Going to throw some stuff in here as I build a new Alien Space Probe. I joined this site after starting it, but it's not done, so it'll be a long first post and then who knows when I'll actually finish it. It's probably too far along to correct my course, but any ideas to improve are welcome. The goal is mainly to make a good looking rocket that will fly nice on BP motors. I love to learn and if I goofed up and someone helps show me that I did, that's fantastic.
So, some history. Built one of these when I was about 11 years old. Bang-up job. Not a show piece at all. But, it was cool. I just loved the goofy thing. It had legs, stupid fragile 3/16" dowel legs, but it had legs. Yet I never launched it. Probably lots of reasons why, just never did. Grew up, moved away, all that stuff. About 10 years ago I grabbed it from my parent's house (if someone can help find my MIA SR-71 Blackbird that's there somewhere, that would be great). It wasn't intact. One leg was attached. A few fins were busted. Two other legs were broken. Two feet for the legs were missing. Decals were marginally still attached. It lived in a box of model stuff. We moved again, and it sat unloved. About six months ago I patched it up. Didn't feel like trying to fix the legs, so I just cut them off at the base of the fins. It was back in one piece.
Would it fly? In December we'd find out.
Turns out, flies perfect on a C6-5.
We chucked it up in the air a bunch of times, and then a few weeks ago, centering rings wanted to separate from the body tube, yay 30 year-old white Elmers glue, and the ejection charge tried to vacate the rear of the rocket, and it lawndarted. Sad. So sad.
I decided to fix the original since BT80 tubes come in a two-pack, but then build a better version that might go higher and I want the legs and fins to survive landing. Bought some parts and set off.
Mid-tinker OpenRocket. Needs nose weight; but not too much. Files I could find had CG near the leg mounting point, so we'll get it dialed in.
Traced out the fin shape and built a two-layer (3/16 thick) fin set.
Why not laminate them in notecard?
That's not an 18mm engine mount! BP E is doable. Not sure if I will, but I might. I didn't take pics, but since the fins aren't through the wall, there are partial balsa internal fins between the mount and body tube. I suspect it'd handle the hit from a composite E/F just fine.
Wanted something a little stronger for the legs this time. So, carbon fiber. Seems solidly attached with some CA. My CF bikes hold up fine to crashes, hopefully these do!
Lots going on in this picture.....
Trying spiral filling with wood filler this time hoping it removes some of the sanding effort of just using primer. We'll see. Hopefully I didn't do any of this wrong.
And, this is where I am, but there's a wonderful sheet of decals from stickershock23 for it when I can finish it up.
So, some history. Built one of these when I was about 11 years old. Bang-up job. Not a show piece at all. But, it was cool. I just loved the goofy thing. It had legs, stupid fragile 3/16" dowel legs, but it had legs. Yet I never launched it. Probably lots of reasons why, just never did. Grew up, moved away, all that stuff. About 10 years ago I grabbed it from my parent's house (if someone can help find my MIA SR-71 Blackbird that's there somewhere, that would be great). It wasn't intact. One leg was attached. A few fins were busted. Two other legs were broken. Two feet for the legs were missing. Decals were marginally still attached. It lived in a box of model stuff. We moved again, and it sat unloved. About six months ago I patched it up. Didn't feel like trying to fix the legs, so I just cut them off at the base of the fins. It was back in one piece.
Would it fly? In December we'd find out.
Turns out, flies perfect on a C6-5.
We chucked it up in the air a bunch of times, and then a few weeks ago, centering rings wanted to separate from the body tube, yay 30 year-old white Elmers glue, and the ejection charge tried to vacate the rear of the rocket, and it lawndarted. Sad. So sad.
I decided to fix the original since BT80 tubes come in a two-pack, but then build a better version that might go higher and I want the legs and fins to survive landing. Bought some parts and set off.
Mid-tinker OpenRocket. Needs nose weight; but not too much. Files I could find had CG near the leg mounting point, so we'll get it dialed in.
Traced out the fin shape and built a two-layer (3/16 thick) fin set.
Why not laminate them in notecard?
That's not an 18mm engine mount! BP E is doable. Not sure if I will, but I might. I didn't take pics, but since the fins aren't through the wall, there are partial balsa internal fins between the mount and body tube. I suspect it'd handle the hit from a composite E/F just fine.
Wanted something a little stronger for the legs this time. So, carbon fiber. Seems solidly attached with some CA. My CF bikes hold up fine to crashes, hopefully these do!
Lots going on in this picture.....
Trying spiral filling with wood filler this time hoping it removes some of the sanding effort of just using primer. We'll see. Hopefully I didn't do any of this wrong.
And, this is where I am, but there's a wonderful sheet of decals from stickershock23 for it when I can finish it up.
Going to be a while, making maple syrup will consume the next month+ of my life...
