An "R"-powered rocket build

[Ez2cDave]

Like the man said that’s got some beef!

The outriggers are awesome. Even wider than I expected. Great for the “S” rocket too!

Love the hydraulics.

Really good work Levi. Excited to pick it up.

Chuck C.

Chuck,

How are you going to protect the wiring and the hydraulic lines ? ( Kevlar sleeving ? )

How long does it take to travel, full range ?

Do you think the transit time will vary much, when the rocket is on the rail ?

QUESTION : How are you going to load the rocket on the rail ?

Dave F.

 

[levi seaton]

Chuck,

How are you going to protect the wiring and the hydraulic lines ? ( Kevlar sleeving ? )

How long does it take to travel, full range ?

Do you think the transit time will vary much, when the rocket is on the rail ?

QUESTION : How are you going to load the rocket on the rail ?

Dave F.

The wiring will be tucked away more neatly. That should keep them safe. The rail is fairly quick to raise but should slow down with a load.

 

[Ez2cDave]

The wiring will be tucked away more neatly. That should keep them safe. The rail is fairly quick to raise but should slow down with a load.

Levi,

Thanks for that info . . .

What are your plans for protecting the hydraulic lines ? Kevlar / Nomex sleeving ?

How is Chuck planning to lift the rocket onto the rail ?

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

The rocket will be loaded just as we’ve all done for railed rockets.

Horizontally with lots of manpower lol.

Chuck C.

 

[Steve Shannon]

The rocket will be loaded just as we’ve all done for railed rockets.

Horizontally with lots of manpower lol.

Chuck C.

Sometimes it’s easier to remove the rail from the pad and slide it onto the rocket, then lift the rocket and rail as a unit and reinstall the rail onto the pad.

 

[Ez2cDave]

The rocket will be loaded just as we’ve all done for railed rockets.

Horizontally with lots of manpower lol.

Chuck C.

Sometimes it’s easier to remove the rail from the pad and slide it onto the rocket, then lift the rocket and rail as a unit and reinstall the rail onto the pad.

Chuck & Steve,

This part has me genuinely concerned . . .

A bunch of people, in a limited workplace ( on the back of a trailer ), trying to lift and control several hundred pounds of rocket, even more weight, if it is strapped to the rail first, ( probably at about waist-level, +/- ) not having any good "grip points", combined with possible poor leverage and control of the rocket. . .

BE CAREFUL ! ! !

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

That would work well too.

The Delrin rail guides on the rocket are beefy and well-secured.

However we all know it doesn’t take much leverage to bust one off lol.

Dave getting this rocket loaded correctly won’t be a concern with the right teamwork and sufficient manpower.

Appreciate the concern.

Chuck C.

 

[blackjack2564]

Dave getting this rocket loaded correctly won’t be a concern with the right teamwork and sufficient manpower.
Chuck C.

Having been there..done that... the above is key to success.
Not as difficult as it may seem to the uninitiated.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Having been there..done that... the above is key to success.
Not as difficult as it may seem to the uninitiated.

It just sounds like it could "go south" pretty easily, to me . . .

Be careful, everyone !

Dave F.

 

[pondman]

There will be plenty of "help" available at both LDRS and BALLS.

 

[Rail Dawg]

There will be plenty of "help" available at both LDRS and BALLS.

Thanks Gary. Appreciate all you do.

Chuck C.

 

[pondman]

You are welcome. It's what we do.......

 

[Theory]

There will be plenty of "help" available at both LDRS and BALLS.

TRUTH!

 

[Paulb06]

That would work well too.

The Delrin rail guides on the rocket are beefy and well-secured.

However we all know it doesn’t take much leverage to bust one off lol.

Dave getting this rocket loaded correctly won’t be a concern with the right teamwork and sufficient manpower.

Appreciate the concern.

Chuck C.

Are you going to "hang" the rocket from the rail in the horizontal position? Or place the rocket on top of the rail?.... if it's the latter, you can also add support rollers to hold the rocket segments in position to slide onto the rail guides

 

[Ez2cDave]

Thanks Gary. Appreciate all you do.

Chuck C.

Chuck,

Will you have 20-25 guys in Texas, helping you load and unload it from the trailer ?

I'm just looking at "logistics" . . .

Dave F.

 

[levi seaton]

Chuck,

Will you have 20-25 guys in Texas, helping you load and unload it from the trailer ?

