Neil
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Today I bought some PVC parts, 2 hose clamps, and 20 feet of 1 1/4" PVC pipes. With only those pieces, I made an LPR, MPR and HPR launch pad. It should be able to take up to 4" diameter rockets as is, and once I fill the legs with sand it should be able to take a 5" or 6" rocket. It consists of 5 3' long PVC pipes, a 6" long PVC pipe, a 4 way pipe connector, a 3 way pipe connector, 2 hose clamps, a piece of scrap metal, a 1/8th, 3/32d, 1/4 and 3/8 launch rods. And a few end caps for the PVC pipes. All this costs: $24.97.
OK. Heres how to do it:
cut all your pieces to lenth with a hacksaw. Dont worry about ragged edges, they dont show. stick 3 of the 5 long pipes into the 3-way connector. Stick the short pipe into the other space, and attatch the 3-way connector to that, with the third connector pointing up. Put the 4th and 5th pipes into the 3 way connector also. Make sure one of them is facing up. Now you have a base and small tower. You can cut the tower part longer if you are taller than I am (5' 2") Then bend the tower over (this should be easy.) untill the tower touches the ground. lay a launch rod onto the tower, with about 6-12 inches on the pipe. Put the two hose clamps over that, and tighten them untill the launch rod is secure. then drill a hole in your sheet metal, and slide that on.
Ill call the piece that sticks up the tower, and the thing it connects to at the base the tower leg. Just clarifying.
Take a drill with a 1/8" bit in it, and drill a hole in the 3-way connector, about 1" from the base of the tower. Drill one on either side of the tower. Then drill another hole in the 4-way connector where the tower leg sticks in. Then drill 3 holes in the 6" pipe. Put some 1/8" nails in the 3 holes in the connectors. This keeps the tower from falling over. When you want to load your rocket on, you just remove the nails (they should slide loosley) from thier connector holes and put them in the holes in the small pipe. Then you can slide it over and put your rocket on. when you are ready to launch simply put the nails back in. Not bad for 25 bucks!!!!!!!!
This whole thing took me about 10 minutes to assemble. Sorry I cant post pics, they are too big. If you give me your Email (no, I dont send SPAM), I can email some pictures to you. They make it easier to visualise. I got all the parts at Rocket Depot (Errrr... Is that "Home depot".....). $24.97. Not bad. I was considering making these to sell as part of MMHPR, but my dad and I think that as soon as someone sees one they will know how to make it, so it is kinda pointless. I may make some to sell later, but hey. I am busy enough with my first batch of kits!
OK. Heres how to do it:
cut all your pieces to lenth with a hacksaw. Dont worry about ragged edges, they dont show. stick 3 of the 5 long pipes into the 3-way connector. Stick the short pipe into the other space, and attatch the 3-way connector to that, with the third connector pointing up. Put the 4th and 5th pipes into the 3 way connector also. Make sure one of them is facing up. Now you have a base and small tower. You can cut the tower part longer if you are taller than I am (5' 2") Then bend the tower over (this should be easy.) untill the tower touches the ground. lay a launch rod onto the tower, with about 6-12 inches on the pipe. Put the two hose clamps over that, and tighten them untill the launch rod is secure. then drill a hole in your sheet metal, and slide that on.
Ill call the piece that sticks up the tower, and the thing it connects to at the base the tower leg. Just clarifying.
Take a drill with a 1/8" bit in it, and drill a hole in the 3-way connector, about 1" from the base of the tower. Drill one on either side of the tower. Then drill another hole in the 4-way connector where the tower leg sticks in. Then drill 3 holes in the 6" pipe. Put some 1/8" nails in the 3 holes in the connectors. This keeps the tower from falling over. When you want to load your rocket on, you just remove the nails (they should slide loosley) from thier connector holes and put them in the holes in the small pipe. Then you can slide it over and put your rocket on. when you are ready to launch simply put the nails back in. Not bad for 25 bucks!!!!!!!!
This whole thing took me about 10 minutes to assemble. Sorry I cant post pics, they are too big. If you give me your Email (no, I dont send SPAM), I can email some pictures to you. They make it easier to visualise. I got all the parts at Rocket Depot (Errrr... Is that "Home depot".....). $24.97. Not bad. I was considering making these to sell as part of MMHPR, but my dad and I think that as soon as someone sees one they will know how to make it, so it is kinda pointless. I may make some to sell later, but hey. I am busy enough with my first batch of kits!