Bruiser
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2018
- Messages
- 1,596
- Reaction score
- 867
Hmmn, what's this doing in Mid-Power? The Vapor is 24mm rocket, correct?
Not this one. A lot has been written about it being a Star Orbiter in sheep's clothing and I though that's not fair. It just so happens that I have a couple of 29mm mount mounts from Star Orbiter kits that I stole parts out of. When I saw a Vapor at my local Hobby Lobby, I decided to go for it.
Besides the size of the motor mount the other difference is that the Vapor fins just glue to the body tube while the Star Orbiter uses ttw fins. Careful measuring and a few slices with a single edge razor blade took care of the fin slots for me. You might also notice the 29mm motor tube installed.
Next was the fins. I needed some ttw fins and I debated about papered balsa, basswood and ply. I actually cut out sample fins and weighed them before I decided. Of course balsa was the lightest followed by the light ply I had and Basswood was the heaviest. I didn't really like any of them because there was a little more flex at the end than I liked so I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some of their craft ply. It was heavier but had little to no flex so that is what I have gone with.
Since the kit has a coupler it seems a waste for it not to live up to it's potential so I turned it into an ejection baffle. This one is a new design for me. I hope it works
Here it is installed in the lower body tube. A Kevlar lead will come off the screw eye and transition over to braided elastic.
I am going to wait to attach the upper tube until I get the fins mounted. I am working on them now.
-Bob
Not this one. A lot has been written about it being a Star Orbiter in sheep's clothing and I though that's not fair. It just so happens that I have a couple of 29mm mount mounts from Star Orbiter kits that I stole parts out of. When I saw a Vapor at my local Hobby Lobby, I decided to go for it.
Besides the size of the motor mount the other difference is that the Vapor fins just glue to the body tube while the Star Orbiter uses ttw fins. Careful measuring and a few slices with a single edge razor blade took care of the fin slots for me. You might also notice the 29mm motor tube installed.
Next was the fins. I needed some ttw fins and I debated about papered balsa, basswood and ply. I actually cut out sample fins and weighed them before I decided. Of course balsa was the lightest followed by the light ply I had and Basswood was the heaviest. I didn't really like any of them because there was a little more flex at the end than I liked so I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some of their craft ply. It was heavier but had little to no flex so that is what I have gone with.
Since the kit has a coupler it seems a waste for it not to live up to it's potential so I turned it into an ejection baffle. This one is a new design for me. I hope it works
Here it is installed in the lower body tube. A Kevlar lead will come off the screw eye and transition over to braided elastic.
I am going to wait to attach the upper tube until I get the fins mounted. I am working on them now.
-Bob