What did you do rocket wise today?

[lakeroadster]

I downloaded "FreeCAD", and am working my way through tutorials on YouTube. Seems like a pretty powerful program. But it's so much different than Inventor I'm finding it to be tedious.

What I like most about it is it's not a cloud based program, and no internet access is needed.

 

[Lugnut56]

Installed the transition shroud, attached the upper fins and the MM "coolant vanes" on the Laser-X. Weather forecast is for rain over the next few days so priming & painting might not be possible--trying to decide what to start on next.

 

[Hobie1dog]

Installed the transition shroud, attached the upper fins and the MM "coolant vanes" on the Laser-X. Weather forecast is for rain over the next few days so priming & painting might not be possible--trying to decide what to start on next.

View attachment 562452

does the parachute fit in the bottom part?

 

[Lugnut56]

does the parachute fit in the bottom part?

Yes. The rocket separates at the bottom of the transition. It looks like there isn't a lot of room in the lower section for wadding and the recovery gear, but the MM sticks out the back of the lower tube about 3/4' or so to allow for the "cooling vanes" to be installed. This gives you a little more room in the tube. I'll post more pictures after getting it painted.

 

[GrouchoDuke]

Finalized the fin design for my next rocket.

 

[berlinetta]

I did all the fin fillets and the fillets on the launch lugs in the Nano Mag. Today, I will do the LOC shockcord mount inside the nosecone. The bulkplate provided doesn't fit into the nosecone, so I'm deleting it. By deleting it I'll have more room for the recovery.

 

[Hobie1dog]

sanded the primer on the Quest Harpoon

 

[Hobie1dog]

just sanded the 1980 Maxi Alpha primer I put on earlier this week.

 

[BigMacDaddy]

Anyone have a guess about what I am working on?




Super happy that I finally got these struts modeled -- they really pushed the limits of my 3D design (i.e., I had to learn a bunch of new things to get this done).

 

[DigBaddy]

Anyone have a guess about what I am working on?

View attachment 562456
View attachment 562457

Super happy that I finally got these struts modeled -- they really pushed the limits of my 3D design (i.e., I had to learn a bunch of new things to get this done).

For a second there I was excited for a flying rubber chicken; then I looked more closely....

 

[jmasterj]

I did all the fin fillets and the fillets on the launch lugs in the Nano Mag. Today, I will do the LOC shockcord mount inside the nosecone. The bulkplate provided doesn't fit into the nosecone, so I'm deleting it. By deleting it I'll have more room for the recovery.

Have you squeezed the nose cone a little? I had to do that to get the bulkplate settled above the shoulder.

 

[DigBaddy]

I downloaded "FreeCAD", and am working my way through tutorials on YouTube. Seems like a pretty powerful program. But it's so much different than Inventor I'm finding it to be tedious.

What I like most about it is it's not a cloud based program, and no internet access is needed.

View attachment 562444

I've just started tinkering with it too; and Rocketry Workbench. I may splurge on a 3D printer with a portion of my bonus and would definitely need to get familiar with the program more if I'm to use the printer effectively...

 

[jqavins]

Anyone have a guess about what I am working on?

View attachment 562456
View attachment 562457

Super happy that I finally got these struts modeled -- they really pushed the limits of my 3D design (i.e., I had to learn a bunch of new things to get this done).

Clearly a lander of some sort. Maybe an upscale?

For a second there I was excited for a flying rubber chicken; then I looked more closely....

I bet at least one of the oddrock scum has done it. If not, it is now mandatory.

 

[BigMacDaddy]

Clearly a lander of some sort. Maybe an upscale?


I bet at least one of the oddrock scum has done it. If not, it is now mandatory.

Good guess - I am going to give more hints...

I decided to go back to the original engineering drawings to design this strut (drawings were auctioned off a while ago and pictures are online). It was quite a learning journey to figure out how to use the necessary tools in Fusion 360 to make this complex 3D structure from the profiles in the drawings.



The full page of the engineering drawing should give it away depending on how easy this is to interpret...




Planning a BT-80 version of the rocket. Now I just need to design the boat tail that allows the struts to open and close (just for fun -- planning to launch with them open). Nosecone is pretty straightforward in this model.

I have seen some OR simulations (e.g., @lakeroadster) for this but I am skeptical that OR can model this given the shape of the struts and the reliance on drag more than anything else. I am planning to swing test this since I am really hoping the struts themselves provide enough drag to make it stable (clear fin-like inserts are my backup plan).

