Mars Lander - Scratch Built - 3" Nominal Diameter

[lakeroadster]

Launch Lug and Spool Modification

Notched the spool rear centering for the Kevlar shock chord. This will allow routing the Kevlar from the external lugs down into the spool.​

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[lakeroadster]

Foot Pads

A new pair of shoes..... I cut these on the wood lathe and then drilled (3) 3/8" dia. Forstener bit holes in each pad for the legs / struts.​

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And that last couple of days of snowfall really filled up Mt. Princeton. That likely means some quality launch time ahead.

 

[lakeroadster]

Photo Shoot

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[BABAR]

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And that last couple of days of snowfall really filled up Mt. Princeton. That likely means some quality launch time ahead.

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How many birds do you have ready for maiden flights?

 

[lakeroadster]

How many birds do you have ready for maiden flights?

14 20 ish Last years burn bans have really put me behind. ​

 

[BABAR]

14 ish Last years burn bans have really put me behind. ​

Gonna be a busy day!

Do you preload your birds (wadding when needed, chutes, motors sans igniters) at home before heading to launch site?

 

[lakeroadster]

Gonna be a busy day!

Do you preload your birds (wadding when needed, chutes, motors sans igniters) at home before heading to launch site?

Motors, yes. Chutes, maybe. I reuse a lot of the chutes, they're all in disconnect swivels.​

 

[lakeroadster]

Updated As Built OpenRocket Simulation with Recovery Anchors

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[BABAR]

Hadn't thought about the foot pads, I'm guessing the help out the CP a good bit. Also suspect the cost a bit of altiitude, but it's a SPORT ROCKET.

 

[lakeroadster]

Swing Test... Verdict: Stable

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[BABAR]

Swing Test... Verdict: Stable

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Stable VLEO* achieved!

No hesitation on that one at all.


*VLEO Very Low Earth Orbit

 

[ReynoldsSlumber]

More like LRO

As in, LakeRoadster Orbit

 

[lakeroadster]

Spar Urethane Gloss

Bought a quart of Spar Urethane Gloss ($22 ) and applied a couple coats to the Mars Lander.​

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[lr64]

That bright wood finish could almost justify a steampunk treatment, though I'm not actually into steampunk. Will look good either way. On the next one, I suppose it would be destructive to use wood from a bonsai that's at the same scale as your model. Just to get the grain on the right scale. ;-)

 

[BABAR]

Spar Urethane Gloss

Bought a quart of Spar Urethane Gloss ($22 ) and applied a couple coats to the Mars Lander.​

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How does it do for grain filling?

 

[lakeroadster]

How does it do for grain filling?

Pretty good. Keep in mind though, there's no Balsa or Basswood, it's all pine.​

 

[Daddyisabar]

Who needs expensive hardwoods like balsa when the backyard is full of pine. Money better spent on BIGGER MOTORS!