Peace Probe

I've brought up this design before, but I decided to start over since the name, materials and design are now finalized.

I've completed the motor mount and baffle with out getting and pictures during the process. I also have the fins cut, sanded and coated with CWF.
That's the aft BT with spirals filled with CWF. I still need to cut and fill the upper BT.

I decided to make this a zipper-less rocket because it's become such a pain in the ass that I want it to last as long as possible. With that in mind I went with two half-moons for the mid and lower barriers and coated them with Loctite 5min epoxy once the glue cured. I glued two small scraps of the same plywood onto the back of the top plate so there would be enough material for the entire eye bolt to screw into. After filling the screw hole with epoxy I screwed in the eye bolt and dabbed some more epoxy around the top. Then all that was left was to glue the top plate into the coupler.

I cut the fore BT this week and sanded the tip relatively flat. I won't be able to glue it in place and fill in the gaps until I have a chance to swing by the local army surplus store for some paracord.


I also glued the coupler/baffle and MMT in place.


I left the bottom of the MMT sticking out of the BT by about 1cm. It seemed to me that it would be easier to remove the motor that way.


I'm curious as to everyone's preference on this. Do you keep your MMT flush with the bottom of your rocket or do you let it stick out a little?

depends on whether the fins get in the way...as I recall yours do not. about a 1/4" of motor sticking out past the airframe usually works for me.
rex

darthgriffin said:

I'm curious as to everyone's preference on this. Do you keep your MMT flush with the bottom of your rocket or do you let it stick out a little?

Click to expand...

What a unique design! As for the motor mount, on the vast majority of my builds I leave it flush.

I sanded the CWF smooth on all the fins, but some of them warped durring the process. After searching the threads I took the worst one and microwaved it in a damp towel. It's been sitting in the garage under an unabridged dictionary and some dumbbells. I commited to leaving it for 3 days and I finally get to check it tonight.

If it turns out to be nice and flat, should I glue it on immediately, or wait to see if it curls up again?

wood warps (usually) because one side has a higher moisture content than the other. it seems to me that, w/ balsa fins the main thing is to let the wood equillize the moisture. you should be okay to let it sit after it is flat, though I will admit to using a cooling rack (for cakes) to let mine finish drying after pressing flat .
rex

darthgriffin said:

I sanded the CWF smooth on all the fins, but some of them warped durring the process. After searching the threads I took the worst one and microwaved it in a damp towel. It's been sitting in the garage under an unabridged dictionary and some dumbbells. I commited to leaving it for 3 days and I finally get to check it tonight.

If it turns out to be nice and flat, should I glue it on immediately, or wait to see if it curls up again?

Click to expand...

Well, I hope it worked out. Im really interested in seeing how they will look on the rocket.

Rex R said:

wood warps (usually) because one side has a higher moisture content than the other. it seems to me that, w/ balsa fins the main thing is to let the wood equillize the moisture. you should be okay to let it sit after it is flat, though I will admit to using a cooling rack (for cakes) to let mine finish drying after pressing flat .
rex

Click to expand...

So true. I use a rack also.

Update: several attempts to flatten the fins have failed. I'm just going to fill in some divots with the Titebond molding and trim glue and just glue them on very carefully.