Roachwerks and Sandman are still around and making balsa saw dust!

[Damage...]

Hey Gordon

Good to see you back!

That reminds me - I must finish that Little Joe...

Damage

 

[hokkyokusei]

Originally posted by Damage...

That reminds me - I must finish that Little Joe...

You too eh?

 

[Damage...]

Originally posted by hokkyokusei
You too eh?

Oh man - at least you didn't beat me to it!

Had a busy time test flying new spaceplanes - whenever the weather and wind give us a break!

Tried again today with SERFs in Wiltshire - so windy it took me 30 mins to walk back after recevering my little son's B motor rocket!

One day I'll turn up with my pristine LJ2 done and you gonna be

Damage

 

[hokkyokusei]

Originally posted by Damage...

One day I'll turn up with my pristine LJ2 done and you gonna be

Yeah, yeah

 

[Daniel Runyon]

Originally posted by RoyGreen


And while I'm sure Sandman would appreciate the business, you can get them from Semroc, too.

He's making me four of them today! I ordered two of the original with the point and two of the rounded next gen.

 

[sandman]

Boy, I just get back to real work and you gouy don't fool around.

This was very very challenging!

It's about 18" tall and the transition fits a 7.62" body tube.

I still have to make the escape tower for it.

Yes! It's a little Joe I

 

[sandman]

The capsule is 6.25" at the base and fits a 6" PML tube.

The transition gets glued into the main 7.62" body and has a 6" PML tube down the middle.

This was NOT easy!

 

[DaveCombs]

UN
FREAKING
BELIEVEABLE.

Did I or did I not say he's the best in the biz?

 

[Rocketcrab]

Welcome back, Gordon.

 

[ben]

Originally posted by DaveCombs
UN
FREAKING
BELIEVEABLE.

Did I or did I not say he's the best in the biz?

I would love to put him besdie a CNC lathe and do like the TV shows and see which is better

Ben

 

[sandman]

Gee, thanks, guys!

BTW...my stock of X-20 Dyna Soar nose cones has been depleted.

I have one left!

I haven't sold one of those cones in 8 months...I just shipped 6 this week!

I need to see if Phred can make me more decals.

 

[wilsotr]

Originally posted by sandman
The capsule is 6.25" at the base and fits a 6" PML tube.

The transition gets glued into the main 7.62" body and has a 6" PML tube down the middle.

This was NOT easy!

OK, I've gotta ask ... what do you charge for a thing like that?

 

[foose4string]

If I were to buy it, it would cost me a wife and a few kids!

 

[sandman]

Originally posted by wilsotr
OK, I've gotta ask ... what do you charge for a thing like that?

See, here's the thing about a project like that and why I charge what can seem like an awful lot to do it.

Most people when it comes to =scale= project, will just ask me to make a Mercury capsule or Gemini capsule or whatever, to fit a certain size tube.

I am somewhat fanatical when it comes to =scale= and if it is going to have my name on it I want it right.

So that means I have to spend several hours at the computer making =scale= drawings taken off of documentation that I had to find. Then scale it to fit the tube.

If I've done a similar project then I'm lucky. I just have to scale it to fit. If I haven't done one yet, then I have to start from the beginning.

When I finish the drawings in CAD then I have to convert it to a pdf and send it to the customer via email for approval.

We usually have to go back and forth a few times to get it exactly the way the customer wants it.

This all takes time before I even look at the lathe.

I think what I do is a bit more than BMS or even Carl (who I love dearly) does.

Keep in mind that all of that pre lathe work may never be used on another project. The finished product may truley be a "one-of-a-kind".

So what do I charge?

A lot less than it's worth!

That particular project was about $200 and took probably 4 full days at the lathe to complete.

He may have me do the escape tower.

 

[foose4string]

Wow. I would have guessed much more than that! That seemed like a huge undertaking making something that large, and to scale to boot.

 

[sandman]

Originally posted by foose4string
Wow. I would have guessed much more than that! That seemed like a huge undertaking making something that large, and to scale to boot.

Sure, I'd like to charge more but...nobody would pay it.

 

[heada]

Some would, but not any more now that you've told the whole world.(I was guessing closer to $250)

-Aaron

 

[Daniel Runyon]

I just got some Sandman Bertha noses, two of the original pointy ones and two modern rounded:

I'm a little disappointed though... I was expecting a chorus of angels and a golden ray when I opened the box...

The original pointed ones can be seen in this old plan and this old kit advertisement.

Yep... that's my computer desk... all carved up! It's OK though... I NEVER let my wedding video customers visit!

 

[cjl]

I'm a little disappointed though... I was expecting a chorus of angels and a golden ray when I opened the box...

Those only come standard with the 3" and larger cones