 

[jqavins]

Hmmm, it's famous, or the plans wouldn't have sold at auction. It's old, since the paper is yellow. How old? I'll zoom in. (click click click)

Disney Land, 1968. I've never been a "theme park guy", Disney or otherwise. I'll leave it to others.

 

[KenECoyote]

Anyone have a guess about what I am working on?

View attachment 562456
View attachment 562457

Super happy that I finally got these struts modeled -- they really pushed the limits of my 3D design (i.e., I had to learn a bunch of new things to get this done).

I saw this as a model at a Disney exhibit years ago after first getting onto rocketry and wanted to one day build it.

Thanks for saving me the work!

 

[KenECoyote]

Good guess - I am going to give more hints...

I decided to go back to the original engineering drawings to design this strut (drawings were auctioned off a while ago and pictures are online). It was quite a learning journey to figure out how to use the necessary tools in Fusion 360 to make this complex 3D structure from the profiles in the drawings.

View attachment 562478

The full page of the engineering drawing should give it away depending on how easy this is to interpret...
View attachment 562477

View attachment 562479

Planning a BT-80 version of the rocket. Now I just need to design the boat tail that allows the struts to open and close (just for fun -- planning to launch with them open). Nosecone is pretty straightforward in this model.

I have seen some OR simulations (e.g., @lakeroadster) for this but I am skeptical that OR can model this given the shape of the struts and the reliance on drag more than anything else. I am planning to swing test this since I am really hoping the struts themselves provide enough drag to make it stable (clear fin-like inserts are my backup plan).

Struts alone should be fine with maybe a bit of nose weight. If not, an easy fix would be to increase the size of the footpads.

 

[KenECoyote]

Painting outdoors during February in NY isn't as cold as you'd think...



Am I wrong to appreciate global warming? 😆

 

[Tobor]

Anyone have a guess about what I am working on?

View attachment 562456
View attachment 562457

Super happy that I finally got these struts modeled -- they really pushed the limits of my 3D design (i.e., I had to learn a bunch of new things to get this done).

Is it the Tomorrowland Moonliner Rocket? (Link)

 

[BigMacDaddy]

Is it the Tomorrowland Moonliner Rocket? (Link)

Yep, that is the rocket!

 

[BigMacDaddy]

Struts alone should be fine with maybe a bit of nose weight. If not, an easy fix would be to increase the size of the footpads.

Thanks Ken -- that is what I am hoping. They have really broad back faces and I think that the shape will create a ton of drag.

 

[Hobie1dog]

I just finished painting the red gloss Rustoleum 2X on the top half of the Solar Explorer, the nose cone of the Crossfire, the NC of the Maxi-Alpha, and the NC of the Harpoon, overall satisfied with this rattle can product.

 

[Tobor]

Yep, that is the rocket!

lol, I had not realized KenECoyote had beat me to the punch...

My Printing for today (Link)

 

[KenECoyote]

I just finished painting the red gloss Rustoleum 2X on the top half of the Solar Explorer, the nose cone of the Crossfire, the NC of the Maxi-Alpha, and the NC of the Harpoon, overall satisfied with this rattle can product.

I love Rusto 2X, but it seemed to have a period where it was a bit iffy.

The gloss blue I used today that went on well was the same blue that I had two cans of back in 2016 that sprayed out very dull as if it was mixed with flat gray. I wrote to Rustoleum and they sent me a coupon for two new cans.

 

[Cape Byron]

Yep, that is the rocket!

Another excellent choice, my brother from another mother. 🤠

 

[lakeroadster]

Spent an incredibly frustrating morning trying to use FreeCAD to replicate my Saturn V. I'm trying to learn the FreeCAD software. It's buggy and problematic.

This afternoon I downloaded a 30 day free trial of Fusion 360 CAD Software. Since I've been working with Autodesk CAD related products since 1981... I am able to hit the ground running with this software. Familiar icons, familiar operations... pretty stoked about this thus far.

 

[T-Rex]

Loaded up the limo and drove 4 hours to a hotel. Launch day tomorrow.

 

[KenECoyote]

Thanks Ken -- that is what I am hoping. They have really broad back faces and I think that the shape will create a ton of drag.

Just realized I had a few pics from my trip last year to California Disney!

 

[KenECoyote]

Painted my Deueces Wild... was a bit split on the paint scheme 🤔

😆

 

[DragonRocketry]

Decals and lasering parts.