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From: [email protected] (Wolfram v.Kiparski)
Newsgroups: rec.models.rockets,rec.answers,news.answers
Subject: rec.models.rockets FAQ Part 06 - Model Rocket Construction and
Finishing
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Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions
(and their answers) about Model and High Power Consumer Rocketry
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Archive-name: model-rockets/construction
Rec-models-rockets-archive-name: rockets-faq/part06
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Last-modified: 1997 January 6
URL: http://dtm-corp.com/~sven/rockets/rmrfaq.toc.html

Rec.Models.Rockets Frequently Asked Questions: PART 06 OF 14

MODEL ROCKET CONSTRUCTION AND FINISHING

This section includes tips and suggestions on various topics having to do
with construction and finishing techniques. These have been posted to
r.m.r or mailed to the moderator by way of r.m.r request. Refer to the
High Power Construction section for additional tips, oriented towards high
power and advanced rocketry requirements. Even more construction tips can
be found in the Scale Modeling section.
[Note: This part of the FAQ is maintained by Robert C. Santore
([email protected])
Any additions or corrections should be sent to that address]

-----------------------------------------------------
6.1 Cutting, Sealing, Attaching Fins

From: [email protected] (Jim Cook)
Skip using glue W/ balsa dust, dope, or any other junk for filling the
grain in balsa fins or nose cones. Use Elmer's "Fill 'n Finish" diluted
with water to a thick paint (like white glue is) and paint it on.
Non-toxic and a coat or two will do. Use Elmer's "Carpenter's Wood
Filler" thinned similarly to fill the spiral in body tube. Both come
in a white plastic tub with an orange lid. Note - the latter is
harder to sand, so don't make the mistake of using it on balsa as it
will require a lot of sanding.

From: [email protected] (C. D. Tavares)
Fill your fins BEFORE attaching them. (Don't fill the root edge).

From: [email protected] (David M.V. Utidjian)
[To hold fins in place and aligned while drying I bought an Estes
fin alignment kit]. At 15-16 bucks it seems a bit
expensive but is well worth the aggravation and time it saves. You
can even make your own if you are handy. I just set up my body tube
in the jig and then check the alignment of all of the fins to the body
tube. Then I use a thin bead of 5-min. epoxy. and in ten minutes I am
done. When I do the fillets I can do them all at once but don't have
to worry about the softening the glued on fins so they droop. You
still have to lay the model on its side though but only for 5 minutes.

From: [email protected] (Bob Kaplow)
The Estes Fin Alignment Kit has now been discontinued for '96. You can
use the newer Rocket Builder's Marking Guide ($5-8) to do one fin at
a time. [Editor's note: This is a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED item to purchase.
It provides everything needed to mark BT-5 through BT-60 body tubes
for 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 fins.]
-----------------------------------------------------
6.2 Body Tubes (Cutting, Joining, Filling)

From: [email protected] (C. D. Tavares)
[On cutting Estes-style body tubes]
The simplest and best I ever used was Howard Kuhn's jig from the old CMR.
It's a simple piece of wood L-angle molding, with a notch for a razor
blade cut into one side (from the wing toward the elbow) at one end.
The only other parts are a wood block and a large black spring clip (the
kind you hold really thick reports together with). If you want, say, a
6" piece of tubing, you set the block 6" away from the razor notch and
clamp it there with the spring clip. Now lay the tube down the L-angle,
butting it up against the wood block. Insert the razor blade, press
lightly, and turn the tube. (Put a dead engine into it if the tube is
the right size to fit one.) Three to six turns, and you have an edge
that looks factory-cut.

----
( ) <- spring clip | <- razor (edge on,
/ \ | sharp edge down)
____________---------___________________________|_______
| /_| |__/| | |
| | |_______| || angle molding | |
| | wood block || |
|----------|____________|/-------------------------------j
/ lay tube here and spin it /
/________________________________________________________/

From: [email protected] (Tim Harincar)
[On cutting Estes-style body tubes]
When I cut tubes, I always wrap the tube with about two
layers of drafting tape with the edge of the tape along
the cut line. This accomplishes two things: First the
thick tape edge providing a excellent knife guide. Second,
you can assure a straight cut. If the tape wrinkles when
you wrap the tube, you know it is not on straight; simply
remove the tape and try again until you know its down flat.

Drafting tape is better than regular masking tape because it
has almost the same thickness but is made to be removed.

