Gary Larsen's Farside Rocket - A BT-80H Scratch Build

[BABAR]

And in pumps.

SWMBO has corrected me, (and thumped me)

MaryJanes.

 

[lakeroadster]

SWMBO has corrected me, (and thumped me)

MaryJanes.

That's a pretty big blanket.... Women's Mary Jane Shoes​

 

[BABAR]

That's a pretty big blanket.... Women's Mary Jane Shoes​

True, but I am informed they are a bit more conservative than pumps. I think that means the CG is closer to the ground.

 

[lakeroadster]

True, but I am informed they are a bit more conservative than pumps. I think that means the CG is closer to the ground.

Looks like a pump to me, it even says "Mary Jane Pointed Toe Pump", but I'm a guy, what do I know. ​

The world is a mystery, wrapped in a puzzle, baked into an enigma.​

Maybe it's the strap that holds it on...​

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[BABAR]

My wife reminded me of the old conundrum,

“If a man says something in the forest and nobody hears him, is he still wrong?”

Depends on who you ask.

If you ask women, the unanimous answer is, “Yes” (usually associated with a facial expression that the answer is so obvious the question [and probably questioner] is stupid.)

If you ask men, the usual response is split roughly evenly between “Huh?” and “What…?”

Try this at your next mixed group of adults parent aged or older. It’s true.

 

[lakeroadster]

1st Coat of Primer

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[BABAR]

It just hit me. One of the ironies of the cartoon which is only appreciated when builds (or vicariously WATCHES someone build) the pictured rocket:

It is far more challenging to build it wrong than to do it right.

 

[lakeroadster]

CWF

I don't want to pretty this up too much... it's supposed to look thrown together, right?​

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[OzHybrid]

CWF

I don't want to pretty this up too much... it's supposed to look thrown together, right?​

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View attachment 639701​

Paint it white. Then you won't get any stains on your lab coat.....

 

[lakeroadster]

Primered and ready for some color... de ja vu

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[lakeroadster]

Blue and Red Paint

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[lakeroadster]

Metallic Silver Paint

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[lakeroadster]

Photo Shoot

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[ljwilley]

Looks awesome!

 

[neil_w]

Outstanding.

 

[ljwilley]

Cant wait to see what happens when you fly it!!

 

[Daddyisabar]

I had a big kink in Crazy Train when it was on the pad, but it was near the hind end. The model rocket train was flexible and being pulled up by three canted F15 tractor motors. Some thought it was a bit crazy.

Wait until they see this one! Hey guys I'm not crazy after all. Look at this guy. Nice and stiff body, motor and fins at the back of the rocket where they should be, 4FNC design with solid wood construction! Just what everyone wants. Looking forward to seeing it in the air.

Don't be boring and push the envelope to the max! Hopefully it will be kid tested, mother approved!

 

[lakeroadster]

Final Swing Tests

Now that the paint is dry I went ahead and did (3) swing tests in the final configuration. All were successful and were stable.

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[BABAR]

Light this candle!

 

[Hobie18]

So how did it fly.
We want to know


Still a bit worried. The spin test was better than feared. Still seems a bit ready to break away. Launch with a 1/4a... or with extreme safety

 

[jqavins]

Still a bit worried. The spin test was better than feared. Still seems a bit ready to break away. Launch with a 1/4a... or with extreme safety

On a ¼A it wouldn't leave the pad. I don't see the final weight (I probably missed it) but the initial sim showed only 474 ft apogee and only 121 mph top speed on an F44.

 

[lakeroadster]

So how did it fly.
We want to know


Still a bit worried. The spin test was better than feared. Still seems a bit ready to break away. Launch with a 1/4a... or with extreme safety

On a ¼A it wouldn't leave the pad. I don't see the final weight (I probably missed it) but the initial sim showed only 474 ft apogee and only 121 mph top speed on an F44.

Haven't flown it yet. As Joe said, it'll take an F motor to make this one fly.​

 

[lakeroadster]

Tidying up the loose ends...

Made the spools for the Gary Larsen Farside rocket today... well actually made (3) spools. Cut the rings using a hole saw, a Forstener bit, and then trued them to size on my wood lathe.​

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[Blast it Tom!]

Tidying up the loose ends...

Made the spools for the Gary Larsen Farside rocket today... well actually made (3) spools. Cut the rings using a hole saw, a Forstener bit, and then trued them to size on my wood lathe.​

View attachment 645934 View attachment 645935View attachment 645936​

I feel kinda dumb, but how do you do that on a lathe? Is there a cone apparatus or something like a live center to hold the rings or tubes with rings on center? I have a nice 1939 36" Walker-Turner in my shop that is greatly under-utilized!

 

[lakeroadster]

I feel kinda dumb, but how do you do that on a lathe? Is there a cone apparatus or something like a live center to hold the rings or tubes with rings on center?

No need to feel dumb, it's all a learning curve.... I use the tailstock and push the part against the headstock chuck, then turn the o.d. It's a trick I learned from a machinist.​

I have a nice 1939 36" Walker-Turner in my shop that is greatly under-utilized!

That's a massive lathe! I've got a small Jet 1236.​

 

[Blast it Tom!]

No need to feel dumb, it's all a learning curve.... I use the tailstock and push the part against the headstock chuck, then turn the o.d.​

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That's a massive lathe! I've got a small Jet 1236.​

Much thanks! Yeah, I need yo get a chuck, well, hopefully I'm in that process- my son-in-law gave me one but it had the wrong threads, this has 1"-8UN and left -handed on the outboard end, to boot. So I found a weld nut with that thread and a buddy is going to try to turn that into a adapter for me.

Yeah, the lathe was a deal, and with a good pedigree. A friend, a dear fellow who also happened to be VP of a major roll-turning firm, and a recognized expert in his field, sold it and his tools and the big old Steelcase tanker desk that it sat on for $220. How could I pass it up?

We have PA wild cherry and black walnut around here, and the aroma of working them is wonderful. Too bad I don't do it very often...

 

[ksaves2]

Be careful here. If I recall correctly Gary Larsen is fastidiously as heck going to protect his copyright on his cartoons. Hence one doesn't see them splashed all over the internet except on sites that paid for the privilege. Buy his books and no problem. Just don't re-post anything of his online. Might get away with it once but not likely twice thereafter. I got the complete Bill Watterson three volume thing otherwise known as Calvin and Hobbs. Still getting through the 1st volume and laughing my head off.

Larsen would be smart to do the same if he hasn't already.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

Be careful here. If I recall correctly Gary Larsen is fastidiously as heck going to protect his copyright on his cartoons. Hence one doesn't see them splashed all over the internet except on sites that paid for the privilege. Buy his books and no problem. Just don't re-post anything of his online. Might get away with it once but not likely twice thereafter. I got the complete Bill Watterson three volume thing otherwise known as Calvin and Hobbs. Still getting through the 1st volume and laughing my head off.

Larsen would be smart to do the same if he hasn't already.

I think he's ok as long as he isn't marketing it and/or claiming it as his own. And I own Watterson's wondrous 3 volume anthology as well, which is currently inspiring my Spaceman Spiff themed ACME Spitfire. Our master craftsman here decided to take it a step further and model Jim Flis's inspiration for the Spitfire.

Calvin and Hobbes is a masterful work of hilarity, and sometimes poignancy as well. I was just reading a couple of his Sunday strips concerning Valentine's Day, and boy did he nail it! Talk about LOL!