Plastic Transistion

[Woody's Workshop]

I've been looking online for over an hour.
I am in need of a plastic transistion from BT-20 to BT-50.
I have 2 old payload sections from Estes, but that trans is missing, must have used it years ago.
Does anyone know where I can get one?

 

[scsager]

If balsa would work instead of plastic - both Semroc and Balsa Machining have them in stock... Fliskits site says "coming soon".

 

[Scotty Dog]

I guess you could make one. Starting with a long or short (depending on the length you want) plastic bt-50 NC and cut it down to the size of a bt 20 coupler and glue coupler in end ????? just an Idea

 

[Woody's Workshop]

Good Idea!
I just may do that! I have some plastic tubing the size of BT-20 to top it off!
Thank you kindly the kick in the kister. :clap:

 

[dlazarus6660]

Why can't you use paper? I use paper all the time. Cheap, easy and here is a program to use. I use cardstock. Use thin super glue to make it stronger and plastic-like.

https://www.delorie.com/rockets/transitions.html

 

[Woody's Workshop]

I have a bunch of the Estes card stock transition templates I got from a hobby shop sale several years ago. If it didn't need to seperate at this point it would be a great alternative. Think of the Estes CATO rocket, it's on that kind of design, but transistions and on a much larger scale. Except my concept all the segments will not be strapped together and will various types of recover. It's a work in progress, nothing that is in a rush or likely be done anytime soon.

 

[Handeman]

What you are looking for is the plastic tube adapter. It should be part number PTA-2050. There was one use on these kits
https://plans.rocketshoppe.com/estes/est1344/Nomad.pdf
https://www.oldrocketplans.com/estes/estK-54/estK-54.pdf

Where you can still get one? If you call Estes, who knows....

Good Luck

 

[bradycros]

If balsa would work instead of plastic - both Semroc and Balsa Machining have them in stock... Fliskits site says "coming soon".

www.balsamachining.com

TA2050 $3.00 BUY Transition T20 to T50 2 in long BT20 2.000 view get pdf
TA2050A $2.35 BUY Transition T20 to T50 1 in long BT20 1.000 view get pdf
TA2055 $2.60 BUY Transition T20 to T55 1.5 in long BT20 1.500 . .
TA2060 $3.40 BUY Transition T20 to T80 0.84 in long BT20 1.000 . .
TA2080 $10.95 BUY Transition T20 to T80 2.0 in long BT20 2.000 . .
TA5055 $2.70 BUY Transition T50 to T55 1 in long BT50 1.000 . .
TA5055L $2.70 BUY Transiition T50 to T55 1.5 in long BT50 1.500 . .
TA5060 $3.55 BUY Transition T50 to T60 2 in long BT50 2.000 view get pdf
TA5060C $4.55 BUY Thor-Agena B Transition BT50 3.750 view .
TA520 $2.00 BUY Transition T5 to T20 0.78 in long BT5 0.750 . .
TA5260C $4.55 BUY Thor-Agena B Transition BT52 3.750 view get pdf
TA550 $2.35 BUY Transition T5 to T50 1 in long BT5 1.000 . .
TA555 $2.50 BUY Transiition T5 to T55 2.75 in long BT5 2.750 . .
TA5560 $2.90 BUY Transition T55 to T60 1 long BT55 1.000 . .
TA5560A $2.95 BUY Transition T55 to T60 1.3 in long BT55 1.250 . .
TA6070 $4.05 BUY Transition T60 to T70 1.5 in long BT60 1.500 view get pdf
TA6080 $8.65 BUY Transition T60 to T80 2.25 in long BT60 2.250 . .
TA7080 $8.65 BUY Transition T70 to T80 2 in long BT70 2.000 . .
TA70300 $18.00 BUY Transition (taper length=2.5 inch) BT70 2.500 . .
TA80300 $19.00 BUY Transition (taper length=2.5 inch) BT80 2.500 . .
TA80H300 $19.00 BUY Transition (taper length=2.5 inch) T80H 2.500 . .

 

[accooper]

Or thin polystyrene sheeting like I use. Works lots better than paper!

Andrew

 

[McKailas Dad]

Or thin polystyrene sheeting like I use.

