Wildman Shapeshifter Jr build thread.

[firemanup]

I built the 3” Shapeshifter a couple years ago and the thing is a phenomenal flying machine that just takes a beating and any motor you can fit in it, flown on everything from J’s up to L1000 with no problem.

With that experience I of course had to build a 5” Shapeshifter which I sent up on its maiden flight at Airfest last year on an N2000.

So of course now it’s time to build a J350 eating 54mm Jr version.

The original 3” version below.

 

[firemanup]

So for the Jr, the parts…all typical hi quality Wildman tubes…and pieces parts…

 

[firemanup]

Quick little dry fit, this is a 54mm diameter bird with a 38mm motor mount I’m already sure I’m gonna build another as a min diameter 54mm.

Anyway, 54mm diameter by 62.4” in length and about 50 ounces in weight dry.

 

[firemanup]

First step working on the motor mount, jb weld the motor retainer, notch the centering rings for a Kevlar harness, attaching the harness to the motor mount tube with Aeropoxy as well as knotting the bottom of the harness.

 

[firemanup]

Prepping the fins and a dry fit test…

I sand the fins where epoxy will adhere as well as drill holes part way through the fins that will fill with epoxy to help toe everything together, “epoxy nails”

 

[firemanup]

Time to tack fins on, I use west systems 5 min to tack fins on. Give it 30 minutes then rotate and tack the next one.

 

[firemanup]

After they are tacked on time for internals, in the past I’ve always injected internals making a joint from the fin to the motor mount, then again making a joint from the fin to the body tube.

The space was minimal on this bird so I was able to make one injection to cover both joints.

Not real visible in the second pic but the FG tube is translucent enough that I could see and insure I was getting the coverage I wanted.

 

[firemanup]

Next up external fillets, I’ve been using aeropoxy for this exclusively for years, I actually use laminating epoxy with milled glass added so that it will run and fill crevices and cracks and self level.

Lay the tube down, pour equal CCs for each fillet via syringe, then level front to back and side to side and then just let it sit and self level and smooth.

You can see the remains of a hole that was drilled at the bottom of the tube in the second pic, epoxy was injected to adhere the centering ring, same fine top and bottom for all three.

 

[firemanup]

More of the same process, with each set I’m drilling holes to allow the epoxy to flow through the fin and into the fillet on the other side.

Space heater used to help speed up curing in a cool winter basement.

 

[firemanup]

Gratuitous puppy shot she’s wondering why I’m posting all of this instead of playing with her…

 

[firemanup]

Nosecone coupler is epoxied into the nosecone.

All thread from the tip to the bulkhead at the base of the nosecone. Wanted to keep it lighter this time so I went with a Kevlar loop instead of the ubolt I usually use.

Simple sled for the tracker, sized to basically just fit snug in the nosecone, it has no place to go so it doesn’t move, I’ve used this setup many times with good success.

Cone and tracker set up. I’ve been using featherweight gps trackers the last couple years with good success.

 

[firemanup]

Alt bay setup, coupler tube with switch band and two stepped bulk plates as supplied with the kit.

The bigger hole in the switch band is for access to the switch, after the altimeter is armed then a plastic river is inserted to close it up.

Single altimeter, will fly with motor backup when possible or until I get more comfortable with just a single alt, I’ve always used two but just couldn’t make it fit.

I fly Missileworks altimeters exclusively in all my birds.

Again to save weight went with Kevlar loops instead of ubolts.

 

[firemanup]

Complete and naked…

2.6 Competitor above it, LaserLoc above that, and the 5” Competitor above it.

 

[firemanup]

Paint on…

 

[firemanup]

And finally compete and ready to fly. Typical Wildman FG parts makes an easy and durable build.

Stickershock23 on the decals of course.

First flight likely a J350 this spring…

 

[JRL303]

Fantastic build and documentation. Thanks for posting!

 

[bunkermonkey9]

Great looking rocket