Nike Hercules obsession?

[billeblurzz]

 

[tab28682]

There will be some sort of Nike Hercules model in my future.

After I got my Covid 19 vaccination yesterday, I decided to do a drive by of the full scale Nike Herc that lives here in Fort Worth at a local VFW Post. Had not driven by it in 20-25 years. The good news was that it was still there. The bad news was the paint job..... A long time ago, it was on display in the correct colors.

It is on Mansfield Highway in SE Fort Worth, just a little NW of I-20

 

[dbpeirce]

There will be some sort of Nike Hercules model in my future.

After I got my Covid 19 vaccination yesterday, I decided to do a drive by of the full scale Nike Herc that lives here in Fort Worth at a local VFW Post. Had not driven by it in 20-25 years. The good news was that it was still there. The bad news was the paint job..... A long time ago, it was on display in the correct colors.

It is on Mansfield Highway in SE Fort Worth, just a little NW of I-20

Next time you’re there ask how much they want for it. They aren’t taking care of it, but I will

 

[vcp]

All I have Nike-Hercules.

 

[vcp]

.... The bad news was the paint job..... A long time ago, it was on display in the correct colors.

It is on Mansfield Highway in SE Fort Worth, just a little NW of I-20

When you see tanks and airplanes as 'gate guards' or in park displays you rarely seem to see any of them painted in anything but reasonably accurate colors. Rockets seem to be just the opposite - they seem to be fair game for any clown suit they want to slap on them.

 

[billeblurzz]

Working on a Boyce Aerospace 1/14 Nike Hercules. I’m obsessed!

 

[tab28682]

I'm not really obsessed, but I did go ahead and get one of the little Boyce Aerospace 1/24th Nike Hercules kits. All 3D printed parts, no tubes required. Add your own chute. Very nice looking little model.

Got it today and they did a very nice job on it. Will take about 10 minutes to build and a couple of hours to sand out the build lines. Should be fun to fly on single D12-5 and similar motors.

One of the web site reviews mentioned that the 3D printed motor retainer melted a bit and broke on his first flight. I am going to reinforce mine a bit with some windings of thin Kevlar thread and CA, plus a little glass cloth and CA on the screw flanges.

 

[tab28682]

One thing I am going to do will greatly reduce the time required to sand out the model.

Going to set up a container that will use acetone vapor to polish the 3d printed ABS parts. This process saves about 3/4 of the hours needed to sand it out in the normal fashion. This was standard practice for the aerospace model shop I worked at. (Does not work with PLA, works with any print plastic that can be dissolved or bonded with acetone.)

https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/how-to-vapor-polishing

 

[gerbs4me]

Nice.

Can it be converted to fly?

You can make anything fly with a rocket engine lol

 

[billeblurzz]

Started the plastic model kit...nice break from building REAL rockets!

 

[hball55]

Ever since I dug out my Roachwerks kit and finished it, I seem to be into all Nike Ajax and Hercules. Today I received this Freedom Models kit...looks like it might be awesome!View attachment 447032

Awesomely “aggressive-looking” missile, and a favorite of mine despite not owning one.

 

[dbpeirce]

I finished my big Hercules.

 

[billeblurzz]

Wow, thanks for posting that! It looks awesome! What will it fly on? Cluster?

 

[dbpeirce]

I finished my big Hercules.
View attachment 462916

Wow, thanks for posting that! It looks awesome! What will it fly on? Cluster?

yes,
4 38mm motors in the booster,
1 54mm in the sustainer.
haven't made up my mind on the specific motors yet.

 

[billeblurzz]

Here is the latest on this model build.

 

[billeblurzz]

There are many small details in kit. I may know every nut and bolt in the missile!

 

[billeblurzz]

Here is how it mounts to launcher.

 

[billeblurzz]

Progression!

 

[JPalmer621]

New Mexico Museum of Space History and White Sands rocket garden

 

[billeblurzz]

 

[billeblurzz]

Done...I think.

 

[billeblurzz]

I will seal the decals with Dullcote tomorrow to reduce the flashing of the decal film.

 

[dbpeirce]

Looks awesome!!

 

[georgegassaway]

My favorite is the Nike Zeus. Had the Cox model in 1970. If I ever build a Nike-Zeus, I'll put a guidance system in it, either sunguidance or modern "vertical flight" guidance.

 

[billeblurzz]

Thanks all! Looks like I need to do some yard work...but maybe that adds to the "old abandoned missile site" effect? George, I first saw your sun-seeking 3 stage Sidewinder missile at NSL 1999! Very cool!

 

[Ez2cDave]

Cool! This may be it!

That looks like a "re-issue" or a "knockoff" of the RENWAL Nike-Ajax.

Dave F.

 

[icyclops]

Cool! This may be it!View attachment 447432View attachment 447433

The model box art is hilarious....the two guys running like hell....I don’t think I would like to be around there when they lite that off....maybe they were lighting the fuse

 

[billeblurzz]

Yeah, the guy on the left looks like he's run out of his cap! When I build this one next I may have a cord hanging out the rear of the Ajax!...."Hey what's THAT??"...."The FUSE??"

 

[Ez2cDave]

There is nothing else, like the Nike-Hercules . . .

Dave F.

 

[vcp]