More Paper Carded Models

On Facebook,
James Zalewski (Jim Z's) posted a link to some carded models I wasn't familiar with.
CLICK HERE 

"The password for all the downloaded PDF files is: paper-replika.com
The password is case sensitive. There are a bunch of cool projects."

Free Tri-Fold Mounts PDF

Most build as directed by the instructions - including the tri-fold shock cord mounts.
I've never been a big fan of the tri-fold mounts. The mount is usually printed on the instruction sheets, on thin 20 lb. paper. If I have to use these mounts, thicker stock would be a better choice.

I drew these up to be printed on 65 lb. card stock.
There are three different sizes, mounts for BT-20, BT-50,  BT-55 and BT-60 sized models.
TIP: I can't recommend using a tri-fold mount on a BT-5 sized model. The folded mount is usually too thick and can block a streamer or small parachute ejection.


Make your Tri-Fold mounts as thin as possible as shown here: CLICK HERE
This link shows the shock cord glued on all three sections, the way it used to be done. Now most instructions show it glued just on sections 2 and 3.

If you are a Patreon supporter, email me at:
oddlrockets@bellsouth.net
and request the Tri-Fold Mount PDF.

Free Plans From Apogee

If you visit the Apogee Rockets Website you should find this offer -
FREE PDF Book of 25 Rocket Plans!
Simply subscribe to the Peak Of Flight Newsletter - CLICK HERE
Free plans - GOOD! Add the POF Newsletter  - Better GOOD!

EDIT UPDATE: You have to treat this FREE offer and "order it" like you would any rocket part or kit. They will then send you a link for the plans. Lots of out of print Shrox designs.

FREE Scale Modeling Book PDF

On the NAR Facebook page, Peter Alway just announced:

"My 1994 book on scale modeling, "The Art of Scale Model Rocketry" is now available as a free .pdf download from the NAR. Just click on the title on the "Free Samples" list."

It's on the NAR "Products" page. To download the book, CLICK HERE

It's a great read - and FREE!

Yellow Jacket Downscale PDF is Available!

A NEW carded downscale of the Estes YELLOW JACKET is finished!
This was drawn up from Kit # 2008.

This BT-5 downscale stands 10" tall and flys with a 1/2A3-4t or A3-4t engines.

If you are a Patreon supporter, email me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net
and request the Yellow Jacket PDF. It's FREE!

Don't use the art at the right to make your model!
Email me and get the higher resolution PDF.

Replaceable Kevlar Article in Apogee Peak Of Flight Newsletter

My article on Replaceable Kevlar Shock Cords was published in the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter yesterday:

You can download issue 338 HERE

This is a simple new way to install a Kevlar line in motor mounts in BT-50 mainframe and larger models.
I've had a few Kevlar lines burn through after repeated exposures to ejection charges. Replacing a Kevlar line installed using standard construction is nearly impossible. You can't access the inside of the motor mount.
With this new method you can check the condition of the line between flights and tie on a new line if needed.

I've been using this Kevlar mount on many of the new builds and flight testing with great success. Sometimes a solution is simple.

Open Rocket Version 13.05 Now Available!

The newest version of the Open Rocket simulator is available now!
Download your free software at:
http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/

And thanks to Sampo N!

Warped! Part 7 Fins and Decal

The original fin design from the Zero Gravity are unusual.
This elliptical shape would still work with the "Warped" name with some subtle changes.

The first top fin shows the kit orientation.
Fin two will simply be flipped over (I know, balsa grain and all)
The third fin get the root edge trimmed turning it's leading edge up a bit.

I went to a favorite FREE font website called:
www.1001freefonts.com

I went under the "distorted" section and found a great font called "To Forgive". This font looks a little melted and fits the and "Warped" name.
You can always type in your models name in a preview window to see how it'll look.

Open Rocket Version 12.09 Available!

A note from Open Rocket developer Sampo Niskanen:

Hi,

After way too long time, the next version of OpenRocket (12.09) is finally released.

This contains a huge number of improvements from a

large range of contributors. The biggest improvements is initial 3D support (thanks to Bill Kuker) and component presets (thanks to Kevin Ruland and Doug Pedrick).

