blakbird
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- Aug 15, 2004
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At long last, a couple of weeks ago, I whittled down the resolve of the wife to the point that she graciously allowed me to order a full set of 29mm motor cases. These would be my first, not counting the "hobby" 29/40-120 and 24/40. Then, as fate would have it, I realized that there was a little money in the account of my telescope business which had never been withdrawn. It being the holidays (almost) and all, I decided to write myself a disbursement, and I also ordered the 38mm Mega set.
This was a big moment for me, and I was quite excited. I became horrified over the concept of keeping them in a box to get their nice anodized surfaces all banged up, and determined that a more elegant solution was required. So I scoured the countryside for a store that carried those little plastic cases with dividers that they sell with tackle boxes, but bigger. I finally found them at an otherwise useless store in Lynnwood called "Storables". I got one for the 29mm set, but none were big enough for the 38's, especially the 1080. Next came the Internet research. Astoundingly, it appeared that no one really made a plastic case with dividers of just the right size. What were the marketing people thinking? Can it be that the demand for a plastic case sized to 38mm rocket motors is not sufficient to justify its production? I don't see how.
So I stared at the 29mm plastic case, with everything nicely arranged and protected. Somehow, it just didn't say "Burn me!" like such a collection should. I was not satisfied. And there was still the problem of the lack of a 38mm case.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box1.jpg
So began the sordid tale known as "The Great Case Construction" (alternately known as "Albrecht's Folly"). Over the next 2 weeks I poured all my skill, my malice, and my will to dominate all life into crafting the One Case, a wonder made from walnut and maple. I forged it in the fires of my shop, and only there can it be unmade.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box2.jpg
The top is made of strip laminations, then beveled at 12 degrees. The sides are connected with double through finger joints, covered over with thin trim of walnut.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box3.jpg
The insides were carefully designed to fit the 38mm cases exactly, and each divider was made from maple with precisely cut dadoes placing the dividers.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box4.jpg
I considered putting on brass hinges and a clasp, but after all of the work on joinery with no fasteners used, I just had to make my own walnut hinges. The process is tedious and painful with a lot of set up time, so I made a bunch of extras. I have yet to attach them since I still need to mortise the lid to do so.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box5.jpg
I know what you are thinking. "Eric, you blew it! Aerotech just came out with a new 38/120 case, and although there is room in there for it, there will not be a divider perfectly spaced for it!" And you would be right. I am kicking myself. But rest assured, when I build the case for the 29's, this error will be rectified (for the new 29/120). I think I'll even include a spot for the 29/40-120.
So when you all see it at a launch and listen to me curse as I drop it in the mud, you can chuckle at all the time I killed on it that I could have spent building rockets.
That comes next week.
Eric Albrecht
This was a big moment for me, and I was quite excited. I became horrified over the concept of keeping them in a box to get their nice anodized surfaces all banged up, and determined that a more elegant solution was required. So I scoured the countryside for a store that carried those little plastic cases with dividers that they sell with tackle boxes, but bigger. I finally found them at an otherwise useless store in Lynnwood called "Storables". I got one for the 29mm set, but none were big enough for the 38's, especially the 1080. Next came the Internet research. Astoundingly, it appeared that no one really made a plastic case with dividers of just the right size. What were the marketing people thinking? Can it be that the demand for a plastic case sized to 38mm rocket motors is not sufficient to justify its production? I don't see how.
So I stared at the 29mm plastic case, with everything nicely arranged and protected. Somehow, it just didn't say "Burn me!" like such a collection should. I was not satisfied. And there was still the problem of the lack of a 38mm case.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box1.jpg
So began the sordid tale known as "The Great Case Construction" (alternately known as "Albrecht's Folly"). Over the next 2 weeks I poured all my skill, my malice, and my will to dominate all life into crafting the One Case, a wonder made from walnut and maple. I forged it in the fires of my shop, and only there can it be unmade.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box2.jpg
The top is made of strip laminations, then beveled at 12 degrees. The sides are connected with double through finger joints, covered over with thin trim of walnut.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box3.jpg
The insides were carefully designed to fit the 38mm cases exactly, and each divider was made from maple with precisely cut dadoes placing the dividers.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box4.jpg
I considered putting on brass hinges and a clasp, but after all of the work on joinery with no fasteners used, I just had to make my own walnut hinges. The process is tedious and painful with a lot of set up time, so I made a bunch of extras. I have yet to attach them since I still need to mortise the lid to do so.
https://www.e2scopes.com/rockets/box5.jpg
I know what you are thinking. "Eric, you blew it! Aerotech just came out with a new 38/120 case, and although there is room in there for it, there will not be a divider perfectly spaced for it!" And you would be right. I am kicking myself. But rest assured, when I build the case for the 29's, this error will be rectified (for the new 29/120). I think I'll even include a spot for the 29/40-120.
So when you all see it at a launch and listen to me curse as I drop it in the mud, you can chuckle at all the time I killed on it that I could have spent building rockets.
That comes next week.
Eric Albrecht
