Bruce's Scale Sputnik

[BruceS]

Ok, as teased before, I am answering a challenge to upscale my 4" Splatnik. This will be a scratch built 12" diameter (roughly 1/2 sized) model of Sputnik 1. 3 engine cluster, streamer recovery.
I'm going to post as I go. Step 1: Gather the parts.

 

[Bat-mite]

Looks fun!

 

[memcbride]

Looking forward to this build thread

 

[Nytrunner]

This would be really good in the OddRoc forum

 

[neil_w]

This would be really good in the OddRoc forum

Yes, anywhere but the watering hole. Suggest sending a PM to Chuck to move it.

 

[BruceS]

motor mount built.
Core hole drilled.
Mount is sized for D12-3 motors. Will use adapters for first flight on A8-3.
Next is the bulkhead for the "nose".

 

[PXR5]

Looking good

 

[BABAR]

You know, you could kind of do something similar with a styrofoam wig head

Paint it grey, with alien eyes......

 

[BruceS]

Yes, anywhere but the watering hole. Suggest sending a PM to Chuck to move it.

Done

 

[BruceS]

"Nose cone" ready. Motor core ready

 

[SCooke123]

Pretty cool - I'll be following this one.......

 

[BruceS]

Next: install 3/16" launch lugs and mount the 48" long antennas.

 

[jadebox]

Are you not using a parachute?

Our Akavish rockets were a similar design and size. Though, with eight legs and fur, they were a little heavier and more draggy.

When the parachute failed to deploy properly, the rocket landed pretty hard. Usually one of more of the "legs" would break or detach from the core of rocket when it came down head-first.

We mostly solved that problem by using a larger motor so there was time enough for the delay to eject the parachute. We ended up flying it on G motors with the shortest delay possible.

 

[BruceS]

Are you not using a parachute?

Our Akavish rockets were a similar design and size. Though, with eight legs and fur, they were a little heavier and more draggy.

When the parachute failed to deploy properly, the rocket landed pretty hard. Usually one of more of the "legs" would break or detach from the core of rocket when it came down head-first.

We mostly solved that problem by using a larger motor so there was time enough for the delay to eject the parachute. We ended up flying it on G motors with the shortest delay possible.

Planning on using streamers.

 

[BruceS]

Tested glues to bond vinyl tubing to styrofoam. Titebond polyurethane won.

 

[BruceS]

Covering the attachment points for the antennae with rocketpoxy. Next up streamers and shock cord.

 

[jadebox]

Covering the attachment points for the antennae with rocketpoxy. Next up streamers and shock cord.

That photo looks like it needs a NSFW tag.

 

[BBowmaster]

That photo looks like it needs a NSFW tag.

I didn’t want to say anything.

 

[BruceS]

Hmm, maybe these are a bit better.

 

[BruceS]

Ready for painting

 

[neil_w]

I'm looking forward to an extremely complicated paint job for this one, with lots of masking and decals. Perhaps a flame job.

 

[BruceS]

I'm looking forward to an extremely complicated paint job for this one, with lots of masking and decals. Perhaps a flame job.

Not happening. Going with plain silver. There's a couple of new things I tried with this one and I just want to see it fly, preferably twice. Once on A8-3s and once on D12-3s.

 

[neil_w]

Sorry, joke was implied. Should have added .

 

[BruceS]

Sorry, joke was implied. Should have added .

That's what I thought, no offense taken. I am considering, after initial flights, a rebuild with phosphorescent paint and LEDs for a night launch, but I digress...

 

[neil_w]

Blinky lights on a Sputnik would definitely be cool.

 

[ebruce1361]

Years ago, I drew up a sketch for a Sputnik made from a re-purposed globe, but never made it. This has me inspired to revisit that idea.

And just to be a goof, I might go crazy with a complicated and hilarious paint job.

 

[trialsguy]

Suggest adding a beeping sound... because that's what Sputnik did.

 

[trialsguy]

 

[ebruce1361]

That's a great idea! The beeper would double as a tracker if it lands in tall grass.

 

[jadebox]

Prepare for it to be possibly underpowered on a cluster of A8s. Our similar-sized and shaped Akavish flew best on a G motor. Even then, we eventually started using an altimeter to fire the ejection charge because the motor delays were too long.

Of course, ours had eight "legs" and was covered with fur so it was a little heavier and more draggy.