This method is in addition to reinforcing the inside with
a stage coupler or spent motor. Also, always use a new
x-acto blade for the best cut.

From: Jim Bandy (NAR member not on net)
Use a piece of aluminum 'angle iron' for joining body tubes. Place one
tube in the angle, insert and glue the joiner, then insert and glue the
other tube. It give very straight joins. The angle can also be used
for marking fin lines on body tubes, etc.
-----------------------------------------------------
6.3 I'm fed up with tangled plastic parachutes with broken shroud lines. How
can I improve on the standard chutes, or make my own?

From: [email protected] (Tim Harincar)
Making your own parachutes is pretty easy. Start with the desired
material (usually mylar or a light plastic). Make a cutting pattern out
of cardboard by first drawing a circle that will be the maximum size
of the chute (i.e. 16"). Take a compass [or] something that will give
you an accurate radius of the circle. Pick a point anywhere on the
circle and using the radius as a length draw an arc that crosses the
circle. At the point where the arc crosses, reposition the compass on
that point and draw another arc. Keep doing that all the way around
the circle - you will end up with six points including the starting
point on the circle. Connect these points with a straight edge and
Presto! a hexagon. Cut out the hex from the cardboard (I use artists
matte board...) and this is your cutting template. Lay the template on
the material and using an EXTREMELY SHARP XACTO KNIFE cut along the
outside of the template. Make shrouds from a heavy gauge thread -
cut three equal lengths twice as long as the diameter of the chute and
connect the ends to corner points adjacent to each other.

From: [email protected]
I usually build 12-24 line round chutes out of Estes material (just cut
around the outside of the red and white circle and attach at the red
/white boundaries) because they look more like real parachutes. I use
embroidery floss for shroud lines and separate the 6 strands (for 12
lines - use two lengths for a 24 line). This makes a strong chute.
With out crossing the lines over the top of the canopy, I've only had
one failure of a 12 line chute (an EL that tipped off dramatically -
i.e. cruise missile) and never had a 24 line fail. In the 10 years
I've been back in the hobby and using this technique, my shroud lines
have always come out the same length (within a couple of percent
tolerance).

From: [email protected] (Hal Wadleigh)
1. Use fisherman's snap swivels for your attachments. It lets you
store 'chutes separate from rockets and helps prevent fouling due
to spin at deployment.[Note...modelers have always reported mixed
results with snap swivels; they have been known to fail...Buzz]
2. Use nylon coat thread for shroud lines on homemade 'chutes (and
plastic bread wrappers are the best cheap 'chute material).
3. Pay special attention to the security of the attachment points.
Those standard stickers often look secure, but are actually not
attached. A small knot in the part of the shroud line under the
sticker serves as a good anchor point (with the rest of that part
looped around the knot, as per standard practice).
4. Very small 'chutes should be cross-form type. Cut about a 5" square,
then take out about 1.25" squares from each corner. Attach 4 lobes
of shroud across the flat ends and secure as above. Be careful to
use small stickers for the corner attachments. These make good
substitutes for streamers in .5" body tubes and can also be used as
drogues to help in the deployment of large 'chutes [A note from
[email protected] (C. D. Tavares): Either round off the inside
corner of that 1.25" square or reinforce the angle with something.
Otherwise, it's a really handy place for the parachute to rip
during a fast deployment.]

From: [email protected] (Greg Smith)
Nylon coat thread is very good for small, lightweight competition
parachutes, but it's not real strong and does have a tendency to melt if
it encounters a bit too much ejection charge heat. For sport and
payload models with 12" - 24" plastic 'chutes, I use 15 lb. *braided*
nylon fishing line. It's thicker than the coat thread, similar in
diameter to the Estes cotton stuff, but tremendously stronger. In the
last fifteen years, of the plastic parachutes I have built using this
line (and always crossed over the top of the 'chute for reinforcement),
I have had *zero* shroud line or attachment failures. The braided line
has a hard, smooth surface that doesn't encourage tangling, and it
doesn't unravel where cut.

From: [email protected] (Rusty Whitman)
I've tried about everything to keep shroud lines from pulling off of
plastic or mylar parachutes. Those little tape disks are just about
worthless. Tying knots and cyano'ing the ends helps but you still
have problems. I don't know why I never thought of this before but I
ran across a roll of duct tape in my closet and knew immediately that
was the answer. I cut out some little squares of duct tape and
attached some lines to a parachute and they won't pull free without
ripping the plastic. I don't know who invented duct tape but they
deserve some kind of statue, its got more uses than a paper clip.

