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- Jan 17, 2009
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Here we go again!
There's been the Halloween Spider Web Bowl conversion:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?70788
And the Halloween Spider conversion
https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?129646
Now for a different "Saucer" conversion.
Found some Snowflake shaped bowls (baskets) at Dollar Tree, white and blue. Two stores I looked in both had these.
Easy to convert, much like the Halloween spider web bowls.
These do weigh a bit more than the Halloween bowls, thicker and stronger. Did three test flights in some pretty strong wind. it weathercocks a bit more than the Halloween spider web bowls do. They still boost pretty well though since the drag is the key thing about models like this more than mass. But it does mean they descend a bit faster… still safe though. Use a B6-0 or C6-0, not anything with a delay/ejection in case it weathercocked and landed before ejection.
Other parts needed:
18mm engine mount tube, 2.5" long
Engine Block for inside of 18mm tube
two 18-24mm Centering Rings
one launch lug for 1/8" rod
Balsa spacer between lug and engine mount tube
Build info:
Drill 3/4" hole in center (I used a step-drill). Drill 13/64 or 7/32" hole for launch lug hole, spaced far enough from the 3/4" hole to clear the top centering ring.
Glue one 18-24mm centering ring at the top end of the engine mount tube. Also glue in the thrust ring, flush with the top of the engine mount tube.
Slide mount into 3/4" hole. Use thick CA (which I used), or 5 minute epoxy, to help glue the mount so it is straight (90 degrees to the span). This glue will NOT actually hold well to the polypropylene plastic, but it used to help lock-in the mount after the rear ring is glued in.
Apply glue to the underside of the mount tube, below the plastic (below as relative in the flight direction), then slide second 18-24mm ring up into place, so the plastic bowl is locked between the two rings.
Glue balsa standoff to side of mount tube, parallel to launch lug hole in the bowl.
Glue lug to standoff, with upper end of lug poking thru the hole in the plastic.
DONE!
Put ignitors into B6-0 or C6-0's. Put one engine (nozzle-end down, you know) inside the engine mount tube and apply a wrap of tape around the lower end of the mount tube and engine casing.
Put onto launcher, hook up clips, and when safe, LAUNCH!
Get more engines to fly it with……
And yes, I know, some will convert them to fly with larger engines.
- George Gassaway
There's been the Halloween Spider Web Bowl conversion:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?70788
And the Halloween Spider conversion
https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?129646
Now for a different "Saucer" conversion.
Found some Snowflake shaped bowls (baskets) at Dollar Tree, white and blue. Two stores I looked in both had these.
Easy to convert, much like the Halloween spider web bowls.
These do weigh a bit more than the Halloween bowls, thicker and stronger. Did three test flights in some pretty strong wind. it weathercocks a bit more than the Halloween spider web bowls do. They still boost pretty well though since the drag is the key thing about models like this more than mass. But it does mean they descend a bit faster… still safe though. Use a B6-0 or C6-0, not anything with a delay/ejection in case it weathercocked and landed before ejection.
Other parts needed:
18mm engine mount tube, 2.5" long
Engine Block for inside of 18mm tube
two 18-24mm Centering Rings
one launch lug for 1/8" rod
Balsa spacer between lug and engine mount tube
Build info:
Drill 3/4" hole in center (I used a step-drill). Drill 13/64 or 7/32" hole for launch lug hole, spaced far enough from the 3/4" hole to clear the top centering ring.
Glue one 18-24mm centering ring at the top end of the engine mount tube. Also glue in the thrust ring, flush with the top of the engine mount tube.
Slide mount into 3/4" hole. Use thick CA (which I used), or 5 minute epoxy, to help glue the mount so it is straight (90 degrees to the span). This glue will NOT actually hold well to the polypropylene plastic, but it used to help lock-in the mount after the rear ring is glued in.
Apply glue to the underside of the mount tube, below the plastic (below as relative in the flight direction), then slide second 18-24mm ring up into place, so the plastic bowl is locked between the two rings.
Glue balsa standoff to side of mount tube, parallel to launch lug hole in the bowl.
Glue lug to standoff, with upper end of lug poking thru the hole in the plastic.
DONE!
Put ignitors into B6-0 or C6-0's. Put one engine (nozzle-end down, you know) inside the engine mount tube and apply a wrap of tape around the lower end of the mount tube and engine casing.
Put onto launcher, hook up clips, and when safe, LAUNCH!
Get more engines to fly it with……
And yes, I know, some will convert them to fly with larger engines.
- George Gassaway
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