Moonraker R/C shuttle

[burkefj]

I did get a chance to fly the upscale Moonraker on some F-24 reloads, worked even better than the E-20, for some reason seemed the thrust profile, even though the average was higher, it didn't seem to push quite as fast but did go higher by a bit, I'm loading these in my R/C casing by putting a layer of thick duct tape over the forward end of the propellent slug, trimming around it and then inserting into the liner, greasing, putting into the case and using only the nozzle and large rear o-ring, works perfect as a substitute for the fiber washer included with F-12R/C type reloads to protect the forward casing end.

Frank

 

[burkefj]

Some flight shots from John Hornsby III from my F-24 flights a few weeks ago.

 

[burkefj]

My new favorite motor for this model, the F-24

 

[burkefj]

Building an updated smaller 1:52 scale moonraker yesterday, just waiting for decals, only 5.2 oz less motor and battery.. 18" wingspan, 23" length.

 

[John Kemker]

Frank, you need to redo at least one of your videos to have the proper background music.

 

[burkefj]

Frank, you need to redo at least one of your videos to have the proper background music.

It's one of the first videos at the beginning of this thread

 

[John Kemker]

It's one of the first videos at the beginning of this thread

I missed that!

 

[burkefj]

Got my decals from stickershock, and finished all three versions, Moonraker, Buran and US today, 7.6 oz rtf

 

[burkefj]

Pretty windy and you can't hear much of what I'm saying which maybe is a good thing

 

[burkefj]

On my walk today I was pondering if I could make one light enough to fly on the 18mm D2.3 motors which need a rtf weight around 5.5 oz. Simply changing the motor tube and rebalancing was not going to be sufficient as the motor difference was only 25 grams and the motor tube difference only a few grams. I knew I would need to use 3mm depron in place of the body tube to save enough weight.

The motor weight difference is 0.84 so I need to drop about 1 oz airframe weight.

Instead of formers which would require re designing the tail to support it and make skin supports, I decided to use a small ring of body tube at the front which would also support the forward rail button, and a ring of tube at the rear to mount the fin and support the other rail button.

I pre formed the 3mm skin by forming over a cutting board edge going back and forth pressing with my hands till I got a nice shape and then using a long piece of coupler stock to align the two rings I glued the 3mm skin to them and then glued that assembly to the wing liike my 24mm version. I did not need a coupler at the front, the cone will be permanently mounted with a bottom hatch for the battery.

The middle of the fuse has enough built in tension being curved to not need any support. Semi monocoque I suppose.

I pre cut a hollow in the nose cone for the battery compartment and made a hatch.

The motor tube used only one support strip instead of three like I normally use.

I made longer pushrods to move the servo weight forward an inch.

Stickershock had sent me a spare set of moonraker decals so I'm all set.

 

[burkefj]

Hatch cut. I finished the decals and will not paint the bottom black till I make sure it will fly ok at this weight. The Moonraker decals added .3 oz due to their size, if I had done a std shuttle it would have been lighter.

If I had used formers instead of tube sections front and rear it would have saved another .2 ounces but would have made the construction much more complicated and I would have had extra joints in the skin at the rear where it has to butt against the fin. If I just cut a slot into the foam without a support on each side the foam tends to pucker up and look bad. This way the foam is glued to the tube around the fin and I don't have an extra joint.

Right now the completed airframe is only 2.9 oz instead of 4.26 for the 24mm kit version, this is a pretty good % reduction in a pretty light starting airframe.

 

[burkefj]

Installed the servos and battery/rx and only needed 4 grams of nose weight! 5.66 oz rtf, pretty close to target. Should boost to right under 390 feet.

 

[ljwilley]

I loved your flights at sod blaster IV. So fun to watch glider rockets!

 

[burkefj]

Here is the maiden and second flight of the little moonraker on a D2.3, flew nice, just needed a bit of glide trim adjustment after the first flight.