New HP scratcher, Unguided Mayhem

qquake2k · Apr 1, 2012

A bad thing happened to me recently. I discovered that Hobbylinc carries LOC components. What could I do? Armed with that knowledge, I promptly placed an order. I'm calling this one "Unguided Mayhem", and it's obviously inspired by the LOC Expediter. I've wanted an Expediter for some time, but didn't want the 54mm motor mount. Mayhem will have a 38mm motor mount and a zipperless design. The orange will actually be Rustoleum fluroescent orange, but I couldn't replicate it in Photoshop.

chadrog · Apr 1, 2012

So you're gonna "free launch" it?

qquake2k · Apr 1, 2012

The components aren't here yet, but I went ahead and started on the centering rings. I cut them with a 4-1/4" hole saw, using a 1-5/8" hole saw for the center holes. Mounting them on the wood lathe before I cut the center holes, I trimmed them to size with a coarse file. Seems to work better on the plywood end grain than a lathe chisel.

qquake2k · Apr 1, 2012

chadrog said:
So you're gonna "free launch" it?

No, I'll be using a rail. Unguided mayhem refers more to my life than the rocket. LOL

qquake2k · Apr 1, 2012

I got the baffle plate done that will be glued into the coupler. The perimeter holes are 3/8".

qquake2k · Apr 1, 2012

I went ahead and made the retention plate that I'll use with a 38-29mm adapter. It's made from 1/16" x 1-1/4" aluminum.

qquake2k · Apr 1, 2012

I got the discs cut out that will be the half moon baffles in the end of the motor tube. I also cut the motor tube to length with the miter saw.

qquake2k · Apr 1, 2012

I'm using 1/4" birch plywood for the fins.

qquake2k · Apr 1, 2012

I had to change the 6" x 48" belt on my stationary sander. I love the sander, but hate changing the belt. It's tedious. But I got it replaced, and sanded the fins.

qquake2k · Apr 1, 2012

Got the tee nuts installed in the aft centering ring. I also filled the pilot holes in the baffle discs with epoxy, and epoxied the rail button bosses to both centering rings.

qquake2k · Apr 2, 2012

Got the forward centering ring epoxied on the motor tube. Also got the half moon baffles epoxied in.

Aksrockets · Apr 2, 2012

Qquake, do you have a job or is this all you do! I cant remember a time when i'm not subscribed to one of your build threads. Good luck with the build, i'll be watching.

Alex

Madison Alum · Apr 2, 2012

Another fine looking build in the making. Always enjoy seeing your work.
John

scsager · Apr 2, 2012

qquake2k said:
A bad thing happened to me recently. I discovered that Hobbylinc carries LOC components...

Bad thing or good thing, it's all in how you look at it. Here is my :2:

Good thing - Qquake has all these build threads - I (and many others) have learned a great deal from you.

Bad thing - Qquake has all these build threads - I spend all my free time on TRF and don't have any time left for building rockets.

Good thing - Hobbylinc has LOC parts at a discount.

Bad thing - Hobbylinc gets a sizable chunk of my money. :blush:

Good thing - Qquake has an awesome home shop.

Bad thing - Having no "home shop", I have to buy all my rings and bulk plates from Hobbylinc or BMS.

Good thing - Band saw for cutting fins out. :cheers:

Bad thing - I have no band saw, and cut my fins one at a time by hand. :rant:

Bad thing - Replacing belt on belt sander.

Worse thing - Sanding fins by hand using lot's of elbow grease cause I ain't got no belt sander :cry:

Seriously Jim, I dig your build threads. Very informative and entertaining. :clap:

... no way I can justify the cost, but man I wish I had a band saw...

qquake2k · Apr 3, 2012

Aksrockets said:
Qquake, do you have a job or is this all you do! I cant remember a time when i'm not subscribed to one of your build threads. Good luck with the build, i'll be watching.

Alex

Actually, I do have a job. Been with the same company for 29 years now. I'm very fortunate and blessed. That's how I pay for my tools and rockets!

qquake2k · Apr 3, 2012

Madison Alum said:
Another fine looking build in the making. Always enjoy seeing your work.
John

Why thank you! I sure do enjoy these builds.

qquake2k · Apr 3, 2012

scsager said:
Bad thing or good thing, it's all in how you look at it. Here is my :2:

Good thing - Qquake has all these build threads - I (and many others) have learned a great deal from you.
Bad thing - Qquake has all these build threads - I spend all my free time on TRF and don't have any time left for building rockets.

Good thing - Hobbylinc has LOC parts at a discount.
Bad thing - Hobbylinc gets a sizable chunk of my money. :blush:

Good thing - Qquake has an awesome home shop.
Bad thing - Having no "home shop", I have to buy all my rings and bulk plates from Hobbylinc or BMS.

Good thing - Band saw for cutting fins out.
Bad thing - I have no band saw, and cut my fins one at a time by hand. :rant:

Bad thing - Replacing belt on belt sander.
Worse thing - Sanding fins by hand using lot's of elbow grease cause I ain't got no belt sander :cry:

Seriously Jim, I dig your build threads. Very informative and entertaining. :clap:

... no way I can justify the cost, but man I wish I had a band saw...