From: [email protected] (Bob Kaplow)
1. Make shroudlines from Kevlar thread. This won't burn through. Tie
a knot 1/2" from the end and fray the end. Attach that end to
parachute.
2. Use the much stronger kite snap swivels instead of fishing swivels -
make sure they lock, and don't just clip like a safety pin.

-----------------------------------------------------
6.4 Alternatives to Recovery Wadding

From [email protected] (Jack Hagerty):
Just go down to your local building supply store and get a bale of
cellulose wall insulation. This is just shredded newspaper treated in
the same fire suppressant [as Estes recovery wadding]. A $5 bag will give
you enough wadding to last years!

From [email protected] (Warren Massey):
I have found crepe paper to be a must more cost effective alternative.
It comes in either sheets or rolls (I prefer the sheets) in a variety of
colors and is every bit as flame retardant at a fraction of the price. I
can even get several flights off a single ball of wadding. It is somewhat
stiffer than the tissue but I've never found that to be a drawback.

Unattributed:
A piston ejection system works well on rockets of BT-60 size or greater.
Pistons eliminate the need for recovery wadding of any type. Plans
for a D powered rocket using piston ejection may be found on sunsite.unc.
edu in the file 'pub/archives/rec.models.rockets/PLANS/dust-devil.ps'.
The rocket was designed and drawn by [email protected] (Joe Pfeiffer).

From: [email protected] (Bob Kaplow)
Use a baffle system (I posted this to RMR a while back) to eliminate
the need for wadding. This also provides the benefit of a third centering
ring (see Pete Olivola article) as part of the baffle system. Stainless
steel mesh can be used to trap hot particles, but be careful that
ejection
caps don't plug it up.
-----------------------------------------------------
6.5 Are there any good tips when making my own nose cones?

From Chris Jennison
To keep nose cones from wobbling and coming out asymmetrical when using
an electric hand drill as a lathe...
Use a blank (dowel, broom stick or balsa block) 1/8 inch larger
(diameter) than the nose cone that you need. Drill a 1/4 in. diameter
hole
as close to dead center as you can and push in a 1/4 in dowel. Dowel
length should allow the nose cone end to seat against the face of the
drill chuck. Find dead center by running the drill clamped in a vise at
moderate speed & slowly move a soft pencil toward the end at what
appears to be the center of rotation. After a couple of tries you will
find the center because your misses will draw concentric circles like
a bullseye. Now remove the dowel from the drill, clamp the shoulder end
in the vise and rough shape the nose cone with a file or rasp using the
marked center as a guide. Final contouring and finishing is done in the
drill with progressively finer sand paper.

-----------------------------------------------------
6.6 Getting Paint to Stick to LOC and Aerotech Nose Cones

From: [email protected] (Ken Wolfe)
VERY VERY important......WASH THE PLASTIC FIRST!
I had this problem until I started to wash the plastic before even
assembling anything. This solved most of the problems I was having.

From: [email protected] (Roger Wilfong)
I have had success painting nose cones from both companies using Krylon
and Walmart paints. The technique I use is to wash the nose cone with
a Brillo pad followed by a thorough rinse. Fill the mold parting mark
with auto body putty and sand it smooth. I next use a coat of primer
(I've used Krylon's gray sandable, Walmart's gray and Black Baron - the
Black Baron was the best, but also the most expensive and took the
longest to cure). This is followed by a light sanding and another
coat of primer, followed by sanding. After the primer cures (a week, if
I'm in the mood to paint, a year if I'm not), paint it with some paint
that's compatible with the primer.

This technique works fine on the LOC nose cones, the only problem I've
had with the Aerotech nose cones is that the very tip tends to get
chipped off.

I have a LOC PNC-3.00 that has lawn darted into hard ground twice. The
original paint is scratched, but it shows no signs of flaking off.

From: [email protected] (Greg Smith)
I rough up the surface of plastic nose cones with 60 grit paper, then
use my basic epoxy painting regimen as I've described earlier. After
the first coat of primer, the surface is *really* fuzzy; the paint
reinforces and thickens all the little plastic strands that are raised
by the sandpaper, and the surface feels like rough concrete. But a
little sanding knocks off most of it, and after the third primer coat or
so, the surface is as smooth as anything else on the model.

