OKTurbo’s Arapahoe X project

[mo2872]

Argonia this weekend....

Leaving at 0600 tomorrow!

 

[Bruiser]

You're gonna fly naked?

=Bob

 

[OKTurbo]

Progress! The Arapahoe X is back on the workbench. Carbon fiber skins on the fins.

 

[OKTurbo]

Working on the graphics. Laying it out and making sure it looks okay. The Thunderbird looks a bit chubby. I may need to put him on a diet. I’m thinking the bird will be metallic silver / reflective vinyl.

A work in progress.

 

[OKTurbo]

This thunderbird looks a little better. Getting graphic ideas before I start painting.

 

[OKTurbo]

Test cut of the logo. Using card stock. Checking the scale of it. I think it needs to be a bit bigger when I do it in vinyl. Card stock sheets are too small to do full size. The light blue color will actually be grey on the final version. Probably

 

[OKTurbo]

More better.

 

[Cape Byron]

Much more betterer, I agree.

 

[OKTurbo]

Finalized the graphics and cut some vinyl today. Hopefully all the bubbles will come out of the chrome Thunderbird.
I got a coat of resin on the nosecone and tube coupling locations.

 

[OKTurbo]

Made another Thunderbird. Used some soapy water and squeegeed out the bubbles…most of them at least. Looks much better. Maybe get some primer on it today!

 

[neil_w]

Look great. Are those two-layer cut vinyl?

 

[OKTurbo]

Look great. Are those two-layer cut vinyl?

Yeah. Cut vinyl on cricut.

 

[Greg Furtman]

QUOTE="OKTurbo, post: 2166398, member: 914"]
Finalized the graphics and cut some vinyl today. Hopefully all the bubbles will come out of the chrome Thunderbird.
I got a coat of resin on the nosecone and tube coupling locations.
View attachment 476139
[/QUOTE]
Are you going to leave the nosecone varnished? It look nice natural.

 

[OKTurbo]

The plan was gloss black on the nose cone. It does look good with the gloss wood grain. I’ll have to mull on that one. Maybe a cut graphic paint mask with some of the wood grain showing thru. That might work?

 

[OKTurbo]

Primer is going on. Then, we sand.

 

[OKTurbo]

About ready for some color.

 

[OKTurbo]

Does this count as color?

 

[OKTurbo]

Stacked it up this morning. Looks good. Almost ready for the graphics.

 

[mo2872]

Looks good. Think we'll get a launch in this week????? We've had some phenomenally bad luck on launch dates this year.

 

[neil_w]

Stacked it up this morning. Looks good. Almost ready for the graphics.
View attachment 477203

I love the combination of gloss and flat black, still plan to try that someday. Always a very Darth Vader-y look. Are the fins also just flat black? Hard to tell what's going on with the reflections there.

I also love any opportunity to see that Stiletto in the background, but that's a separate matter.

 

[OKTurbo]

Probably won’t be ready for Sunday launch.

The fins are carbon fiber…they’re covered in masking now. I’ll peel them tonight and share a pic.

 

[OKTurbo]

Pics with the fins unmasked. I’ll let the paint cure overnight then put on some graphics tomorrow.

 

[OKTurbo]

The graphics are on! Still a lot to do. Electronics…recovery…motor retainer…etc. I may add an “EXPERIMENTAL” graphic to the blank spot on ‘top’. I tried to get pics from all angles. Too much?

 

[mo2872]

Like all yours I’ve seen, excellent!!! BONUS: tomorrow’s launch is a go! Whatcha bringing??

 

[OKTurbo]

Like all yours I’ve seen, excellent!!! BONUS: tomorrow’s launch is a go! Whatcha bringing??

I’m not sure what I’ll bring. Was expecting it to be cancelled. I haven’t flown my 3” Thor, so that one for sure. Then whatever tickles my fancy. I have a mid powered Shrox der Rammstein that’s never flown.

Thanks for the compliment on my Arapahoe X. I think it turned out pretty good.

 

[mbeels]

Really nice! This is an inspired retake on a classic. It really gives it an entirely different look, I like it.

 

[OKTurbo]

Couldn’t leave it alone. Added a couple of more graphics from the cricut machine.

Need to gather up some rockets for the launch tomorrow. 3” Thor and the der Rammstein are going.

 

[OKTurbo]

It’s getting very close. Electronics done. Recovery harness done. Rail buttons on and vent holes all in. Hole drilled and tapped for the M2 shear pins. 2K Max matte clear on last night. The nose cone got a coat of Future floor polish. Next is testing ejection charges, but I’m going to give the clear another day to cure before I start blowing things apart during election testing.

Weight is right at 5 lbs with an empty 38/720 case. I’ll sim some motors. Plan to maiden at Tulsa Rocketry High Frontier launch in Pawhuska, OK.

 

[OKTurbo]

 

[Cape Byron]

Nice. Very nice.