Thanks mate! I'm sure I'm over-engineering it a bit, but good to know it might help you too, Drew. If it wasn't for your spark and kick-start with this idea, I wouldn't have been inspired to run with this!
Thanks mate! I'm sure I'm over-engineering it a bit, but good to know it might help you too, Drew. If it wasn't for your spark and kick-start with this idea, I wouldn't have been inspired to run with this!
replace the moving parts with teflon .....super slick, no friction. material will allow for faster spin up and it will stay spinned due to its low friction coefficient. I would even use ptfe power to lube it before each flightAlright, no glue here and somewhat the "exploded view" but I put together a first mockup with a clear BT50 section at the forward end to see how things should be placed internally for adequate spacing before I start cutting or permanently attaching. Then I decided if something was going to fail it would be in the forward section anyway, so my first version will actually look remarkably similar when assembled.
View attachment 439733
Two part nosecone may perhaps need some ballast when all done, perhaps not. 12" chute packaged with wadding. I used orange tape to make the two bearings more visible. These will nominally have significantly less tape at assembly and be rigidly mounted inside the red coupler seen just aft. A hollow aluminum rod runs through both creating an axel and also a blow through path. Then will have an appropriate length of BT50 to make up the scaled length. Also, I still need to figure out routing for a kevlar shock cord...maybe I'll anchor it to the axel loosely, notch the tape and route it through? Below you can see the aft section
View attachment 439734
BT50 tube, with the aluminum rod running axially. I have an 18mm motor mount with two centering rings, but I need to make sure the ejection charge vents where I want it to so I will use the punch out of the 18mm centering ring drilled for the rod to act as a cap and a centering ring itself.
Since this was the first look at how it would go together I haven't finalized lengths yet, but plan on cutting paper and aluminum tubing tomorrow. Then prepping, gluing, and final assembly. Fins will be cut from 1/8" balsa for this pass, but I need to work on shaping/canting for appropriate rotation rates. video of initial spin test below.
View attachment 439735
Not great spinning. Needs more mass further out (radially) to maintain the rotation better, however, I'll be able to check in front of a fan when I get some canards on. I think I'll start with a 10Âş cant and see how well it works in a flow field.
Time to start thinking colour schemes as I start to seal and prime. A lot depends on how the chrome-like spray paint works out. Think I'll follow this photo as my guide:
- Dart carrier (upper core)- Aluminium/silver
- Darts - Chrome
- Dart carrier lower conical section - Chrome
- Transition - Chrome.
- BUS (sustainer) body, plus the fwd/aft outer rings - White
- Fins and fin can - Aluminium grey
- Booster - as per photo below.
View attachment 462502
First go at applying the chrome paint to the dart carrier and transition. Wasn't expecting same result as the cap, but its not too bad for these parts, especially as it will get more fingerprints and dirt as I intend to use it for a test firing of the Dart with a C6-5 at tomorrow's QRS club launch day. OR indicates I need 10g more in the nose to get it to just about 1Cal stability, with 469ft predicted.
Got a packet of curtain rail guides from the DIY store for about A$2.50 and after a little bit of trimming with the Dremel and hobby knife, they have made suitable little rail guides. Expoxied them onto the first Dart (still in its gloss black undercoat).
Spoolin' Around also gets its maiden flight tomorrow on a C6-3. OR predicts 110ft.
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View attachment 464285
Launch videos please!
Great interest in the Starstreak Dart, although RSO had concerns about it from it’s Dart Carrier mini rail (20cm long) and its probable low velocity off the rail. We discussed how to simulate a shorter rail in OR, so will look into that tonight.
First flight reported as 315ft, quite a bit lower than the OR sim figure of 463ft.
When they are actually flown with the Booster, "speed off the rail" is immaterial, since they will already have velocity imparted by the Booster. At that point they are merely "upper stages" ( no "rail" required, at all, technically ).
The second flight yesterday was on one of the four longer HPR 1010 rails, which attracted a bit of fun as it was reckoned that this was the smallest rocket ever flown off that HPR rail/pad !
Hi Drew, the main body tube looks like it's a really nice quality one and will hopefully prove easy to seal and paint. Mine was a bit low grade and "furry", which made it harder (and more coats) to seal and paint.Alright, first print of low fidelity tower is complete and I see some areas that need modifications for a flightworthy version...though I may take this one out for a test launch using static darts to get an idea of drag.
Image shows 93% booster next to 109% dart...a little mismatched.
Hi Drew, the main body tube looks like it's a really nice quality one and will hopefully prove easy to seal and paint. Mine was a bit low grade and "furry", which made it harder (and more coats) to seal and paint.
What size is it? Can you get the next size up to match your scales more evenly?
3D print looks so good, and I can't wait to see your final version with the rails etc. - I'm officially jealous!
Drew...thinking of safety, time to think about other necessary fight and public safety features we might need to design/build.
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