Custom Mini Christmas tree rocket build
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I may be the "odd one" here and get a different type of Cheap-o-Christmas-tree...
Motor eject (with a streamer taped on) can also make it tumble slower.
Ooh, 18"...not so small lol
I'm going with this cute Lil guy...about the same price with coupon and it's already decorated and has lights!
Ladykate
Well-Known Member
For the odd little beasts I sometimes just connect everything with shock cord and break it apart in the air. Physics does its thing and it all comes down like flotsam. Here is one that really works well with that concept (which, now that I look at it, is representative of Christmas, too, sort of...:
Ladykate
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Yeah. D motor at least. However, it doesn't need to go high.
Ladykate
Well-Known Member
300 foot extension cord extra.
Seriously, though, that could make a great night rocket. It would require some electronics to power the lights but it would be cool.
The lights are powered by 3 AA batteries, so a small lipo should work well enough.300 foot extension cord extra.
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I grew with canned cranberry sauce. As a married adult my wife made "real" cranberry sauce from real cranberries, I didn't know what it was. I liked the jellied can style better, complete with the ridges left over from being in the can!
Maybe not too important for this rocket but in general be aware of your grain direction:
Maybe not too important for this rocket but in general be aware of your grain direction:
Guess I was just in the holiday spirit having fun with the build didn’t over think it to much lol
Yup your right ..
Guess I was just in the holiday spirit having fun with the build didn’t over think it to much lol
If it's plywood it should be fine.
Ladykate
Well-Known Member
Ordered the tree but Amazon came back with problems and then had a delivery date that would make it uncomfortable to get it done before Christmas. Will visit HL and get a sub.
Mine is supposed to arrive on Sunday... we'll see!
I was at Hobby Lobby today and they had 60% off Christmas stuff...spotted some potential rocket projects!
These have lights!
Smaller version too.
These may be too easy...
Mini plastic trees that light up!
These have lights!
Smaller version too.
These may be too easy...
Mini plastic trees that light up!
I got my Amazon one today...very cute!
Oh [groan], now I have to build one. And have it ready by next Saturday. I already have a flying Christmas candle. Built it years ago, before I knew what I was doing. I made the fins to small. Needed a bunch of nose weight. The nose cone is a plastic light bulb.
![20221211_023859[1633].jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/rocketryforum/data/attachments/467/467215-21ba73870c1eac2f8c095631dcbf8c3f.jpg "20221211_023859[1633].jpg")
To be honest, using a Christmas tree is MUCH harder than I had thought given the stupid metal wire trunk right down the middle, the funny base and the wonky tip.
I even brainstormed using 3 BT5 tubes with transitions to a single tube on both sides to send the ejection charge to the top. Ummm...probably needlessly complicated and not for now.
I even brainstormed using 3 BT5 tubes with transitions to a single tube on both sides to send the ejection charge to the top. Ummm...probably needlessly complicated and not for now.
Right now I'm thinking break apart with the base and star top separating. Top "star' with AAA batteries for nose weight and long wire to the lights in the tree. The nose will possibly be momentum eject. We'll see.
Ladykate
Well-Known Member
I bought a couple of the 'Estes 12 Days of Christmas' and am getting a tree ornament (I think). This seems like a good candidate for a fun small rocket.
Ladykate
Well-Known Member
To be honest, using a Christmas tree is MUCH harder than I had thought given the stupid metal wire trunk right down the middle, the funny base and the wonky tip.
I even brainstormed using 3 BT5 tubes with transitions to a single tube on both sides to send the ejection charge to the top. Ummm...probably needlessly complicated and not for now.
Yes, anything that makes an ornamental tree will have to be wickered. I did it by making my 'tree only' rocket a tumble recovery. Piping the ejection charge up seems doable but would have to cover all the tubing (or make it camouflaged). I have a candidate sitting on my desk just daring me to screw with it.
Was thinking about a streamer and rear ejection.
Also a warning that even my little tree weighs in around 160 grams with tree, base, lights and two AAA batteries (no motor), so it seems it'll need a C5-3 (which I don't have) or D12 minimum based on Estes motor chart. Given that, an 18" one will need much more.
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Some pics so far and these are worth 1,000 brainstorm thoughts
So I found that I had some 18mm C12 & D16 Q-Jets and that makes things much better in my case since I was concerned about using the bigger, heavier 24mm motors.
I figure I'll go the two prong approach to double my chances of success since this is quite tricky!
I'll also try using a Viking Bulk kit for the clear tree and will try having both with lights.
So I found that I had some 18mm C12 & D16 Q-Jets and that makes things much better in my case since I was concerned about using the bigger, heavier 24mm motors.
I figure I'll go the two prong approach to double my chances of success since this is quite tricky!
I'll also try using a Viking Bulk kit for the clear tree and will try having both with lights.
I had an epiphany today. I wasn't actively thinking about a tree rocket. But, how to do it just popped into my head. Now I need a tree. Walmart tomorrow.
I was at Hobby Lobby today and they had 60% off Christmas stuff...spotted some potential rocket projects!
These have lights!
Heaps of base drag. I'd say stick a composite F into it and go.
Ladykate
Well-Known Member
They had this size at my HL. Kinda cool and would make a great night launch. Takes two AAA but overall it is not terribly heavy - 104 grams with batteries. I might gut this one and make it fly as a rocket in itself. However, as a nose on a night rocket it has possibilities.I was at Hobby Lobby today and they had 60% off Christmas stuff...spotted some potential rocket projects!
These have lights!
View attachment 550271
View attachment 550272
Smaller version too.
View attachment 550273
These may be too easy...
View attachment 550274
Mini plastic trees that light up!
View attachment 550275
Yup, that's my secondary attempt one. What I especially like about it is that the lights are very easily removed and actually very "light"
and can be used in the regular tree rocket.
Here is my first tree rocket. 1.63" tube. Hard balsa fins, I'm going to paint the fins to look like presents. Fly it Saturday.![20221213_224035[1669].jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/rocketryforum/data/attachments/467/467733-659e74f384daa6bd7f45262603f7ec4f.jpg "20221213_224035[1669].jpg")
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