Other new features include:

- Custom expressions in simulations

- Printing for centering ring and clustered centering ring components

- Support simple arithmetic in dimension entry

- Support deploying recovery device at stage separation

- Support for fractional inches (1/64) for unit length

- Added preference for windspeed units separately

- Added “most recently used files” in File Menu

- Improved printed accuracy in fin marking guide

- Calibration rulers added to printed templates

- Translations in Czech and Polish, numerous updates

A corresponding release for Android will follow shortly.

Cheers, Sampo N.

You can download the latest (Free!) version of Open Rocket at:
http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/

Free Applewhite Pinwheel Part 5 Painting the 13mm Pinwheel

Note: This is the top of the 13mm T engine Pinwheel. You'll notice a expended engine nozzle inside the motor mount tube. That's actually a casing stuck on top of a painting wand dowel. When flying the model, the engine nozzle would be down and out the flat bottom side.

I wanted to give the larger 13mm Pinwheel some color and make it look more like the Pinwheels I'd seen as a kid.

The finished model was white card stock. I hit it with a light coat of Rustoleum Key West Lime. It took very little paint to brighten it up.

To add the black the forward triangles they were first outlined with a fine point Sharpie.

A standard Sharpie was used to widen the outlines and draw over the edges.
Set the side of the point on the side at an angle to edge the sides.







Finally, to fill in the large areas use a wide point permanent felt pen.
It might take a few applications to get it up to a dark, opaque black.




Here's the finished Art Applewhite 13mm Pinwheel ready for flight with a A10-3t engine installed. With the black areas colored in it looks more like a toy pinwheel.

The clay ejection cap is at the top, the nozzle is below!
This side faces up for flight.

Free Applewhite Pinwheel Part 4 Engine Mount

The engine mount tube (Part D) is simply one wrap of card stock around a MMX engine.
Wrap the card stock tight and burnish over the glue tab.





The engine mount tube is pressed into the center hole until about 1/8" extends out over the top and bottom.

Leave the casing in the tube to keep it round while it dries.
Fillet the top and bottom where the tube extends beyond the body.

Note: This picture shows the top of the Pinwheel. The nozzle is at the bottom.

Here's how the engine block is made, a masking tape wrap around the bottom of the engine casing.
The simple wrap of tape prevents the engine from moving forward.

Free Applewhite Pinwheel Part 3 Gluing it Together

Fold over all four Tab 2 and glue flat against the "A" base with white glue.







Next fold over the tabs on lines 3 and 4 but don't glue them down.

The centers of the 3 - 4 tabs are glued to the "B" piece lined up inside the dashed lines.

The instructions don't say if the "B" goes on top of the tabs or underneath.
I glued it underneath the tabs, I could see the dashed lines easier.

I used tweezers to hold the tabs in place while the glue set up.

Free Applewhite Pinwheel Part 2 Cutting It Out

Here's the backside of the "A" piece.
You can see the cuts and fold lines.
Note: The dashed lines on the "B" piece don't get creased. Those dashed lines are the glue positions for the folded tips on the "A" part base.

The small center hole is for the MMX launch rod.
It was made using the rotary punch.

The hardest part of the build is cutting out the round engine mount tube hole.

I tried to "round out" the hole using a tapered dowel.

All four pieces are cut out, folded and ready for gluing.
It doesn't look like much now, but it's pretty amazing how it all folds and comes together.

Free Applewhite MMX and 13mm Pinwheel Part 1

Here's the latest free rocket from Art Applewhite - The Pinwheel.

Available in MicroMaxx and 13mm engine versions, it's a free download ready to be printed.

Stop by Art's website at:http://www.artapplewhite.com/free.html

Be sure to read and agree to the liability and copyright statements before you download any of the free models

Art has many Saucer, Spool and Monocopter kits available. All are fun builds and great flyers.

I'll be building the MMX version first. The 13mm Pinwheel is built in the same manner.

The solid lines (numbered 1) are cut straight through. Use a sharp knife and straightedge.

The dashed lines (numbered 2, 3 and 4) are folds.
I use the back of a razor blade and straightedge to make the creases.

The sharp side of the blade (now facing up) has a few wraps of masking tape so it won't cut my fingers.