Could you explain your technique on this? What glue, how to keep its shape, etc?

 

[luke strawwalker]

Why can't you use paper? I use paper all the time. Cheap, easy and here is a program to use. I use cardstock. Use thin super glue to make it stronger and plastic-like.

https://www.delorie.com/rockets/transitions.html

Handiest thing since sliced bread... LOVE this tool!

Paper works very well (cardstock) and it's cheap, and if you harden it with CA it's very tough. Not hard to do at all... Just made a mess of F-1 nozzles for my 1/152 Saturn V/ I-F over on the "BT-80 Saturn V" thread...

Course if you WANTED to use plastic, you could always trace the paper pattern or use it for a cutting guide to cut the part out of thin plastic sheet... (thin enough that you could still roll anyway).

Later! OL JR

 

[sandman]

I've been looking online for over an hour.
I am in need of a plastic transistion from BT-20 to BT-50.
I have 2 old payload sections from Estes, but that trans is missing, must have used it years ago.
Does anyone know where I can get one?

I just checked and I have a few different ones made.

You can check them out when you stop by.

 

[Micromeister]

Could you explain your technique on this? What glue, how to keep its shape, etc?

Jeff:
Layout and works very nearly the same way paper transitions. You just need to take the Styrene thickness into account when determining the OD arc.
Pre-roll the cone over a convenient dowel or thick wall tube or pipe. use MC, MEK or 7R same as you would solvent welding any other Acrylic or styrene part. I've found a cleaner, smoother joint can be made using a seperate seam back-up strip on just about any size .010", .020" or .030" thick Styrene transition. Roll the shoulders as internal dimension rings solvent welded in place, Cap ends if you like. Any remaining hairline butt seam openings or rough cuts along the joining lines can be filled and sanded using medium CA which sands about the same as styrene with 320girt and finer papers, making the joint appear seamless.

Same layout method for laying out Cones or Transtions can be done in 3ply 1/64" and 3/64" lite-plywood. using wood glues. Yes you can roll plywood

Edit: Added this layout procedure in case one of the transition computer programs is not usable for your project. I used this procedure to produce the template to cut the 3/64" Liteply for the BT-101 to BT-60 Transition for my 3X staged Upscale laser-X.
Hope this helps.

 

[pdooley]

Why can't you use paper? I use paper all the time. Cheap, easy and here is a program to use. I use cardstock. Use thin super glue to make it stronger and plastic-like.

https://www.delorie.com/rockets/transitions.html

over ten years ago, lol time flies.
anyway, if you're still around, thanks for the link. it's still good and the transition is perfect.
Adding this to my build queue (BT80/BT55)
https://www.fusionrocket.biz/store-2/sbr-the-bomb-kit/

 

[Hobie1dog]

over ten years ago, lol time flies.
anyway, if you're still around, thanks for the link. it's still good and the transition is perfect.

I believe he (Micromeister) has passed away back in 2018

 

[cwbullet]

I believe he (Micromeister) has passed away back in 2018

He did.

 

[cwbullet]

over ten years ago, lol time flies.
anyway, if you're still around, thanks for the link. it's still good and the transition is perfect.
Adding this to my build queue (BT80/BT55)
https://www.fusionrocket.biz/store-2/sbr-the-bomb-kit/

If you want a trantion, I can help with the design.

 

[Pepe Le Pew]

get a 3d printed one from someone here on the group.

 

[bjphoenix]

Paper transitions have been mentioned. I've always thought I could make do by using a piece of smaller tube, some centering rings and a paper transition to build what I needed but I've never had to actually do it that way.
Earlier this year I took it as a challenge to derive the calculations to create a tail cone and this is what I came up with. This was BT-50 diameter up to BT-55 diameter.

 

[Sandy H.]

Check out the Apogee articles on the Super Shroud. I worked with them and did make an iteration that I thought was slightly better, but rocket business = wasted money, so the math and method never went anywhere. The Super Shroud articles are 80-99% anything you'd need, IMO, for DIY where you can make a few and pick whichever fits just right.

Sandy.

 

[Cape Byron]

Or thin polystyrene sheeting like I use. Works lots better than paper!

Andrew

Oh, I'm gonna try this!