Saturn V build Completed

Here is the finished Rocket  VERY NICE
http://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2011/06/estes-saturn-v-build-finished.html

Rick McKee

Arizona Rocket Consortium.org: Magazine Article

Arizona Rocket Consortium.org: Magazine Article: "Author: Adam Klawonn PRINT Issue: May, 2011, Page 128

Photos by Harrison Hurwitz
The space race may be over, but one group of V..."

More tips and video

  These are good for schools to watch and learn from

http://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2011/05/launch-schoolyard-may-25-
lhttp://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2011/06/launch-schoolyard-june-6-2011.html

Rick

Mlas update 6-7-2-11

  Well here I am finally updating the progress of the half scale MLAS project.

To start I would like to give a shout out to Gordy from Roachworks Machinery, he quickly rendered me a scale pdf for the shroud.  Thank you Gordy for your help with our project.

To start we have completed the CM areas, and are currently working on producing clamps from the glass and screen we have in the shop. We have made a few clamps.

Here in the process

1.      We start with a heave glass matt and a blue foam form or plug.

2.      To this we spray glue to the blue foam and add wax paper

3.      We then mix up some epoxy from Sticky Stuff here in Phoenix, Az.

4.      This is structural epoxy with a 90 minute cure time

5.      We then sandwich a layer of wire mesh in between the two layers of matt.

6.      We then vacuum bag all this and let set of a day.

7.      Remove and trim

8.      Drill the needed holes and you are ready for assembly

9.      The mold is at a 70 degree angle for our build

10.  We then test fit all the parts and save a pieces for testing.

As many of you know we have been working on this project for about a year, we have been in touch with NASA, McDonald Douglas, Lockheed Martian, Go Daddy, and others. We have had a huge amount of help on this project, to all who have helped,   

I say thank you.

            Shon brought the model to the SSS social this past weekend, but there were only three members at this meeting, it seems to me more has to be done to get the membership involved. The membership needs something to make them want to attend the monthly socials. Maybe a contest, Craftsmanship, or scale, a list of parts that can only be used  with a time period, Something that everyone can afford to do.     

We also have been busy melting billets of lead for the weight needed in the nose. This part sucks but it has to happen.  As with the 8 inch model we had to add a far amount of nose weight to make things work like they are intended too.

This flight will be no different, we plan on four K-550s for the two ft model, and these will be canted at the realistic 20 degrees from centerline. Also we plan on having electronics in this flight, controlling the chutes to the shroud and CM parachutes. Guy also has timers we will be using for the coast skirt separation sequence and chute deployment.  

Now that we have the designs from Gordy we will detail the Shroud and get it ready for paint.  The one thing we are making sure of is that we get this project as close to the original as possible. Being that this rocket has only flown once before we feel it is only right to make this as close as we can. 

I also have plans for the new launch pad that we will be using.  these will be in the next updates later this week.

Again, thanks too all who read this

Rick M

MLAS update

I will have all the latess news later tonight

sorry for the delay

Rick

http://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/

Here are some more tips from Chris


http://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/

Enjoy

Rick

TIPS

Here are more tips for all to read, and pick up some new or old tricks

Thanks Chris
http://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2011/05/estes-saturn-v-build-part-41-parachutes.html

NASA phone call today

FYI for everyone who may check in daily, I had a nice phone call from Mr. Chris Rink today.  He is the NASA public relations contact at the Hampton, VA. Base.  He was at the MLAS launch in 2008, which is cool.

He was very interested in the MLAS project and will be keeping tabs on us.  I for one am thrilled at the amount of exposure the project is getting.  He expressed his support and said there were some people that might be of service to us.  He is going to ask around and get back to me sometime next week.

There has been other company's interested in the project, for teaching purposes, which is one of the reasons we are working so hard on the details.

As I explained to Chris, the plan is to duplicate all the events as they happened on the flight.  From the boost skirt drag separation to the re-orientation chutes and the CM separation.  Although I think the timing on the Shroud- CM separation will be shorter than the original.

As many of you know Team ARC flew the 8" model this past Saturday with success.

We are working on the boost and coast skirts this weekend and are trying to get the 2ft model ready for NSL in a few weeks??  We will keep pictures and postings coming regulary, along with as much information as possible.

I will be posting notes from this week’s round table.  Also I will be adding pictures of the construction of the shroud.   We are starting that tomorrow.

Thanks for all the visits to the blog, it is getting more traffic than I imagined.

Also please feel free to follow by clicking the follow button on the top of the home page,

GO BIG OR GO HOME

Rick "Scratch" McKee
Nar 87253 L3
SSS # 506

New building tips

 For more modeling tips visit the website below, this guy has skills.


http://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/

Rick

Project update as of May 16th, 2011

  Well we are back on the web,  I guess they got all the bugs out.

to start we have completed the CM  and applied a coat of wood filler to it.

  We also started on the coast skirt construction, we have made the fin templet and cut one for mock up, to this we also cut the slots for the drag platesand inserted them for a test fit.

These drag plates are made out of the 3/8 honeycomb material we have. This material will also serve as the motor cage base. Usin this honeycomb material will help keep the skirt true ( ROUND).

The motors will be 20 degrees off center and canted towards the center, just like the real one.  We feel the HCM  will be adequate for the power we are using.

Update #2

We flew the 8inch version this Saturday, it flew very well, I will post pictures later tonight. But wew have a youtube video you can view.http://www.youyube.com/watch?v=WC2mZaaMfx&feature=youtube gdata player

As you can see in the video it flew well, the skirts came off as expected. I know the shroud was not to scale. But we are making a new one as I write this. The new one will be closer to scale, with the two different angles on the lower portion of the shroud.

Other progress has been with the smaller model  we have added more nose weight and will fly it again soon.

On the 2 ft model we plan on a k motor total impulse weight will be the factor. 

These are pictures that I have right now.  Please keep looking for more.

More later

Rick  "SCRTACH" McKee

These are a fev more pictures showing the material we have. This is Very strong and light
A 6"X 6" piece weighs less than 50 grams



This is a picture of one of the drag plates installed



The layout of the boost skirt with the hooneycomb material



                                         

This is showing the thickness of the hooneycomd 3/8 "