discussion 1/8th Scale Nike Zeus.

[StevenRB]

While the weather remains inclement, I've started on this rocket from Loc Precision.

 

[StevenRB]

View attachment 411245 This features 'through the wall' mounting of the fins. The body tube was pre-slotted from the manufacturer.

 

[StevenRB]

View attachment 411246 This is the business end showing what what the feature is. All of this is simply dry fitted so later I'll remove the motor mount and fins to show a better picture of what's going on.

 

[StevenRB]

View attachment 411247 I chose to use a paper method to reduce the amount of sanding, filling and priming. These are plywood making them quite sturdy. The grain is already removed requiring only one or two coats of primer.

 

[StevenRB]

View attachment 411248 These are the intermediate fins that are attached above the primary fins above. They are laser cut which beats the old 'die crunch' fins of yesteryear. These too will get the paper treatment as I'll show next.

 

[StevenRB]

This rocket will go from 700' ft. to 7000 ft. depending on what motors I use. A very versatile rocket.

 

[Ian M]

I have moved this to the Artillery section as The Zeus was a missil designed for shooting large bombers and later ICBM's down, rather than an actual spaceship.

 

[Guest]

Gets better with each photo, love the idea of the laser cut ply .

 

[boatman]

HI Steven well its different from the saturn i'll say that an being a missele according to Ian what size engine will you have to fit to hit the 7000 ft mark as with our small rockets we only got up into the hundreds of ft with our C65 engines but it was great fun at the time only trouble was for us it was finding the rockect on recovery
chris

 

[StevenRB]

I have moved this to the Artillery section as The Zeus was a missil designed for shooting large bombers and later ICBM's down, rather than an actual spaceship.

Got it. I understand.

 

[StevenRB]

HI Steven well its different from the saturn i'll say that an being a missele according to Ian what size engine will you have to fit to hit the 7000 ft mark as with our small rockets we only got up into the hundreds of ft with our C65 engines but it was great fun at the time only trouble was for us it was finding the rockect on recovery
chris

This rocket can use anywhere from H through K impulse motors. You can use engines from 29 mm. 38 mm. to 54 mm. in diameter using motor system adaptors. Later I'll show you how the motor adaptor system works.

 

[StevenRB]

View attachment 411349 These show part of the 'through the wall' mounting system. View attachment 411350 View attachment 411351 View attachment 411356

 

[StevenRB]

Here is a video from Loc Precision showing exactly how this unit plus the attachment of the recovery system works. Very simple and straight forward construction. Nowhere near the complexity of the Saturn V. Enjoy.

 

[StevenRB]

View attachment 411590 View attachment 411591 The intermediate and the smallest fins covered in paper.

 

[boatman]

ENJOYING whatching this come togerther Steven :thumb2:
chris

 

[Guest]

Nice video Steven.

 

[StevenRB]

Aw shucks. It's nice to insert videos that explain or show the hard work others do. Including the students as well.

 

[StevenRB]

View attachment 411705 View attachment 411706 Though maybe not apparent, I've used CA on the edges of the fins to seal, smooth out and secure the ends of the paper. Some areas soaked in more CA than others as the reason for differences in color. With sanding, this will become consistent.

 

[StevenRB]

View attachment 411966 A shot based on a dry run. I will shoot all fins with primer detached from the airframe then epoxy in place.