The only time I've ever damaged the finish on one of these nose cones
happened when a model fell off the workbench and onto the concrete floor
in my basement, which chipped the tip of the cone a bit. Normal flying
(including one or two landings on concrete) hasn't affected them at all.

From: [email protected] (J A Stephen Viggiano)
As I have said repeatedly, the most effective way to paint on these
plastics is to introduce carboxyl groups at their surfaces. This will
give the paints something onto which they can grab.

A carboxyl group, also known as a fatty acid group, consists of a
carbon atom, to which an atom of oxygen is doubly bonded, and also
a hydroxyl group is bonded. In order to convert the end of a polymer
chain into a carboxyl group, you need to provide oxygen and some
energy. The oxygen may, of course, come from the atmosphere.

In the packaging industry, when polypropylene and polyethylene must be
printed, they are given either a "corona discharge treatment," in which
the surface is passed beneath a high-potential device called a coratron,
or a "flame treatment," in which a gas flame is allowed to impinge
on the surface for an instant. For historic reasons, the second treatment
may be referred to as a "corona treatment," even though no corona
discharge is involved.

I've used the gas flame from my kitchen range with excellent results.
Don't overdo it, for obvious reasons. Only an instantaneous contact
with the flame is needed.

Since using this treatment, I have had virtually no problems with paint
flaking from my polypropylene nose cones.

From: M Preddy <[email protected]>
I've had good luck with Rustoleum primer on LOC nose cones. Krylon
sticks to it fine.

From: [email protected] (Bob Kaplow)
Consider covering nose cones with econo-kote.

-----------------------------------------------------
6.7 Is it possible to get a high gloss, durable finish on a model rocket?

From: [email protected] (Paul Hamilton)
I put on a clear coat of dope or Krylon, sand with #600 wet-or-dry
sandpaper, and then buff with "Rotten Stone" or similar rubbing compound.
This is a fine abrasive that on mixes with water. I have used toothpaste
or silver polish as a substitute for rubbing compound when there has been
no hardware store around.
-----------------------------------------------------
6.8 Are there any good paints for silver details on scale models?

From: Orville ????
The Krylon silver paint looks very much like real silver, that's
because it's made of a clear coat plus real metal flakes.
The only problem is when you touch it the finish becomes dull.

The solution to this problem is:
Finish your surface as usually.
Spray a final coat of Krylon on and let dry 2 days, but don't
even think about touching it. After 2 days spray Krylon clear coat
over the silver with very light coats ,letting each coat dry 5 minutes
between sprayings. This will give you a very nice finish.

From: Peter "wondered if they had silver spray paint for the Tin Woodman's
axe in the Wizard of Oz" Alway ([email protected])
I'm starting to get serious about silver paints, now that I am working
on 1930's rockets. I think it's worth getting a sense of several
metallic colors, all for different purposes. As near as I can tell,
most are either simply glossy (Testors Chrome, Dutch Boy silver) or
matte (Testors silver, and apparently Krylon.

As an experiment, I tried buffing some Testors siver on a nose cone
(it was still chucked up on the drill press wher I turned it) last
weekend. I found I needed to use dome #600 sandpaper to get a truly
smooth surface, then I just buffed it with ordinary paper. The result
was pretty convincing, but a darker shade than the original
paint. (unfortunately, on Goddard's rockets, the nose was usually
a lighter shade of Aluminum) I was impressed that the result looked
like real metal to me.

Testors has some buffable paints in their Metalizer line. I tried their
"Titanium" on a Glencoe 3-stage rocket ship (a von Braun design), but
when polished, I thought it looked more like hematite than actual
metal. I'm starting to believe that with silver paint, it's more
important that you represent the differences between silver shades
than get the siver just right. So for instance, on a Goddard
rocket, I would use the glossy Dutch Boy silver for the nose cone,
buffed silver paint for the nickel-steel propellant tanks, and
testors silver for the duralumin body. This should at least
suggest the differences between the materials that you can see
in the photos.

From: Bob Craddock ([email protected])
After building and re-building about a half-dozen Saturn V's, I have a
couple of recommendations to make:
For the Service Module color, I suggest getting a bottle of Micro Metal
Foil Adhesive and some Reynold's Wrap. Spread the adhesive on the
**shiny** side of the foil. The silver on the SM was somewhat dull, and
just about ANY silver paint sucks badly! The foil will give you the
look
you need, and the adhesive is extremely easy to work with. The white
raditor details can be added by using shroud line or Evergreen styrene
strips. White glue works well with the shroud line, but I would
recommend
fast epoxy for the strips. Mask of the radiator areas so you can paint
them white when you paint the entire rocket.
-----------------------------------------------------
6.9 How can I prevent a rocket painted white from yellowing?

