Smash Rocketry New Group Project - The Proton M

This topic has 391 replies, 29 voices, and was last updated 12 years ago by Kevin Osler.

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January 18, 2012 at 1:04 am #55204
BEAR
For the nose cones for the six boosters on the first stage, if we had a set of full size drawings, we could then make templates to work with and I could carve the cones out of foam and then we could glass them. That would keep them pretty light, yet very easy to make. The nose cone for the whole rocket could be done the same way. I have made nose cones, prop spinners, reducers, couplers, etc. and learned how to do it when I was using 1/4″ plexiglass glued together to make the same sort of shapes for the models of oil refineries that I used to make years ago. I think the refinery models were harder to make because of the plexiglass and because the reducers had offset centerlines as the diameters changed. I know it can be done. I am also wondering what you envision for how to separate the two stages before you airstart the last 4 “K”s
January 18, 2012 at 1:19 am #55205
SCOTT EVANS
Funny, there are 2 of you guys really up for this project, you and Rich .. one I Parker (WAY South) one in … uh.. basically Wyoming .. still need that Longmont location!! 🙂

Is that a hint?
I dont know how much time I would have to help (depends on the month), or money to donate, (depends on the weather 🙂 ) over and above the stuff I already have.
We could make room in my hanger. Well lit and with heat. A few table top tools and a few table tops.
Tried to send you a measage yesterday, but I guess it didnt fly.
January 18, 2012 at 1:44 am #55206
BEAR
Steve, since you like them big, after the Proton M is completed and put away, how about a large model of the X-15, the one with two rocket motors. But this one is radio controlled, (something easy) with a glide and descent rate like a Space Shuttle, HL-10, or a brick, which ever is more accurate. The pilot blows the lower dorsal and deploys skids and the nose wheel just before landing. Maybe build it with a 12″ tube also. Should do OK going straight up with two wings, two vertical stabilizers, and two stabilators on the lower fuselage. Oh and I forgot the drag breaks on the bottom of the upper vertical stabilizer to help slow it down.:lol:
January 18, 2012 at 2:45 am #55207
smashburn
Funny, there are 2 of you guys really up for this project, you and Rich .. one I Parker (WAY South) one in … uh.. basically Wyoming .. still need that Longmont location!! 🙂

Is that a hint?
I don’t know how much time I would have to help (depends on the month), or money to donate, (depends on the weather 🙂 ) over and above the stuff I already have.
We could make room in my hanger. Well lit and with heat. A few table top tools and a few table tops.
Tried to send you a message yesterday, but I guess it didn’t fly.

Thanks Scott .. I would certainly be interested. I expect the build will take at least 4 months .. lots of weekends plus some. I’ll PM you my phone # and we’ll talk..
January 18, 2012 at 2:47 am #55208
smashburn
Steve, since you like them big, after the Proton M is completed and put away, how about a large model of the X-15, the one with two rocket motors. But this one is radio controlled, (something easy) with a glide and descent rate like a Space Shuttle, HL-10, or a brick, which ever is more accurate. The pilot blows the lower dorsal and deploys skids and the nose wheel just before landing. Maybe build it with a 12″ tube also. Should do OK going straight up with two wings, two vertical stabilizers, and two stabilators on the lower fuselage. Oh and I forgot the drag breaks on the bottom of the upper vertical stabilizer to help slow it down.:lol:

Actually my next project is the Excalibur in the same scale as the Dragonship. A drag race would be too cool!!! Maybe after that .. sounds challenging ..
January 18, 2012 at 9:46 pm #55209
Greg Sartz
PROTON SCALE DRAWING FROM ROCKETS OF THE WORLD

Thanks Greg, I have that same diagram. I’m using it for most dimensions, but don’t like the payload area .. doesn’t look quite like the images I’ve seen.

What an awesome book though!! Got my Delta II specs from there as well.

Yep, I see the request was from some time ago. It sounds like the Delta II was a great group project!

To get the look right on the Proton, make sure and add a big ‘ol American Flag as if this was launching an EchoStar satellite.

