cut into pieces that prevent everything from moving around during transport.
The last pic is of a system that I hope will save time and hassle at the field; no more rooting around in motor packages to find a plug and ignitor! Each box is labelled with the motor type that it contains a single plug and ignitor for. Now I can just grab a motor, grab a box, and have everything I need right there.

I've been using one of these rolling tool boxes along with one of these Stanley Organizers for a few years now.

Over time, things have evolved to where the PVC launch pad and launch controllers are the only items I have in the rolling box.

So, lately I've been looking at the Plano 737. It's a bit of a cashectomy, but I like the layout and the number of trays & cubbie holes is appealing. That box, along with a bag for the launch pad (i.e. the bag from a cloth folding chair), and one of these should streamline things for me and make the schlepping easier.

Rocketbuilder said:

I finally got around to acquiring a new range box. I got it at Harbor Freight with a 20% off coupon. It's the perfect size for my needs, with the addition of some custom-made plywood dividers. Plus, I had this handy foam sitting around, which I cut into pieces that prevent everything from moving around during transport.
The last pic is of a system that I hope will save time and hassle at the field; no more rooting around in motor packages to find a plug and ignitor! Each box is labelled with the motor type that it contains a single plug and ignitor for. Now I can just grab a motor, grab a box, and have everything I need right there.
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This is what I carry my motor casings in.

Nice! I'm pretty sure they had that exact case with the customizable foam inserts, but I decided I'd rather have the movable dividers.
But, I've only got one motor casing that's not made of wound paper.

Viewed this thread a while back and saw the pics Old Dude posted and the 2nd photo caught my eye. I went to Home Depot to find it was on sale for 19.95 and I snatched the only one left. This is the perfect motor case for me. The upper containers will cradle the standard 18mm motor perfect and the lower lever will cradle the Estes E9's perfect. All compartments are removable and 3 of mine were left out to fit the only 2 reloadable motor casings I own. Plenty of space for ignitors and a few other motor related items. I highly recommend this box.

Rocketbuilder said:

Nice! I'm pretty sure they had that exact case with the customizable foam inserts, but I decided I'd rather have the movable dividers.
But, I've only got one motor casing that's not made of wound paper.

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Mine came with both the foam and the dividers. It has been a great little box.

My range boxes always multiply...and this photo is 4-years old.