From: [email protected] (LarryC)
Future floor polish (it isn't wax) doesn't yellow. I find it useful for
rockets but...

1) It must be used over some kind of paint or over acrylic gesso. If it
seeps into cardboard or wood, the material will become brittle;

2) It will cause dope and (even permanent) Magic Marker color to run.
This effect can be used to advantage, but it can also ruin a model if
it's unexpected. Future does not cause enamel paint to run, and may
certainly be used to cover decals. Don't know if the decal will yellow
beneath the coating.

3) A glossy finish is not always desirable, and Future yields only a
glossy finish. Art stores sell equivalent mixtures that come in gloss
or matte finishes. The are called "Acrylic Gloss Medium," and "Acrylic
Matte Medium," respectiely. They are thicker than Future, but they can
be thinned with water.

4) Acrylic colors, available in art stores, can be used on rockets, as
long as acrylic gesso is laid down first. The colors should be thinned
with water or Future. Acrylic paints are normally labeled to tell you
how opaque they are and how toxic they are. Both qualities vary from
color to color. Even though the tubes seem expensive, the opaque colors
have excellent covering power and they turn out to be very good buys.

5) From my own experience, commercial acrylic model paints are to be
avoided. They are over-thinned, and they yeild undesirable, cracked
finishes.

From: [email protected] (Bob Kaplow)
Try adding a small amount of BLUE to the white paint (a few drops per
bottle). The faint blue tint hides the yellowing, much like bluing in
the white laundry.

-----------------------------------------------------
6.10 Which is better, white or yellow glue? Epoxy? Cyano?

From: [email protected] (Buzz McDermott)
Yellow wood glue, such as Elmers Carpenter's Glue or Titebond, is far
superior to regular Elmer's white glue for building wood and paper model
rockets. Built carefully, with proper fin fillets, yellow aliphatic resin
will hold together on rockets with up to G power. Yellow glue also dries
faster.

Three and five minute epoxy is often used for quick repairs. This quick
drying time does not allow the epoxy to soak into the wood and/or paper
very well, though. If epoxy is to be used, then use one with at least
a 15 minute, and preferably a 30 minute, listed 'drying' time. Thirty
minute epoxy will give a much stronger bond than yellow glue. However,
5 minute epoxy often yields a weaker bond than yellow glue.

Cyano is often used for quick building. It bonds strong, dries extremely
fast (especially when using an accelerator), and is relatively easy to
use. Regular cyano can also be used to bond plastic to wood or paper.

No matter which glue is used, the most important factor is to have a
properly prepared surface. Glassine coated Estes-stype body tubes should
be lightly sanded where the glue is to be applied. All bonding surfaces
should be clean and unpainted. You want whatever bonding agent is used to
be able to soak into the paper and/or wood.

From: [email protected] (kingrat)
I've been using CA to bond fins to the tube and then a fillet of
epoxy. If you go this route I recommend thin CA and a fin alignment
guide. Make sure the fins are aligned properly before you CA and check
again before applying the epoxy. Unlike white glue, if you mess up it's
REALLY hard to fix. It's also REALLY hard to pop the fin off too. :)

This works just fine with balsa or plywood fins from what I've seen. CA
is good for tacking the lugs in place too, however I would never use CA
on a vital part of the rocket (ie. motor mount) CA just isn't strong
enough because it turns brittle. Epoxy will flex somewhat without
breaking
and you can add microballoons to allow it to flex even more. In
short, use
CA to tack and epoxy to bond.

From: [email protected] (Bob Santore)
There is an easy test to tell if the glue you are using is strong enough.
A glue joint only needs to be as strong or stronger than the material it
is gluing together. To test for glue strength you need to test the
strength of the glue joint relative to the strength of the material you
are bonding. This test is very easy and can be used for any type of
glue.
Glue some scrap pieces of whatever you are gluing together in a
configuration similar to how you intend to use it (i.e., don't test a
surface mounted fin if you intend to use a TTW fin). When cured,
pull the
two parts apart. Did the glue bond fail? If it did, don't use that
brand
of glue. If the pieces you glued didn't fail, then this glue is fine.
If your rocket falls apart anyway, then you need stronger rocket parts!
The only exception I can see to this very simple test would be near the
motor mount where heat can weaken the glue. You could always heat the
pieces before destructive testing to see if heat changes the
properties of
the glue joint.
-----------------------------------------------------
6.11 Improving on the Estes Shock Cord Mount

There are a number of ways to improve on the old paper-and-rubber-band
shock cord mount used by Estes for the past 35 or so years. The
following suggestions have been repeatedly made in r.m.r.

