my next project - Northern Colorado Rocketry

This topic has 27 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 2 months ago by Anonymous.

Viewing 10 posts - 11 through 20 (of 28 total)

← 1 2 3 →

Author

Posts
March 10, 2011 at 5:03 am #53902
greywolves
Hi Tony,

Thanks for taking the time and posting your videos, Great information and I really enjoyed watching them. Thanks!
March 11, 2011 at 4:15 pm #53903
Anonymous
Here’s a video on making a coupler from a piece of body tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbyt8r9l7fo

I’ve started one on making a nose cone mold.

Tony
March 11, 2011 at 4:42 pm #53904
Adrian
Participant
I’m looking forward to the nose cone mold video.

I have a 29mm mandrel that I have made one set of molds from that I’m not all that happy with, and I’m thinking about making new molds. I saw on an RC aircraft forum that it looks like some people suspend a mandrel sideways in a box and then pour epoxy to make a mold. The “water level” becomes the part line, no parting board required. I’m interested in trying something like this.

Edit: Actually I was mistaken, and they still used a regular part line. But instead of making it stiff with fiberglass, he just used one layer of fiberglass and then filled the box with packed epoxy/sand mixture.
March 13, 2011 at 3:51 pm #53905
Anonymous
Here’s the video on making a nose cone mold.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRlWkMmMKl8

I’ll have to look in to the method you’re reffering to Adrian. Do you have any links?

Tony
March 17, 2011 at 6:32 am #53906
Anonymous
Here’s one on fiberglassing a cardboard body tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjZNyXsd8gw

Tony
March 17, 2011 at 3:50 pm #53907
Adrian
Participant
Here’s the video on making a nose cone mold.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRlWkMmMKl8

I’ll have to look in to the method you’re referring to Adrian. Do you have any links?

Tony

Here it is. This is from a professional sailplane manufacturer who is making a 130″ wingspan, carbon fiber sailplane for dynamic soaring.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1291139&page=10

Not to derail this too much, but check out some of the other dynamic soaring threads while you’re there. I just learned about RC-controlled dynamic soaring recently, and it’s mind blowing. Guys will launch their $2000 composite sailplanes off of a ridge in 60mph winds, and fly them in and out of the shear layer on the leeward side of the ridge, increasing their airspeed with each circle. The world record is now 468 mph 8O, measured by radar gun. His plane was pulling an average of 30-40 Gs, with peaks over 70 Gs. That’s faster than the sustained speed any WWII fighter plane (except the P-51 at 38,00 feet), but these planes are being flown 20′ off the ground, from a distance, in and out of tremendous wind shear.

Partly to learn something new, and partly because my FG molds and layups haven’t turned out that well, I’m now looking into poured silicone molds for my next 29mm nosecone project. If I get something to work, I’ll post some results.
March 17, 2011 at 5:32 pm #53908
new2hpr
Participant
Careful Adrian! We don’t want to lose you to the sailplane crowd! 😆
March 19, 2011 at 5:46 pm #53909
Anonymous
Adrian, That is some pretty cool stuff..thanks for the link.

I was able to gets some work done on the rocket. I cut the fin slots with my table saw. I layed-up a new nose cone and cut out the fins. The fins looked kind of big once I got them cut out..so I cut them down a tad.

The fins look ‘right’ now. I borrowed my buddies jig to cut the bevels on the fins. It looks like the rocket is goint to be 72″ tall.

Tony
March 23, 2011 at 3:18 pm #53910
Anonymous
If anyone is still following along.

Beveling the fins edges using a jig on a table saw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSI9–ClSYc

Fin prep and attachment using a fin alignment jig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwvKR5Lfolk

Tony
March 24, 2011 at 4:25 am #53911
greywolves
Hey Tony,

I love work, I can watch it for hours. I’m always glad you take the time to show me new stuff, thanks. Looks like your jig works real nice. Again thanks for your efforts, I’ve been following your progress intently, giving all your videos my full attention.
Author

Posts