Maybe they can sponsor the launch. What is the budget for this project?
January 18, 2012 at 10:10 pm #55210
BEAR
For the six booster tubes, what are you planning to use for the tubes? I see that 4″ PVC, Shedule 40 (lighter in weight than Sch 80) is 4.5″ in diameter, OD. That should work if it is acceptable. If you are using schedule 40, then we know the ID and could start building 75 mm motor mounts. If you are using LOC 75mm motor tubes, 1/4″ bulkheads can be cut to fit the inside of the PVC, cut sleeves out of PVC tubing and slide those on the inside at the bulkhead locations to lock the bulkheads in so they do not move, ever. The next thought would be, from looking at the drawings, the centerline of the motors are located about on the circumference of the large tube. Will you want the “k”s to do the same thing or are you going to build it more out of scale and mount them in the center of the booster tubes. This is easier, the other method, even though more accurate, complicates construction. I also observed brackets that would be holding the booster tubes to the main center tube. We can fabricate something like that for looks and mechanical stability, while at the same time, bolting the boosters onto the main tube, since they are not removable. What say you?
January 18, 2012 at 10:19 pm #55211
BEAR
In doing further exploration, there is a website: http://www.cardmodels-r.narod.ru/html/images/Proton/proton-m.pdf, that shows instructions and patterns for building a model of a Proton M (and another site that does the Proton K). On these sites, they have the patterns for all the shrouds, and nose cones, etc. We can take these and scale them up to the correct size for this build, and cut out a lot of trial and error in the design work. It even has a color scheme, and other details that we might not normally have. Check it out and see if you think it might be useful. This link: (http://www.cardmodels-r.narod.ru/html/Proton-LP2-e.htm) has the launcher to be made from card stock in 1:96 scale, and there is another link at this site to help you build the transport rail car. This helps it to be a lot more exciting for me by knowing these other details.
January 18, 2012 at 11:51 pm #55212
smashburn
For the six booster tubes, what are you planning to use for the tubes? I see that 4″ PVC, Shedule 40 (lighter in weight than Sch 80) is 4.5″ in diameter, OD. That should work if it is acceptable. If you are using schedule 40, then we know the ID and could start building 75 mm motor mounts. If you are using LOC 75mm motor tubes, 1/4″ bulkheads can be cut to fit the inside of the PVC, cut sleeves out of PVC tubing and slide those on the inside at the bulkhead locations to lock the bulkheads in so they do not move, ever. The next thought would be, from looking at the drawings, the centerline of the motors are located about on the circumference of the large tube. Will you want the “k”s to do the same thing or are you going to build it more out of scale and mount them in the center of the booster tubes. This is easier, the other method, even though more accurate, complicates construction. I also observed brackets that would be holding the booster tubes to the main center tube. We can fabricate something like that for looks and mechanical stability, while at the same time, bolting the boosters onto the main tube, since they are not removable. What say you?

I already have the booster tubes, cardboard (rocketry tubes), and I was planning on mounting the motors centered .. though am open to moving them. However, if I use 3″ motors, as Edward suggests, in a 4.5″ tube .. center is the only real option. However .. however, finding 6 or 10 – 3″ K motor cases to borrow or rent will likely be impossible. Also .. I may have the booster motor mount parts already .. I’m still digging everything out of storage.

The boosters will be removable for transport/assembly .. just won’t drop off during the flight. Yes, I’d like to match the booster mount detail as closely as possible .. I like the look in the pics. Remember, we’ll have Rail Buttons mounted between the boosters on one side. I expect we’ll use UniStrut for the rail and stiffen it considerably.
January 18, 2012 at 11:57 pm #55213
smashburn
In doing further exploration, there is a website: http://www.cardmodels-r.narod.ru/html/images/Proton/proton-m.pdf, that shows instructions and patterns for building a model of a Proton M (and another site that does the Proton K). On these sites, they have the patterns for all the shrouds, and nose cones, etc. We can take these and scale them up to the correct size for this build, and cut out a lot of trial and error in the design work. It even has a color scheme, and other details that we might not normally have. Check it out and see if you think it might be useful. This link: (http://www.cardmodels-r.narod.ru/html/Proton-LP2-e.htm) has the launcher to be made from card stock in 1:96 scale, and there is another link at this site to help you build the transport rail car. This helps it to be a lot more exciting for me by knowing these other details.

Whoa .. so cool. What a great site. That’ll help for sure .. good digging!!!
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