So I guess some questions have been asked about my rocket carrier. Here's a
picture of it in its normal storage area.
I started by measuring that shelf; yes, the carrier was built to fit there directly. I used furring strips because at 1" x 3" with rounded edges it seemed like a good way to avoid excessive finishing work. The handle started out as just a handle, but I had already put rocket carriers on my long range box, so adding them to the carrier seemed obvious.
Today I finished the primary assembly of my FSI Sprint clone. I started by
cutting a piece of a paper clip, mainly the large bend with a bit of leg on
each side, then bending the lower part of the legs outward at 90° angles
and twisting them slightly. I cut matching notches in the upper #8-#11 ring,
then laid the paper-clip loop in them so that the bent legs would hook under
the ring. The point of all of this was to create a metal shock cord mount for
a reusable shock cord. I intended to take a picture of this part, but just
plain forgot.
Got a little more done tonight. Attached Kevlar to the engine mount with CA, per my usual procedure. I know replaceable Kevlar is the "in" thing now, but I couldn't work out a good way to do it with this rocket, and as it's going to be an infrequent flier I decided to stick to the tried-and-true method.
I got the fins on my Gooniebird Zero and modified Ruskie today.
I had to make my own fin alignment wraps for both. The GB0 was pretty
easy since it's just three evenly spaced fins, but the Ruskie's
fins are laid out unusually.
I sell and service computers for a living, and for probably a year now my
distributor has been sending me computers packaged in Tyvek bags. The bags
protect the shiny parts of the computer from scratching; when we deliver a
computer to a customer, we don't take all the packaging. Since I'm a pack rat,
the bags have been piling up.
I wanted to make my own decals for clones of Centuri rockets, but the
decal graphics for the logo which I've found so far aren't very good.
So I spent some time with Inkscape
redoing those scans, and since I know I'm not the only person with this
need, I'm posting them here.
At our 4-H Club Launch on the 9th of July,
I got to launch the Mo' Skeeter for the first (and presently only) time. It
flew well and recovered nicely, albeit on the roof of the landowner's machine
shed. Thankfully, we were able to recover it in good shape.
I have an Alpha, been around for a while, and it's one of my favorite fliers even though
it always wants to drift away. So I was sitting at the table surrounded by parts trying
to decide what to build, when it came to me to build an Alpha with a difference.
For the fleet page entry for this rocket, click here
Here's my latest creation: Pharos I, a "fantasy scale" rocket.
For the fleet page entry for this rocket, click here
I have built a rocket which I call the "New Centurion." It's inspired by the
classic Centuri Centurion, which had an innovative (for the time) ejection baffle system.
My New Centurion has an offset-tube baffle, breaks at the midline (just above
the baffle), and features three interchangeable engine mounts (1x18mm, 2x18mm, 1x24mm D/E).
For the fleet page entry for this rocket, click here
I have built my own version of Jonathon Mills' Cyclone.
In the process, I created an easier-to-read (and print) version of his plans.
Click here for details.
For the fleet page entry for this rocket, click here
This is my personal project, a rocket based on a Baby Bertha kit with a few bits added.
I have completed this rocket, but it has not yet been launched.
Click here to read more...
For the fleet page entry for this rocket, click here
Well, I'm done refurbishing my 30 year old Centuri Vector V.
Click here for details.
For the fleet page entry for this rocket, click here
I've created my own "clone" of the old Centuri Vulcan rocket.
I call my version the "Black Vulcan."
Click here for details.
Click here to view the Fleet page entry for this rocket.
This is a kitbash based on a Quest Flash. Read more...
Click here to view the Fleet page entry for this rocket.
Well, it's done! Today I took five pieces of 2x6 lumber scrap, ripped them down to 2x4,
then cut the four leg pieces to 30" length. The top board happened to be just under 53"
long, and I left it that length; with a bit more than 5" on each end to hold the leg
brackets, I was able to space the tilt and swivels 14" apart.
Click here to read more...
I have built two launch controllers so far, one made mostly of junk and the other
crafted from wood.
Read more...
I've built a "clone" of the classic Centuri Bandito; in the process, I
created a PDF of the paper fins used by that model, which I distribute from
this site for free.
Click here for build details and the download.
Click here for the Fleet page entry for this rocket.
I have created my own very simple paper rocket design. Just print the PDF
on 110# paper. Click here for details.
Click here to view the Fleet page entry for this rocket.