I was on a buying spree at the Estes online store and bought a 2.5" PS II conical nose cone. Why? because it looked cool and useful. A short time later I started looking for a rocket to build around it. I had seen and fallen in infatuation with the Nike Zeus rockets - both the LOC and the Estes versions. That's the one! When I had time, I started buying components and scaling pictures of both of the above in ACad. From those dimensions I built a model in OR with a 38mm motor mount. I also designed a simple yet quite light 29mm adapter for initial testing flights.
After a couple months of tinkering when I had time the result is below. A 44" design using PS II body tubes and G10 x 1/16" FG fins. With no recovery devices or electronics and unfinished paint it comes in at 21.25 oz. I did cheat a little and ordered the decal set for LOC's 2.26 dia. model to help out with finishing.
The CP mimics exactly where the LOC models have theirs. Both sets of aft fins are through-tube and epoxied to the 38mm motor tube. Only two centering rings are used and should be plenty given the amount of epoxied surfaces attached to it. All fins, even the canard, have internal as well as external epoxy fillets though the canard fins are more or less smooth on the inside.
For initial and lower altitude flights I plan on using an Eggtimer Apogee deployment for drogue and a JLCR for the main at around 400'. There is a payload fence about 7-1/2 inches below the bottom of the nose cone to keep the CG stable. The Apogee (and later a Quasar when I finish the sled for it and the tracking station box) has a mount just above (forward of) the smaller set of aft fins. The tubes separate there and will be held fast with a couple tiny screws.
There are a host of methods I came up with and borrowed from others to get it to this point. Fun stuff!
After a couple months of tinkering when I had time the result is below. A 44" design using PS II body tubes and G10 x 1/16" FG fins. With no recovery devices or electronics and unfinished paint it comes in at 21.25 oz. I did cheat a little and ordered the decal set for LOC's 2.26 dia. model to help out with finishing.
The CP mimics exactly where the LOC models have theirs. Both sets of aft fins are through-tube and epoxied to the 38mm motor tube. Only two centering rings are used and should be plenty given the amount of epoxied surfaces attached to it. All fins, even the canard, have internal as well as external epoxy fillets though the canard fins are more or less smooth on the inside.
For initial and lower altitude flights I plan on using an Eggtimer Apogee deployment for drogue and a JLCR for the main at around 400'. There is a payload fence about 7-1/2 inches below the bottom of the nose cone to keep the CG stable. The Apogee (and later a Quasar when I finish the sled for it and the tracking station box) has a mount just above (forward of) the smaller set of aft fins. The tubes separate there and will be held fast with a couple tiny screws.
There are a host of methods I came up with and borrowed from others to get it to this point. Fun stuff!