1. Replace the rubber band or short elastic in the kit with sewing elastic
at least twice the length of the model. This will help to avoid
tube zippering or ripped out shock cord mounts when you have a 'hard'
ejection.

2. Epoxy the shock cord mount to the inside of the body tube rather than
using white or yellow glue. Thirty minute epoxy works best for this.
Be sure and lightly sand the inside of the tube where the shock cord
mount is to be placed. Also be sure and 'cover' the entire mount with a
very thin layer of epoxy. This method works best for models with BT-60
or larger body tubes.

3. Use a 'Quest-style' kevlar-and-elastic shock cord mount. This type
of mount uses a length of 50 to 150 pound test Kevlar (such as Stren
Kevlar fishing line or Kevlar kite string). The Kevlar is tied and
glued to the motor mount (motor block, centering ring, or around the
motor tube). It is sized to end just shy of the front end of the
body tube when a length of elastic shock cord is tied onto the free
end of the Kevlar. This method eliminates any shock cord mount on the
inside surface of the body tube. Estes-style shock cord mounts have
been known to interfere with parachute deployment. You can used this
method on any sized rocket. Size the Kevlar appropriately.

4. You can also use a 'LOC-style' shock mount for body tubes in the
1.5" and up range. With this you take a short length of Kevlar line,
fold it in half, and make a !-2" loop in the closed end of the folded
line. You then epoxy the loop to the inside of the body tube in such
a manner as to have the end of the loop extend a little past the open
end of the body tube. A shock cord is tied to the loop. The advantage
of this technique is that is allows damaged shock cords to be easily
replaced. It tends to work better on body tubes greater than 1.5"
in diameter.
-----------------------------------------------------
6.12 I've built several BT-80 based models. How can I strengthen future
models to take larger motors, such as Aerotech 24mm or 29mm reloads?

Estes recommends using just D motors in their BT-80 based kits, such as
the Broadsword (Super Big Bertha) and Shadow (Optima). There are a number
of steps that posters to r.m.r have done to strengthen these rockets to
fly with larger motors. Remember in doing this that you are modifying and
using the rocket kit in a manner NOT recommended by the manufacturer.

From: Buzz McDermott ([email protected])
Here's a summary of what I've done to strengthen my Shadow and Broadsword
kits to fly on 24mm reloads and up to 24mm G42 motors. You will need
a LOC-style 2.56 inch tube coupler, 3/4 oz fiberglass, 15-30 minute
epoxy, and 20 minute 'coating' or 'finishing' epoxy:
1. If the kit comes with the 'plain' BT-50 type motor tube, replace
that with LOC-type, thick-walled 24mm motor tube. You will only
need about 6".
2. Reinforce each body tube section with 3/4 oz fiberglass. Apply it
using
one of the methods discussed in the section on High Power Construction
Techniques. Be sure to completely sand off the glassine coating of
the
body tubes prior to applying the fiberglass.
3. Also fiberglass-reinforce the thick paper centering rings supplied
with the kit. Glass both sides of the rings. If you want to build a
payload section in the Shadow, then leave the center cut-out in one
of the rings and glass over it.
4. If you plan to use only 24x70 disposable motors (including Aerotech
E's) and/or 24mm reloads, then yellow glue or epoxy a motor block
2.5" into one end of the 6" motor tube. If you install the motor hook,
file down the part that sticks into the tube. This will let you
fit in 24mm reloads. Be sure and lightly sand the motor tube prior
to installing motor hook. [NOTE: If you plan to use non-standard 24mm
Aerotech motors than skip this step.]
5. Epoxy one fiberglass-and-epoxy-reinforced centering ring 1/2" from the
rear end of the motor tube. Be sure there is a notch in the ring to
allow some movement of the motor hook. Epoxy a second centering ring
in the middle of the motor tube. Epoxy a third ring 1/8" from the
front of the motor tube. Install the motor tube into the main
body tube with the motor tube flush with the bottom of the main body
tube.
6. Fiberglass-reinforce all of the fins. Apply the glass to both sides
of the fins. Be sure that the fins are completely sanded (and any
airfoiling/rounding completed) before applying the cloth. An optional
step is to apply some 1/2" wide strips of glass along all of the
fin edges EXCEPT the root edge.
7. Rough up the epoxy on the main body tube along the lines where the
fins will attach. Use 220 or coarser sandpaper. You really want the
smooth epoxy coating roughed up. You can also drill a few 'rivet'
holes along the fin attachment lines.
8. Apply epoxy where the fins will attach and attach the fins. Do not
fillet at this time.
9. When the fins are dry, apply 1/2" strips of fiberglass cloth along
each fin root edge, with 1/4" on the body tube and the other half of
the width along the fin side. Coat this will coating epoxy. When
dry, YOUR FINS WILL NOT COME OFF.
10. Couple the bottom two body tube sections together. An option step
is to make a payload section out of the third body tube section that
comes with the Shadow. Use the LOC coupler to make a payload section.
You can sand down the solid centering ring to slide inside the LOC
coupler to form a bulk-head. Epoxy a 2"x 2" piece of scrap 1/16"
plywood or 1/8" balsa to the inside surface of the bulkhead to add
strength. Install either a large screw-eye or small eye-bolt to the
center of the bulkhead, to be used to shock cord and parachute
attachment.
The end result of the above is a model which is really too heavy to
fly on a D12. My modified Shadow came out to about 14 oz (I built it
VERY heavy and added the payload section). My modified Broadsword came
out to about 12 oz. Both have been flown on motors as small as composite
D's (D21-4, D13-4R). The Shadow has flown on E15-4 (perfect), E30-4
(a -5 is really needed), F24-7R, F39-7R, and G42-8. The Broadsword
has just been test-flown on the D21-4 and E15-4. It WILL be flown on
G42's, though.

