I know this might not be the best idea and it's probably been hashed over many times before, R/C launch controllers are considered dangerous by some because of the chance of radio interference and rockets firing when they aint supposed to, BUT having said that, it's just TOO TEMPTING to build one, a launch pad that will go where ever you want it to go at the mere wiggle of a control stick, and then adjusting your launch angle at the touch of a button, and finally sending a rocket into the wild blue yonder simply by smashing down a button(or sequence of buttons) on an R/C controller.
Several months ago I purchaed an R/C airsoft tank made by Hen-Long(in Hong Kong), pretty much a standard fare R/C tank with one amazing exception..... the gun REALLY fires! Yep, they fire little 6mm plastic BBs using a gush of air, these tanks go for a little over $50, they're really a good value, but they have one fatal flaw, one part in the firing mechanisims gear box is extremely weak and prone to breakage under normal use, this part has broken on me a number of times, and it renders the gun useless, it seems every time I glue it back together(super glue, or plastic cement) it will hold up for a couple rounds, and then break again, I gave up on trying to fix the gun, just had too much working against me.
I've decided rather than to have a useless toy sitting on a shelf that I'd try to utilize it for something else, then the idea struck me that maybe if I ripped the motor and gears out of the gun gear box and attached a couple lengths of wire to the wires that fed the motor and then routed them through the gear box and out the end of the gun barrel, that I might have a means of using the tank as an R/C rocket launchpad with built in launch controller, and why not... being a tank it is easily able to handle bumpy or grassy terrain, is very manuverable thanks to the skid steer system a tank utilizes, and would just look cool as a rocket launching platform. I decided to test my theory, I ripped everything out of the gear box, connected the two wires to the wires the motor used to be connected to, and routed them out the end of the barrel, then I connected an Estes ignitor to the two wires and fed in the firing signal from the transmitter..... sure enough the ignitor lit up just as I expected it to! Previously I wasnt sure if there'd be enough juice to light up the ignitor, but now I know there's juice to spare.
I've come too far now, I just have to see it through all the way, what I further intend to do is mount a blast deflector and 1/8" launch rod directly to the top of the barrel.... this way with the gun up/gun down control from the transmitter you would have some control over launch angle, as a safety device the tank comes with a switch on top of the turret that enables/disables the guns firing mechanism, I intend to attach a 2 foot metal rod to this switch to act as sort of a launch key, this will afford me some extra safety, but I still would want to be a little farther away than two feet if the rocket prematurely fired.... not a perfect system, but as long as I stick to small engine rockets(no larger than B) there shouldn't be any real reason for serious concern.... It'd probably be a good idea to wear safety glasses while prepping a rocket for launch.
A little disclaimer may be in order here.... dont try this unless you are FULLY aware of all risks involved and can make an intelligent decision as to if you think the added risk is worth it or not. Launching a rocket by means of an explosive propellant is already an inherently potentially dangerous activity, the project mentioned above only adds another level of risk, and should not be attempted unless you are prepared to protect yourself and those around you from that risk.
Having said all that(man I'm a windbag!), what ya'll think about it??????
Several months ago I purchaed an R/C airsoft tank made by Hen-Long(in Hong Kong), pretty much a standard fare R/C tank with one amazing exception..... the gun REALLY fires! Yep, they fire little 6mm plastic BBs using a gush of air, these tanks go for a little over $50, they're really a good value, but they have one fatal flaw, one part in the firing mechanisims gear box is extremely weak and prone to breakage under normal use, this part has broken on me a number of times, and it renders the gun useless, it seems every time I glue it back together(super glue, or plastic cement) it will hold up for a couple rounds, and then break again, I gave up on trying to fix the gun, just had too much working against me.
I've decided rather than to have a useless toy sitting on a shelf that I'd try to utilize it for something else, then the idea struck me that maybe if I ripped the motor and gears out of the gun gear box and attached a couple lengths of wire to the wires that fed the motor and then routed them through the gear box and out the end of the gun barrel, that I might have a means of using the tank as an R/C rocket launchpad with built in launch controller, and why not... being a tank it is easily able to handle bumpy or grassy terrain, is very manuverable thanks to the skid steer system a tank utilizes, and would just look cool as a rocket launching platform. I decided to test my theory, I ripped everything out of the gear box, connected the two wires to the wires the motor used to be connected to, and routed them out the end of the barrel, then I connected an Estes ignitor to the two wires and fed in the firing signal from the transmitter..... sure enough the ignitor lit up just as I expected it to! Previously I wasnt sure if there'd be enough juice to light up the ignitor, but now I know there's juice to spare.
I've come too far now, I just have to see it through all the way, what I further intend to do is mount a blast deflector and 1/8" launch rod directly to the top of the barrel.... this way with the gun up/gun down control from the transmitter you would have some control over launch angle, as a safety device the tank comes with a switch on top of the turret that enables/disables the guns firing mechanism, I intend to attach a 2 foot metal rod to this switch to act as sort of a launch key, this will afford me some extra safety, but I still would want to be a little farther away than two feet if the rocket prematurely fired.... not a perfect system, but as long as I stick to small engine rockets(no larger than B) there shouldn't be any real reason for serious concern.... It'd probably be a good idea to wear safety glasses while prepping a rocket for launch.
A little disclaimer may be in order here.... dont try this unless you are FULLY aware of all risks involved and can make an intelligent decision as to if you think the added risk is worth it or not. Launching a rocket by means of an explosive propellant is already an inherently potentially dangerous activity, the project mentioned above only adds another level of risk, and should not be attempted unless you are prepared to protect yourself and those around you from that risk.
Having said all that(man I'm a windbag!), what ya'll think about it??????