For the parts, I used the parts list, rather than the actual kit.
In the parts list, it has "launch lugs and recovery system as necessary
for safe operation ".
I expanded this to:
The motor clip from the parts list was not used.
The card stock layout, fin templates, and tube marking wraps, were all created at 150 dpi.
(Note. All construction images here are linked to a higher resolution picture)
The end was then cut off the BT50 nose cone, leaving it about 2
1/4" long. With a bit of sandpaper wrapped around a spent 18mm motor,
the inside was sanded out until the remaining length of BT20 (the motor
mount) could pass through. This left the tail cone 2 1/10 " long. The other part of the nose shoulder was glued into place on the wider end. The other centering ring was stuck on the end of the motor mount, then this unit was glued inside the tail cone. About 1/8" of motor mount stuck out of the bottom of the cone. A 12" length of kevlar was then tied to a 1/4" section cut from a used motor case and this was glued inside the top of the motor mount. A loop was tied in the other end of the kevlar. |
|||
|
|||
The remaining 10" of BT50, was then marked up using the 'BT50 Base
Wrap', before the tail cone was glued to it. The 'F' lines were extended
down the tail cone. From the card stock, the six rear pods were cut out and glued together. These were then glued onto the BT50, along the 'P' lines, with the end of the straight section of the pods in line with the end of the tube. |
|||
Using the fin templates, the fins were marked out (the
layout can be found here) on the balsa sheet, then cut
out. They then had a couple of passes through the 'sand - sanding sealer -
sand' process. The main fins were than attached to the tail cone along the 'F' lines. The dowel was cut into three equal pieces, and glued onto the small forward fins. |
|||
The forward fins were glued onto the body, in line with the main fins, with the leading edge 3.9" from the top of the air frame. The top end of the dowels was glued to the tip of the main fins, and after the bond had set, were trimmed and sanded to the correct size and angle. | |||
A 1" launch lugs was glued onto a forward and matching main fin. These were positioned to allow the launch rod to pass between the main fin and the rear pod. | |||
Finally, the completed rocket was sprayed with a coat of primer, two foot of 1/8" elastic was was tied between the loops in the kevlar, and the 18" parachute was attached to the top loop. It was now ready for flight testing. |
More pictures may be available once the painting is completed
Front page | Flight test |