If you want to use 29mm motors in BT-80 based models, I would recommend
either switching to plywood centering rings or sticking to low-thrust
motors, such as the F14. In the end, if you want to fly 29mm, you would
really be better off getting a kit designed as a Large Model Rocket from
the start.
---------------------------------------
6.13 How can I prevent balsa fins from breaking off on landing (especially
for models with swept fins)?

From: Bob Craddock ([email protected])
Take your fin pattern, reduce it by ~90% on a xerox machine, and make
as many copies as you need to glue one pattern on both sides of each
fin. Put about two coats of sanding sealer on the new paper surface,
sand, and then paint the fins all over again. A friend of mine was
having the exact same trouble on his Super Big Bertha, and the paper
reinforcement was his solution. It worked great, but next time I
say use
bass wood on everything.

From: The Silent Observer ([email protected])
There's a variation on this technique, that needs to be applied during
building, that can make balsa fins stronger than bass (and still
lighter).
What you need to do is simply to cover the fins before painting.
I used silk tissue (like model airplane tissue made from silk
fibers) on my
Big Bertha, and in a dozen flights (before it lodged high in a tree)
never
had so much as a crack, even when flown on a D21 (and including one
"plastic wad" recovery when the rocket hit the ground fairly hard).
You
could use ordinary Japanese tissue, or Silkspan (R), or you could
even use
something like nylon cloth or very light fiberglass (attached with
epoxy or
CA in this case).
With tissue, you need to cover the entire surface -- I simply
wrapped it
over the rounded leading edge, and trimmed it off at the tapered
trailing
edge, leaving the square "bottom" edge and the root uncovered. You can
attach Silkspan with almost any glue, but silk tissue (as I found)
"fuzzes"
if you get it damp and handle it, so something like Testor's model
airplane
glue or thick, clear nitrate dope might be a better choice; it won't
soften
the binder that holds the fibers in the tissue together.
Any of these, done after sanding (and filling, in the tissue cases)
will add
significantly to the strength of the fin, while adding very little
weight.
Making fins out of basswood or ply is probably okay with a Bertha
derivative
-- they tend to be overstable in any case -- but may lead to an
unstable
model if you have a design with less margin.

