Any suggestions on a launch pad under $200

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Five

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Im in the market for a new sturdy launch pad, something able to launch H’s and I’s. Im not about to spend over $500 on a gun torrent. My budget is $200. Currently I’m using a pro series II that I modified to handle HPM’s. I was thinking about building one myself from a rockwell jawstand and a 1010 series rail. My first choice would be to buy one already put together. Last resort is to have to build one myself.
Anyone know of any vendors that sell one?
 
I didn’t know it was that easy. With my last set up I had to drill a few hole then bolt it on to the blast plate.
 
Rockwell JawStand... 96” 1010 rail, a blast deflector and some hardware to mount it (and some heavy duty tent stakes from walmart to lock it down to the ground). Under 100$. (I also used some additional hardware I had laying around like studs and plastic knobs so i could break it down into smaller pieces without any tools and fit it into a small car.

A2718794-F21F-429A-B047-B2F2B2DD582F.jpeg
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You know, this is only for LPR (obviously), but I like wood and many people here liked a design that I came up with as a kid. Then my son made this one from my description when he was about 14 or 15 (30 years ago). We're still using it (actually, just starting to really use it, it only had 2 launches off of it prior to me becoming a BAR last year). It could certainly be adapted for some HPR features (I've been thinking about that myself). It can be heavy, which is a plus in my view - and with the proper engineering can be just heavy enough - nice and stable. There is a steel deflector plate covering the 45° plywood piece in the exhaust tunnel. The rest is 2 x 4's and 3/4" plywood. You can stand on it.

So without further ado, and for what it's worth...
20201207_193554.jpg20201207_193628.jpgKen's_3rd_01_4x6crop.jpg
 
This is my riff on the Jaws stand.
I built it primarily for mini and micro rails, but no reason you couldn't use it for 10/10. Some 1/8" aluminum plates and stainless pipe clamps from McMaster and a disc harrow blade from an agricultural supply place. I stake it down with those big nails that are sold for joining landscape timbers.PXL_20210517_164734659.jpgPXL_20210517_164734659.jpgPXL_20210517_164755325.jpg
 
You know, this is only for LPR (obviously), but I like wood and many people here liked a design that I came up with as a kid. Then my son made this one from my description when he was about 14 or 15 (30 years ago). We're still using it (actually, just starting to really use it, it only had 2 launches off of it prior to me becoming a BAR last year). It could certainly be adapted for some HPR features (I've been thinking about that myself). It can be heavy, which is a plus in my view - and with the proper engineering can be just heavy enough - nice and stable. There is a steel deflector plate covering the 45° plywood piece in the exhaust tunnel. The rest is 2 x 4's and 3/4" plywood. You can stand on it.

So without further ado, and for what it's worth...
View attachment 464576View attachment 464581View attachment 464578
Pretty crafty
 
Fits 1/4" rod and 1010 rail. Made from hardware store electrical supplies. The 6 foot rod is threaded at one end, and screws into an epoxied T nut within the base. Round pizza pan blast plates. The legs easily unscrew, so it breaks down small enough for a backpack.

DSC_0011.JPG
4 inch Goblin
 
Could you post some close ups of your wood mount? I am working on the same setup right now and am curious as to what you've done. PM me if you like.

just saw this. Ill see what pics i have and snap new ones if i need to.
 
You know, this is only for LPR (obviously), but I like wood and many people here liked a design that I came up with as a kid. Then my son made this one from my description when he was about 14 or 15 (30 years ago). We're still using it (actually, just starting to really use it, it only had 2 launches off of it prior to me becoming a BAR last year). It could certainly be adapted for some HPR features (I've been thinking about that myself). It can be heavy, which is a plus in my view - and with the proper engineering can be just heavy enough - nice and stable. There is a steel deflector plate covering the 45° plywood piece in the exhaust tunnel. The rest is 2 x 4's and 3/4" plywood. You can stand on it.

So without further ado, and for what it's worth...
View attachment 464576View attachment 464581View attachment 464578
the exhaust box!
 
Rockwell JawStand... 96” 1010 rail, a blast deflector and some hardware to mount it (and some heavy duty tent stakes from walmart to lock it down to the ground). Under 100$. (I also used some additional hardware I had laying around like studs and plastic knobs so i could break it down into smaller pieces without any tools and fit it into a small car.

View attachment 464557
View attachment 464558
so that rotatable 360 degrees and tiltable? that's pretty cool .
 
Dang... i got mine like 3 months ago... under 50$ from home depot with free shipping... just checked now... over 100! Insane. 799FEC6A-974E-4E0A-836B-CE934C4D7D01.png
 
I think I’m going to go with the rockwell jawstand and buy a 72” 1010 series rail.
The beauty of 1010 (or 1515) is that you aren't limited to 6'. Some builds require longer. I have one 6' and two 4' sections with connectors, so I can fly on 72", 96", 120" or a ridiculous 168". All on a jaw stand. Some of the long burn engines need the extra length.
 
I can’t wait to test it out.
 

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Nice work! Did you just clamp the rail in the jaw or use additional support in the back to the pins?
 
I used the clamp from the jaw stand. I was also thinking about drilling a couple holes in the rail and securing it with a couple nuts and bolts
 

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I used the clamp from the jaw stand. I was also thinking about drilling a couple holes in the rail and securing it with a couple nuts and bolts

No need to drill the holes in rail. Get 1/4” carriage bolt (square base below head). Slides right in the rail. Wont turn and you then slide it through a bracket and add washers and nuts. In my photos above, i added the carriage bolts to the rail, passed them through a 2x4 to bolt the rail to the 2x4. Added z-brackets on the back of the 2x4 to hang it in the cross bars in the jaw stand along with clamping it in.
 
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