arthur dent
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I have made a boattail out of light cardboard.What would be some good methods of strengthening it so it at least has a chance of survivel on landing??
How can i strengthen cardboard.
- Thread starter arthur dent
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powderburner
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Soak the cardboard in CA
Coat the insides with epoxy
Coat the insides with epoxy/chopped glass
Add balsa or spruce stringers to the inside
Foam the inside volume
Glass the outside surface
Use your cardboard as a pattern to fabricate a new part from titanium (oops, can't use lots of metal on rockets!)
Coat the insides with epoxy
Coat the insides with epoxy/chopped glass
Add balsa or spruce stringers to the inside
Foam the inside volume
Glass the outside surface
Use your cardboard as a pattern to fabricate a new part from titanium (oops, can't use lots of metal on rockets!)
hokkyokusei
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Of the suggestions listed above I've tried:
-Soaking in CA
-Light fibreglass to the outside
-Coating in epoxy
-Foaming the internals
Of the four, I prefer soaking in CA & a light layer of fibreglass. To me, epoxy alone did not add any significant strength to thin card.
I'd only recomend foamin if either fibreglass or CA have also been used.
-Soaking in CA
-Light fibreglass to the outside
-Coating in epoxy
-Foaming the internals
Of the four, I prefer soaking in CA & a light layer of fibreglass. To me, epoxy alone did not add any significant strength to thin card.
I'd only recomend foamin if either fibreglass or CA have also been used.
sandman
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Aurthur,
You didn't specify how big this tail cone is.
If it's small like say a BT-50 to a BT-55 just soak it in CA glue.
I built my Commando Cody rocket tailcone out of cardstock.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2948&highlight=Commando+Cody
It was a for a BT-80 (2.6") to a BT-20 (0.736") and it held up just fine to an Aerotech D21 AU motor and a later deployment. It just shredded the chute and got some mud on the nose cone.
sandman
You didn't specify how big this tail cone is.
If it's small like say a BT-50 to a BT-55 just soak it in CA glue.
I built my Commando Cody rocket tailcone out of cardstock.
https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2948&highlight=Commando+Cody
It was a for a BT-80 (2.6") to a BT-20 (0.736") and it held up just fine to an Aerotech D21 AU motor and a later deployment. It just shredded the chute and got some mud on the nose cone.
sandman
DynaSoar
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Cut another boat tail out of thin styrene sheet and glue it over it. Makes it pretty much ready for finishing. Easy on the glue, though, the stuff warps if it's too thick. I'd paint a layer of regular tube type styrene cement over the cardboard and let it dry, then use thin cement (nearly all solvent) on the inside of the cone and slide it over. The thick stuff is real easy to fillet and seal edges with. 10mil would work. 20 mil would be better, but depending on the size, might not be easy to bend that tight without resorting to heat.