From: David Bucher ([email protected])
There are two things you can do, both of which lower the rocket
in a "fin up" attitude. The first works by making a "yoke" or
harness for
lowering the rocket body horizontally ( if you choose). Install an
anchor
(screw eye, inch worm shaped brass wire clip etc.) through the body
tube
wall between the fins at the rear end of the body. Attach a squid
line or
kevlar thread to the anchor and run it up the outside of the body
(tightly)
and attach to the nose cone or 'chute. Configure it to lower rocket as
above.
The other (and better!) way for the rocket you describe is to use rear
ejection. This will not help you with the present rocket, but any other
rocket with sufficient body width will work just fine. When making the
motor mount assembly. substitute a longer motor tube (29mm LOC
tube for instance) and make up some ply or G10 centering rings
including
two with a fair spread between where you can wrap the 'chute around
the motor tube. Install a solid bulkhead with cable lanyard to serve
as a thrust ring and pressure block. Make sure the motor mount unit
slides well in the body and attach elastic to the cable lanyard and now
you've got a rocket that ejects to the rear. Just cut a small notch
in the
farthest forward centering rings to allow the shock cord to pass.
This me-
thod works great and if you're confused by what I just wrote (a not un-
heard of possibility!) just think of the internal "power pod" in some
BGs. It works the same way except you must make provision to conn-
ect ALL parts together. There are two things you can do, both of which
lower the rocket in a "fin up" attitude. The first works by making a
"yoke" or harness for lowering the rocket body horizontally ( if you
choose). Install an anchor (screw eye, inch worm shaped brass wire
clip
etc.) through the body tube wall between the fins at the rear end of
the
body. Attach a squid line or kevlar thread to the anchor and run it up
the outside of the body (tightly) and attach to the nose cone or
'chute.
Configure it to lower rocket as above.
---------------------------------------
6.14 I just lost my favorite rocket and the kit is discontinued. How can I
make another one just like it?

From: <[email protected]> and <[email protected]>
I don't know if everyone else already does this, but I've started
saving the
kit card, instructions, and a copy of the fin shape or shapes for
every kit
I build -- rockets have a way of getting lost or broken, and model
rocket
companies have a way of discontinuing my favorite kits. Getting a
color copy
of the decal sheet (or better yet, a color scan) is also a good idea.
---------------------------------------
6.15 How can I reduce damage to the booster stage of two stage models caused
by the engine exhaust of the second stage?

From: [email protected] (Perry Hunter)
Try scotch tape instead of masking tape. It should release fractionally
faster and >might< reduce scorching of the lower stage.

In some cases, it's possible to line the inside of the top of the lower
stage with 20lb xerox paper, and it will take the damage rather than
the exposed section of the stage. It's not possible to cover everything
(slip fit couplers , etc. prevent lining all of it) but it can help.
---------------------------------------
6.16 Is there a way to increase the stability of a model with near
neutral stability?

From: Peter "My views are not to be confused with those
of a rabbit librarian" Alway ([email protected])

Sounding rockets that are aerodynamically stable are often spun at a
slower rate that insures that any off-axis thrust will cause the
rocket to corkscrew, rather than follow an arc. The corkscrew may
be subtle--but it beats an equally subtle arc. A sounding rocket
that naturally describes an arc with a 20-mile radius due to its
asymmetries cannot reach higher than 20 miles. But if the rocket
is spun through 360 degrees every few hundred feet, the
20-mile-radius arc turns into a very suble corkscrew.

Imageine the modeler puts a very slight misallignment between the
forward and rear fins of a sidewinder. Suppose it's just one degree.
also suppose the fins are 1 foot apart. the rocket will naturally
arc in a circle with a 360-foot circumference and a 57-foot radius.
That's instant doom! make the error half as bad and you are in
trouble. But if the rocket spins every 10 feet, the path will be
a generally upward corkscrew, less than ideal performance, but
a safe flight.

So with model rockets, a spin on ascent is a good way to make a
marginal or asymmetrical model safe. Estes used to sell a space
shuttle orbiter kit that had a spin tab for this reason, and the
old Astron Space Plane had spin tabs as well.
---------------------------------------
6.17 How can I build a rocket with less wind resistance?

From: John DeMar ([email protected])

The best thing you can do is to NOT use launch lugs. Use a
launch tower instead. A polished, smooth finish makes a big
difference too. If the design allows, use a boattail and make
sure all transitions are smooth (from nosecones/payload sections,
etc.). Fin shape is a minor affect if they are relatively thin,
otherwise make sure the edges are at least rounded.

Here are some numbers for comparison:
Standard finish, no transitions, with lug: Cd = 0.88
Standard finish, no lug: 0.68
Polished finish, no lug: 0.61
Standard finish, no lug, 2:1 boattail: 0.52
---------------------------------------
Copyright (c) 1996 Wolfram von Kiparski, editor.
Refer to Part 00 for the full copyright notice.