TLP - Hellfire build

[McTschegsn]

Good Morning all.

I had the opportunity to buy a few older rocket models, including the Hellfire from The Launchpad. Unfortunately, the manual was not available, but I was able to get the manual afterwards so I have all the necessary information to build that thing
It started at the weekend. The motor mount is ready and equipped with a screw retainer instead of the enclosed motor hook. So I can use 24mm motors and with an adapter also 18mm motors.
In the pictures, the Kevlar cord is not quite on the front frame because the whole story still has to dry.

The lower fairing is prepared. Originally the cone was supposed to be rolled out of paper and hardened with superglue, but I decided to use thin (self-laminated) GRP. It's definitely the more permanent solution.
I didn't really like the paper holder for the shock cord either. I have therefore attached a Kevlar cord to the motor mount to which the shock cord will be attached afterwards.


Because pictures are known to say more than a thousand words... Here we go

 

[gdjsky01]

Lovin' it!

 

[KenECoyote]

Hell yeah!

 

[McTschegsn]

By the way... As I want to go scale does anyone happen to have access to the correkt markings of the missile. Both the live (yellow markings) and the training (blue markings) inclusing the stencils etc?

 

[Scott_650]

By the way... As I want to go scale does anyone happen to have access to the correkt markings of the missile. Both the live (yellow markings) and the training (blue markings) inclusing the stencils etc?

Stickershock has cut vinyl decal sets for the Hellfire - no idea how accurate they are but they look good https://stickershock23.com/product/hellfire/

 

[McTschegsn]

Nice find. Thank you. Im able to make my own vinyls so I go for that option first... If I dont find something appropriate the shop is plan b
Shipping to germany is quite a sum too normally... Will have a look into that.

 

[samb]

I don't have an authoritative markings source either. Some old build threads might to useful to mine or at least provide some inspiration.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/agm-14-hell-s-comming-done.47407/page-15#post-623348

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/a-little-hellfire.39925/

 

[gdjsky01]

sodmeister is (was?) a master builder. All his build threads are an education​

 

[samb]

He checks in here every now and then. Last seen June 27th.

 

[Daddyisabar]

Be sure to keep the kit in balance with the modifications! Such has been the demise of many TLP modifiers who didn't understand stability.

 

[Ez2cDave]

By the way... As I want to go scale does anyone happen to have access to the correkt markings of the missile. Both the live (yellow markings) and the training (blue markings) including the stencils etc?

 

[Ez2cDave]

2

 

[Ez2cDave]

3

 

[Ez2cDave]

last

 

[gdjsky01]

Be sure to keep the kit in balance with the modifications! Such has been the demise of many TLP modifiers who didn't understand stability.

Oh spoken like a TRUE CG/CP policeman!

Nose weight. Like 100g in the Matra's cone. And 125g in the Redtop. Just remember that mass comes-a-shootin out at ejection. So make sure you have plenty of underwear stretchy!

PS: And then there was the 1.4kg in my Public Enemy Gladiator's nose cone on a J275 for my L2. No electrons. Just my 'meat computer' figuring a medium delay was close enough.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/public-enemy-gladiator-gallery.47550/

 

[gdjsky01]

He checks in here every now and then. Last seen June 27th.

Maybe but no posts in years.

 

[McTschegsn]

Wow thanks folks for all the input. Build gets on slowly as I was ill the last days... My stomach does not like me really at the momemt ^^
Thank you also for the heads up regarding the CP / CG location. As a RC modeler I am totally aware of that. Anyways you can never point that out strongly enough. I think in the last stage while weighing the missile RockSim will be my partner in crime
And your experience of course

The tail cone is fully assembled and looks pretty good so far and fits quite neatly. I made the GRP part again because the original ring was a little too short (or I figured the drawing wrong, there was something like a glueing tab which I did not recreate..


The next step was to glue the motor mount into the body tube and attach the tail cone. I'm quite happy with the fit so far.

 

[Hobie1dog]

 

[McTschegsn]

A bit further. Had to fix a few model aircraft since flying season is in full blow now and its way to dry to fly rockets safely.
Prepared Balsawood for the fins. Took a little harder wood for the end of the fins. Next the wood will be cut, filled and for finish I will glass the parts with grp and glass cloth since this will add a bit sturdiness
Body tube looks good so far.

 

[McTschegsn]

It went a little bit further.
The fins are already cut. I used harder material on the back part because I had to glue the boards together anyway.
The next step will be to fill and glass the fins and finish building (reinforcement bars below).

It's slowly becoming something. At the moment the preparations for the trip to England for model flying are in the foreground

 

[McTschegsn]

A little bit further.
The fins are now glassed and roughly sanded. I have applied pre laminated GRP under pressure on both sides of the fins.
Then I trimmed the edges and roughly sanded the surface to see where there arel bumps. The few can be evened out with filler.
I am satisfied.

 

[McTschegsn]

Good Morning all.

The Fins have now also found their place. This alignment aid from Estes doesn't even work that badly, although I would like it to be a little more stable.



Well, maybe I'll fumble something together myself. How do you do that instead? What tools do you use?
Finally, I glued the upper fins using the Eyeball Mk.1 system. That works just as well.
I will glue the "reinforcing plates" on the lower fins with epoxy afterwards. They bring even more stability and the rocket looks a bit more like the original

 

[McTschegsn]

And another small step:
The reinforcements on the fins are now attached and the rocket is finished from the outside.
At first I thought about replicating these angle plates of the original, but I decided against it out of laziness and will build the model as intended without any additional bells and whistles.

 

[Hobie1dog]

getting there, keep the pictures coming. You have a great build area.

 

[McTschegsn]

Thanks Will do so.

 

[McTschegsn]

Now the good one has also got a bit of color. Only a little shiny black on top to imitate the lens is still missing and innards like a parachute etc.
But it will be
Since I found out that the dimensions of the rocket don't quite correspond to the original (and unfortunately too late) I decided against a completely original detailing and build the rocket just as she comes out of the box. I would have paid attention a little beforehand, but as you know, you learn from mistakes.

 

[KenECoyote]

Fantastic job!

It also used to bother me a bit when the rocket kits were not following the original designs, but then I figured that they weren't designed as scale models as much as flyable rockets and I do fly all my rockets.

 

[McTschegsn]

Absolutely, but in this case it would have been easy to fix that to more scale ourlines without making it unflyable regarding fin shape (not size) and nosecone. But anyways. I like the looks of it already and loonikg forward to fly it in december.

 

[Hobie1dog]

turned out great, but why do you have "Das Schwein" written on the tape? Translated it means "the pig"?

 

[McTschegsn]

Yes, its Das Schwein or The Pig
Its just a case where you drop off some money when using supplies in the shop (we are with 4 people) so that I can buy replacement stuff. Plus its a place where guests can drop off some money for the beers they consume
The name resides from the Fact that a piggy bank in germany is called a "Sparschwein"