I'm just looking at "logistics" . . .

Dave F.

View attachment 385663

The rocket can be loaded piece by piece. Same as loading on the rail. Once the rocket is on the rail then install the motor

 

[Rail Dawg]

Also Levi is installing cradles for the rocket. Perfect for the haul.

No concerns about the load-out.

And as Gary mentioned there will be plenty of help at both LDRS and BALLS.

One of many things I like about fellow rocketeers is the willingness to get their hands dirty and do what needs to be done to get a project off the ground.

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Also Levi is installing cradles for the rocket. Perfect for the haul.

No concerns about the load-out.

And as Gary mentioned there will be plenty of help at both LDRS and BALLS.

One of many things I like about fellow rocketeers is the willingness to get their hands dirty and do what needs to be done to get a project off the ground.

Chuck C.

Chuck,

I suggest a "generous supply" of cold drinks and snacks for the "Ground Support Team" . . .

https://www.eater.com/2010/5/24/6732369/all-aboard-the-cruzin-cooler-the-motorized-scooter-ice-chest

https://www.wackyhippo.com/Cruzin-Cooler-Scooter-p/cs-500.htm

If you got TWO of them, you could "Drag Race" . . .

LOL !

Dave F.

 

[Rail Dawg]

I like the cooler train Dave. We may do that instead of launching a beast lol.

Chuck C.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Found these adhesive-mounted nuts for securing the rocket airframe to the AvBay coupler.

They get installed on the inside of the coupler with 1/2” ply as a base.

Drill the hole through the coupler G-12 then place the bolt through the ply and into the nut.

When it’s all straight and secure epoxy the nut plate into place. When it comes time to join the airframe and coupler you’ve got a solid (and straight) connection.

Pretty cool!

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

I like the cooler train Dave. We may do that instead of launching a beast lol.

Chuck C.

Well, since the "Pirate Theme" is gone, you'll need a new "wardrobe", Chuck !

Dave F.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Found these adhesive-mounted nuts for securing the rocket airframe to the AvBay coupler.

They get installed on the inside of the coupler with 1/2” ply as a base.

Drill the hole through the coupler G-12 then place the bolt through the ply and into the nut.

When it’s all straight and secure epoxy the nut plate into place. When it comes time to join the airframe and coupler you’ve got a solid (and straight) connection.

Pretty cool!

Chuck C.

Chuck,

Those are really unusual . . . What are they normally used for ?

Dave F.

 

[Solarover12]

You realize even HAMAS has flown higher and farther with nails, steel pipe, wood nosecone and a handmade welder with table sugar?

You're designing a $30,000 pen when you could use a pencil.

 

[Rail Dawg]

You realize even HAMAS has flown higher and farther with nails, steel pipe, wood nosecone and a handmade welder with table sugar?

You're designing a $30,000 pen when you could use a pencil.

Good points!

This rocket will be used to test more than a couple of motor configurations.

The one thing nice about building it strong is it can be used multiple times.

The other thing is we aren’t looking for altitude on this rocket. It’s all about watching the motor burn and the recovery sequence.

It’s also nice with G-12 to not have to fiberglass a telephone pole lol.

Appreciate the input! It’s always great to see differing opinions on a project.

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

You realize even HAMAS has flown higher and farther with nails, steel pipe, wood nosecone and a handmade welder with table sugar?

You're designing a $30,000 pen when you could use a pencil.

Yes, but HAMAS doesn't have Safety Codes to contend with or the desire to gently recover and re-fly their creations, either . . . They have other agendas !

Dave F.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Guys,

I found a cool video and love the countdown and in-flight "call-outs" . . .



Dave F.

 

[jbr]

https://rotaloc.com/products/bonding_fasteners/

 

[Rail Dawg]

https://rotaloc.com/products/bonding_fasteners/

Nice selection. Am pretty pleased finding this option.

Chuck C.

 

[Ez2cDave]

Nice selection. Am pretty pleased finding this option.

Chuck C.

Chuck,

"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut, once in awhile" . . . LOL !

Seriously, those fasteners are very cool and I'm taking a serious look at them, myself !

Dave F.

 

[Buddy Michaelson]

The Parachute is done chuck!! Beautifully red and white Ripstop, with 2” Nylon Webbing. Every single seam has no less than 11 threads, there is no way this thing is coming apart! We may need to fold this in a high school gym. Now onto a huge Deployemnt Bag.