Previously, on a smaller rocket, I attached my rail guides externally on the tube itself before finishing the Rocket. On my LOC/Precision Goblin, I didn't do that. I still must attach the rail guides buttons . . . but the question is how. I've attempted to use the side of the door technique - the fins are too big. I tried using an aluminum angle-iron, but even the 1" ones are too big and tend to bump into my messy filet. I came up with a way to do it, but I'm hoping someone has a magical easy way to do it:
1) Using a string, measure the distance between two fin roots on the side that I'll mount the guides.
2) Mark 1/2 that distance on the string, overlay on to the very rear of the rocket on the engine side and mark a 1/2 point between the two fins
3) Using a string with a weight at the end - perhaps a paper clip, attach that string to the mark just made with some tape.
4) Ensuring that I'm using a level surface, remove the nosecone, detach the cord from the nose cone and stuff the cordage into the body tube with a paper towel to hold it all in .
5) Flip the rocket upside down and put the body tube on the level surface allowing the weighted string to naturally hang down.
6) Mark where the string and the rear-most CR intersect for one and the next above the forward most CR.
7) Drill, mount and glue the rail guide buttons as appropriate for the material. Screw for the rear CR and blind nut for the forward CR.
Input, ideas, Corrections, Easier ways to do it would be greatly appreciated!
Mark!
1) Using a string, measure the distance between two fin roots on the side that I'll mount the guides.
2) Mark 1/2 that distance on the string, overlay on to the very rear of the rocket on the engine side and mark a 1/2 point between the two fins
3) Using a string with a weight at the end - perhaps a paper clip, attach that string to the mark just made with some tape.
4) Ensuring that I'm using a level surface, remove the nosecone, detach the cord from the nose cone and stuff the cordage into the body tube with a paper towel to hold it all in .
5) Flip the rocket upside down and put the body tube on the level surface allowing the weighted string to naturally hang down.
6) Mark where the string and the rear-most CR intersect for one and the next above the forward most CR.
7) Drill, mount and glue the rail guide buttons as appropriate for the material. Screw for the rear CR and blind nut for the forward CR.
Input, ideas, Corrections, Easier ways to do it would be greatly appreciated!
Mark!
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. I also like to attach blocks of wood to my centering rings to give me a bigger target to drill into.
