Stiletto Upscale Build Thread

[OKTurbo]

Another coat of primer. The nose cone getting some love. JBWeld for the retainer and nozzle attachment.

 

[OKTurbo]

Gloss white...then copper on the nose cone.

 

[neil_w]

Gorgeous. What brand copper paint is that?

 

[OKTurbo]

Rustoleum. Got it at Walmart.

I’m going with duplicolor lacquer on the rest of it. I’ve had good luck with duplicolor clear lacquer over the vinyl stickers.

 

[OKTurbo]

First round of White lacquer.

 

[OKTurbo]

It still needs another coat of white to get full coverage. Still thin in some spots and can see the grey primer....but I stacked her up to get a pic.

 

[OKTurbo]

Almost ready for the vinyl. Let this cure for a day or two then the graphics and some clear coat.

 

[OKTurbo]

Lacquer dries fast! Started on the graphics.

 

[OKTurbo]

Graphics are on. Looking pretty cool. Still need clear coat...then recovery system...and electronics.

 

[OKTurbo]

Video of the graphics application.

 

[n3tjm]

Nice looking project you got going on there

 

[OKTurbo]

Finished up the electronics. Waiting on some nomex to show up then I’ll test some ejection charges.

 

[OKTurbo]

So....ummm...you ever have a really tall rocket in a shop with a roll-up door and then go to open up the roll up and hear a load crash behind you then turn to see your almost ready to fly really tall rocket laying on the shop floor?

Well that just happened. Messed up the paint on the nose cone and knocked the removable tip loose. Body tube got some hangar rash but not too bad. No glue involved, but the cone got a repaint.

True story...

 

[mo2872]

Glad it was superficial! Maiden next weekend since we’re scrubbed tomorrow?

 

[gna]

Love the Stiletto.

 

[OKTurbo]

Glad it was superficial! Maiden next weekend since we’re scrubbed tomorrow?

Might be ready by next Sunday. I’m still waiting on drogue chute and nomex blankets. Need to test ejection charge sizes too.

 

[OKTurbo]

Nice evening. Got the ejection charge testing completed.

 

[OKTurbo]

She flies! Tulsa Rocketry launches kept getting washed out due to weather / rain. The last club launch was November 2020.

Great day today. The weather is really hot and humid, but both of my flights went perfect. The big Stiletto flew along with my 4” Praetor.

Link to the GoPro footage.

 

[mo2872]

Great flights today, John!

You didn’t happen to video my skywriting Callisto, did you? Would like to see if the rod whipped at all.

 

[OKTurbo]

Great flights today, John!

You didn’t happen to video my skywriting Callisto, did you? Would like to see if the rod whipped at all.

Yes! it was exciting! I'll post it up to my channel on youtube and post a link.

 

[K'Tesh]

How did I not see this build? AWESOME!!!

Congrats on the flight!!!

 

[OKTurbo]

Here's the video of your Callisto.

 

[mo2872]

Thanks! I don’t get it, flew straight as an arrow on that motor last fall.

 

[OKTurbo]

The igniters are tricky with those tiny nozzles on the 18mm reloads. I’d suspect that it was stuck for a split second and everything went haywire......or not.

 

[Tobor]

Sweet! Congrats on a beautiful rocket and maiden flight.

 

[mo2872]

Watching the Praetor video again, did you refurbish that one since last season? I was thinking it was white on top?

 

[OKTurbo]

Watching the Praetor video again, did you refurbish that one since last season? I was thinking it was white on top?

Nope. The ‘big’ Praetor is just as I built it. I have a smaller, mid power (still an upscale / BT80 size). That came in hot and got damaged when the chute fouled. I rebuilt it. It’s a lighter grey color, burgundy, yellow with invasion stripes. You might be thinking of that one.

 

[OKTurbo]

Nope. The ‘big’ Praetor is just as I built it. I have a smaller, mid power (still an upscale / BT80 size). That came in hot and got damaged when the chute fouled. I rebuilt it. It’s a lighter grey color, burgundy, yellow with invasion stripes. You might be thinking of that one.

Rough day for the mid power Praetor.

I’ve had this rocket for years....one of my favorites. It’s always the ‘down’ part of the flight that gets you. For whatever reason the chute didn’t come out all the way and it came in hot. Kinda sad, but it looks salvageable. Those fins are TOUGH! Honeycomb Nomex with carbon fiber. It...

www.rocketryforum.com

 

[mo2872]

DOH! Yup. Didn't realize you had two of them......and I even commented on that thread. Sheesh, need to work on my memory.