Estes Thor Agena B Build Part 41 Decals Available

I've made the corrections and the Thor Agena B decals are available as a PDF to print your own.

On the lower half is a 1" square to check your print sizing.

On the lower half I've added some NASA meatballs, USA and flags.

I've learned to print more decals than I might need for a build.
If one doesn't transfer correctly I always have an extra.

Usually I'll wait to print decals until I have two models that need them.
I hate to waste half a sheet of decal paper.

The NASA and USA decals were added for future use and are included on the PDF.

Patreon members can email me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net
and request the Thor Agena B decals.

Open Rocket Basics Manual

As seen on TRF:
Jeff Pummil has written a basic manual on how to get started in Open Rocket!
You can download the manual HERE

If you've been frustrated with your first attempts, this is what you might need to get over the new interface hump!
This is something I wish was available when I first tried the software.

Thanks Jeff for taking the time to do it right!

NEW Open Rocket Software Version 1.1.9

The newest version of Open Rocket is now available!
You can find it here:
http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/

If you haven't downloaded this free simulator you are missing out!
While it doesn't have all the features of RockSim it's still a great freebie.
For some Open Rocket tips from an earlier blog post, go HERE

For this version Richard Graham has implemented geodetic computation methods, which take into account the curvature of the Earth, calculates latitude/longitude/altitude and takes into account the coriolis effect. The computation method is selected by the “Geodetic calculations” option in the simulation options. It’s not (yet) a full spherical computation model, but should be accurate enough for pretty much all sub-orbital needs.

Doug Pedrick has also enhanced the printing system with the ability to print fin positioning guides, transition templates and nose cone profiles. Other smaller enhancements and bug fixes are also included.”

Thanks go out to Sampo Niskanen for this great, free program!

Astro 1 Downscale - Free PDF!

I've just finished a new downscale of the Centuri classic:
The Mini ASTRO 1
It's BT-5 based and stands 8.5" tall.

The colors are based on the duo-tone Centuri catalog pages from the early 1970s.

The body is a wrap, you print it out on 24 lb. paper.
I glued mine in place with a glue stick. The seam was lifting so it was tacked back down by slipping white glue under the edge with a hobby knife.

The fins are printed on 110 lb. card stock.
The short leading edge is folded and glued over cereal box cardboard for a three ply fin. These ply fins are stronger than you'd think!

The nose cone is either an Estes plastic "Quark" style or the (closer to scale) Semroc BNC-5W balsa cone. You only have to paint the nose cone, the rest of the model is a print overlay.
Add a streamer, launch lug and a little nose weight and you are ready for launch with a 1/2A3-4t engine.

Patreon members can email me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net
Ask for the Astro 1 PDF

New Version of Open Rocket V 1.5.5

The newest version of Open Rocket is now available!
You can find it here:

http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/

This is version 1.5.5 and includes updates to the printing system for use on Windows.
If you haven't downloaded this free simulator you are missing out!
While it doesn't have all the features of RockSim it's still a great freebie.

For some Open Rocket tips from an earlier blog post, go HERE

Finding Those Old Kit Instructions and Plans

Most all who build and clone model rockets know of these sites,
There may be a few here you haven't seen:

On The Rocketry Forum, Bradycros was looking for kit instructions on the Estes Website.
Here's a short version of his post:

". . . I clicked on nearly every box on the home page and got; nothing.
Customer Service? Why not try it? Tried everything else.
This what I found in the left hand column: Instructions
WTF. Who'd a thunk it?
I was thunking OOP instructions would be more of a archivel type thing and not a 'customer service' type thing.


Here's the final address that Todd found: http://www.estesrockets.com/customer-service/instructions/

Another source of Estes instructions from the Official Forum of Tripoli Rocketry of Louisiana & South Louisiana Rocketry (SoLaR)
http://estesplans.larocketryforum.com/

Getting to the Shasta instructions archive requires too much searching.
These are the final destinations you are looking for:
http://ashasta-sadie.com/FArchive1.html
http://ashasta-sadie.com/FArchive2.html

Another favorite resource:
http://www.oldrocketplans.com/

And don't forget Jim Z's:
http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/index.htm