Model Forum / General / Rockets / August 2006

Hi,

I forgot to ask how the glass class went.  How many came?  I'm still doing
things the hard way.  On my 9 foot 4 inch model I used a nylon stocking for
a sock and Environ-Tex lite as the binder. It's two part, not too thick but
really wets the sock nicely.  I am curious if it will hold up to an L-1987.  Am
going to use an extra long coupler in the single coupler joint and am going to
have one of my 1/4" thin centering rings epoxied inside of the coupler and one
of your 3/8" rings actually abutting up against the coupler.  I will have three
of the 3/8" rings and one of the 1/4" ones.  I am also going to use Duralco 4525
epoxy that is actually stronger than J & B Weld on the centering rings and in
securing the engine tube and the couplers to the body tubes.  I might put a
tube coupler just behind where the electronics bay slides into the
booster/drogue tube as sort of a narrow thrust ring.

I know I need to use shear pins for the upper main chute bay and nosecone but
should I use them for the lower drogue bay and the electronics carrier?  I
suspect I just need to make sure I have a not too tight "Will Carney" :-)
type of fit with the drogue bay and not bother with shear pins there.

I have a bunch of sanding left on the three 4 inch tubes and then it is on to
the third coat of the Environ-Tex Lite.  They look so good after two coats, I'm
going to stop at three as that should be more than adequate. I let them cure for
at least two days between coats.

Will spray some white paint on the 24mm today and the Navy later in the week.

                                             Kurt