Definitely not.
There's an old joke about Freudian analysts: If an object is taller than it is
wide, a Freudian sees it as a phallic symbol. If it's wider than it is tall, a
Freudian will turn it on its side and call it a phallic symbol.
Rocketeers are the same way. If something's taller than it is wide, we'll slap
fins and a motor mount to it, and call it a rocket. If it's wider than it is
tall, we'll skip the fins entirely, slap in a motor mount, and call it a
flying saucer.
I buy lots of 4" diameter body tubes (that come complete with plastic nose and
tail cones) for about 6 bucks apiece at Toys R Us. They're usually mislabeled
as being crayon banks.
I buy most of my larger body tubes (6" diameter and above) at home improvement
and concrete specialty stores. The "QuikTube" and "SonoTube" brands are
favorites.
Hardware and home improvement stores are great sources of miscellaneous
rocket-building hardware, including things like threaded rod, u-bolts, t-nuts,
machine screws, washers and nuts, plywood, dowels, Styrofoam, and lots more.
To a committed scratch-builder, every store is a rocket store.
Cheers,
Rick Dickinson
On June 26, 2015 7:57:30 PM PDT, "Adrian P. Bailey" <adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
You’re joking, right? ;)
From: roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rick Dickinson
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2015 7:50 PM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Scratch build tips
Home Depot? Toys R Us?
On June 26, 2015 11:38:36 AM PDT, "Adrian P. Bailey"
<adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Thank you!
We modified our Mirage to take an I motor with some help from David
Reese. For the next project we want a big, fat, low and slow rocket.
Any suggestions on where to source the parts?
From: roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Allen Farrington
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2015 11:32 AM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Scratch build tips
My first experience was that I modified a few kits, then later went to
full-scratch. I converted a L1 rocket into a dual deploy by adding a
payload section and electronics bay. Next I modified a LOC Magnum to
change the motor mounts and add air-start wiring as well as an extended
payload section. The nice thing about modifying a kit is that you get
most of what you need component-wise, and then you can o rder other
components, usually from the kit manufacturer. One common thing to do
is to purchase a kit with a 29mm motor mount and then find and order
the parts to upgrade the mount to 38mm. You’ll have to modify the fins
to do this so it’s a good way to start getting used to doing the types
of modifications required to do a full scratch build. I would stay away
from minimum diameter for your first scratch build as it adds a bit of
complexity to the fin attachments.
Before you know it, you’ll start getting familiar with the different
sizes of the different types of tubing. For example, 3” cardboard is
not the same as 3” phenolic or 3” fiberglass. Couplers and bulkheads
and centering rings all have to be ordered or modified if you change
tubing and modifying kits is a safe way to step into that world.
Good luck!
Allen
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Allen H. Farrington
http://www.allenfarrington.org
818-653-2284
On Jun 26, 2015, at 11:14 AM, Adrian P. Bailey <adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Max and I are exploring the options for a project for November’s
ROCstock that we will start working on together over his summer break.
Any tips on how to get started building from scratch? We have been
playing with OpenRocket (thank you Chis and Phil) and I see that Apogee
Components has a lot of parts available.
--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
