Vanguard Scale 1/20.2 Build

[Raptor 2]

Using nielspapermodels.com information and plan I'll be building a model of the rocket that flew the first American satellites into orbit. 11 flights from 1957 to 1959 of which 8 were failures and 3 were successful. Hopefully this model will be successful. This model will be based on a BT-70 tube for the first stage and will have a removable fin/motor can inserted in the bottom of the rocket. AutoCad plans of the build are below. The finished model less the fin can will stand 1013mm (39.88") tall.

 

[aerostadt]

Where did you get the AutoCad drawings? I remember those early Vanguard days when America put our hopes on the Vanguard with the grapefruit size satellite to catch up with large Russian Sputniks. That is nice comparison of the Viking and Vanguard. The first stage of the Vanguard was based on the Viking sounding rocket.

 

[Raptor 2]

Where did you get the AutoCad drawings? I remember those early Vanguard days when America put our hopes on the Vanguard with the grapefruit size satellite to catch up with large Russian Sputniks. That is nice comparison of the Viking and Vanguard. The first stage of the Vanguard was based on the Viking sounding rocket.

I have an old Auto Cad version and draw up the construction plans in mm. Then start making the parts. I'm not to proficient at Open Rocket yet. So do stabilitly tests by the old string method.

 

[Raptor 2]

Started the build from the top down. I had to increase the diameter of the upper tubes I'm using from 36mm to 40 mm by adding three layers of soda cracker box cardboard. These were applied in separate layers using double sided tape and where the vertical edges come together I used canopy glue and applied a weight to cure. The upper portion was built in three sections as it was easier to apply the cardboard layers this way. The nose cone was constructed by forming two sheets of 28lb paper in the the required cone shape. This was secured with clear tape on the seams inside and out and then the cone was brushed with CA on all surfaces to harden the cone. The tip had tissue rammed in the top and CA applied. The upper nose cone tube had the shoulders installed along with a centeing rings and a BT-5 tube to help align the cone to the tube.

 

[aerostadt]

Nose cone looks good! Tubes look interesting. Does paint cover that glossy cardboard?

 

[Raptor 2]

Nose cone looks good! Tubes look interesting. Does paint cover that glossy cardboard?

Each section with three wraps weighs in at approx 30 grams. The finish will be an applied wrap on the tubes.

 

[Raptor 2]

The ejection baffle was coonstructed next. Two layers of soda cracker box 10mm wide are glued in place with CA in 3mm from the end of the baffle tube.
The bottom baffle plate is then glued in place with epoxy and a popsicle stick cross brace is glued in place on the top side. All with epoxy. The interior of the baffle tube has CA brushed on the surface. The top plate is then installed 12mm down from the top of the tube and then two rings of soda cracker box line the interior circumference of the baffle tube. A cross brace complets the install. All again with epoxy glue.

120mm long portion of the BT-70 first stage was cut from the main tube and a two layer thrust plate with a centering hole was glued in place 76mm up from the bootm of the tube. Two holes were cut in the tube on the top side of the thrust plate to receive the metal clips that secure the removable fin/motor can. An 80mm long coupler was made from the cracker box. Holes are pucnched in the coupler for CA application once in place. The coupler is glued in place with canopy glue and CA applied once it's in place.
The removable fin/motor can was constructed previously for my Gemini Titan.

The upper section of the model are not yet glued together. I constrcuted two centering rings for the lower section which inserts into the BT-70 and a cross brace was also glued in place at the bottom to prevent the parachute from sliding into the larger bottom tube at lift off. The transition was constructed from two layers of cardstock. Outer layer was printed from an AutoCad drawing for the transition.
Upper small diameter tube dry fitted above the tube section containing the ejection baffle.

 

[Raptor 2]

Completed securing the second layer of cardstock to the interior of the transition with a small amount of canopy glue. Installed the upper centering ring on the lowest section of the small diameter tube in the BT-70 first stage with epoxy. Glued the coupler in the small diameter tube with canopy glue.Then seated the transition shoulder in the BT-70 and dry fitted the transition with upper tube on the shoulder to set the shoulder in the correct position. Removed the transition/upper tube and glued the shoulder in place with CA. The shoulder was hole puched to provide more acces points for the CA glue.

 

[Raptor 2]

Upper sections of the model were glued in place using canopy glue. Drew out wraps on AutoCad using Niels plans for the SLV-6 flight as a guide. Printed these on "Astrobrights" cardstock available at Walmart. Used the chalice silver and white gold depending on the base color of the wrap.
I applied the wraps in color sections to the lower stage using 3M double sided tape. The upper stage wraps were installed and then the transition was slide ove rthe wraps and glued in place again using canopy glue. Nose cone still has to be painted black. lower stage detailing and conduits and upper stage details yet to be designed and installed.

 

[ReynoldsSlumber]

Perfect joins between paper sections, too nice!

 

[Raptor 2]

Constructed the bottom end details. Two 1/2 cone shapes out of cardstock were glued inplace using a card board jig to hold the units inplce while the glue cured. Two other shapes were sanded out of balsa wood and then covered with label paper and coated with CA before beinig glued in place. Long conduits were made of Evergreen 1/2 round plastic strips, painted and applied to the tubes with double sided tape. Upper stage details are constrcuted of two parts, plastice strips and balsa trianles. All painted black and secured with double sided tape. All that remains is the luanch lugs and parachute shock cord attachment.
Without these the model weighs in at 303 grams (10.7oz) with motor/fin can attached and stands 43.5" tall.