Thank you for the compliments! I didn't always have these power tools, I started small. My first bandsaw was a small one I got at a yard sale for $50. I've been very fortunate to be able to upgrade all my tools throughout the years. But honestly, if I didn't have the power tools I'd still be building rockets. Just maybe not as many of them. LOL

qquake2k · Apr 13, 2012

I got the components a few days ago, and finally got some more work done. Since the SARG launch has been cancelled tomorrow, I might even get it finished this weekend.

I'm a little confused by the couplers. The LOC coupler seems really thin to me. I measured it, and the wall is only 0.039" thick. I had a coupler that I got from Mercury Engineering, and the wall measures 0.064". But then I got to wondering, did I get them mixed up? Regardless, I decided to use the thicker one.

I am so anal about fasteners coming loose. I used toothed lockwashers, staked the u-bolt ends, and covered the nuts with epoxy. Geez, talk about overdoing it.

qquake2k · Apr 13, 2012

I got the baffle plate with the u-bolt in it epoxied into the coupler. I used 1/2" long nylon spacers hold the baffle plate at the correct depth, and keep it level while the epoxy set.

qquake2k · Apr 14, 2012

I cut the 34" body tubes to length. The upper 3" tube will be 17". Originally I was planning on cutting the lower 4" tube into two 17" lengths. But I decided to cut them at 15" and 19", using the 19" section for the recovery bay. The coupler will stick into the bay 3", and the shoulder of the transition is 3-1/2". With a 17" section, that would have only left me with 10-1/2" of space. This way, I'll have 12-1/2". Just making sure I'll have room for the large parachute and the tubular nylon webbing.

When I removed the masking tape from the smaller 4" section, it tore some of the outer layer of paper off. I flooded the area with thin CA so I can sand it before painting.

qquake2k · Apr 14, 2012

Because the lower 4" section will now be shorter than planned, I had to cut 1-1/2" off the end of the motor tube. I also got the coupler and inside of the upper 4" section flooded with CA. Because it was a loose fit, I only had to hand sand them.

I decided to put a bulkhead in the upper 4" section for the recovery anchor. I did this mostly because if I had used the transition, I would have had to drill holes in it for the paracord loops. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get it sealed properly. With the bulkhead, I don't have to worry about it.

o1d_dude · Apr 14, 2012

How long is the motor tube now?

I've always liked the look of the Expediter.

qquake2k · Apr 14, 2012

o1d_dude said:
How long is the motor tube now?

I've always liked the look of the Expediter.

With the half moon baffles, it has 13" of usable length. That gives me room for up to a 29mm I200 or 38mm I284.

o1d_dude · Apr 14, 2012

qquake2k said:
With the half moon baffles, it has 13" of usable length. That gives me room for up to a 29mm I200 or 38mm I284.

Those are good sized motors so there shouldn't be any issues. Might be a long walk for a motor deploy rocket if it comes out light.

cjp · Apr 14, 2012

That's going to be a cool looking rocket that should screem off the pad.I'm just getting some work done on a rocket you made back I think last month or was it Feb?.Your such a rocket building machine,I could not remember what you named the rocket.All I remember was that it had square fins.I'm adding a little angle to the leading and trailing edge.I'm also putting in your trademark baffle that I have used in my last three rockets.Those 3 half moon discs really keep the chute clean and safe.Are you going with the Black and Yellow paint?:wink:

qquake2k · Apr 14, 2012

o1d_dude said:
Those are good sized motors so there shouldn't be any issues. Might be a long walk for a motor deploy rocket if it comes out light.

Yeah, Thrustcurve says 2450 on an I284. I'll probably keep it to 1500 or so. An H112 Black Jack or an I218 Redline might be a good choice.

qquake2k · Apr 14, 2012

cjp said:
That's going to be a cool looking rocket that should screem off the pad.I'm just getting some work done on a rocket you made back I think last month or was it Feb?.Your such a rocket building machine,I could not remember what you named the rocket.All I remember was that it had square fins.I'm adding a little angle to the leading and trailing edge.I'm also putting in your trademark baffle that I have used in my last three rockets.Those 3 half moon discs really keep the chute clean and safe.Are you going with the Black and Yellow paint?:wink:

Ah yes, my Plasma Fart. Are you doing a build thread for your version? I'd love to see it. I'm going to paint Mayhem fluorescent orange and metallic black. I think that'll be a nice visible combination.

qquake2k · Apr 14, 2012

I chose a 1/4" stainless steel eyebolt for the bulkhead. That stainless seems to be a lot stronger than regular steel. I tried to stake the end with a center punch like I did the u-bolt, but didn't get very far. I used a lock nut, lock washer, and covered it with epoxy. I know, anal. LOL

I epoxied the bulkhead into the upper 4" body tube. Should be plenty strong with epoxy on both sides of it.

qquake2k · Apr 14, 2012

Got the fin slots cut. You can tell by the scribbles that I made a mistake. I epoxied the motor mount in with the rail button boss aligned with a fin line. Fortunately I realized my mistake before I started cutting the slots.

I started epoxying the fins on using my alignment guide as usual.

qquake2k · Apr 14, 2012

I ended up with some gaps between one of the fins and the body tube, so I filled them with epoxy. I also started on the external fillets, using Titebond molding glue.

New HP scratcher, Unguided Mayhem

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