Ye Olde Rocket Forum

Go Back   Ye Olde Rocket Forum > Work Bench > Projects
User Name
Password
Auctions Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts Search Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-16-2017, 06:30 PM
neil_w's Avatar
neil_w neil_w is offline
Mr. Cut-by-hand
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 439
Default A couple of recently finished scratch builds

APRO Lander II (based on a Gary Byrum design)

Build thread on that other forum
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:  FullSizeRender 8.jpg
Views: 168
Size:  397.8 KB  

Last edited by neil_w : 07-17-2017 at 09:50 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-16-2017, 06:37 PM
neil_w's Avatar
neil_w neil_w is offline
Mr. Cut-by-hand
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 439
Default

Starship Avalon (inspired from the ship in the movie "Passengers")

OK to be fair this one isn't technically "completed" but it is completely "finished".

Build thread on that other forum
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:  FullSizeRender 9.jpg
Views: 151
Size:  455.9 KB  Click image for larger version

Name:  FullSizeRender 10.jpg
Views: 122
Size:  500.3 KB  

Last edited by neil_w : 07-17-2017 at 09:51 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-16-2017, 06:56 PM
Dewalt's Avatar
Dewalt Dewalt is offline
Craftsman
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Montana
Posts: 157
Default

Neil - I really like the design of the APRO Lander II !
And the finish on the Starship Avalon is outstanding.
__________________
Whiskey Alfa Lima Tango

Last edited by Dewalt : 07-16-2017 at 08:39 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-16-2017, 07:19 PM
hcmbanjo's Avatar
hcmbanjo hcmbanjo is offline
When Pigs Fly!
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,102
Default

Congrats Neil,
Both look great!
I'm curious if the Avalon will spin on the say up.
__________________
Hans "Chris" Michielssen
Old/New NAR # 19086 SR

www.oddlrockets.com
www.modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com
http://www.nar.org/educational-reso...ing-techniques/
Your results may vary
"Nose cones roll, be careful with that."
Every spaceman needs a ray gun.
Look out - I'm the Meister Shyster!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-16-2017, 07:22 PM
neil_w's Avatar
neil_w neil_w is offline
Mr. Cut-by-hand
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 439
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hcmbanjo
Congrats Neil,
Both look great!
I'm curious if the Avalon will spin on the say up.


Thanks.

It ought to spin at least *some*, but it's hard to say how much. I look forward to finding out, it should be flightworthy in time for the next launch I attend, which will be... well I'm not sure exactly.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-17-2017, 08:59 AM
JumpJet's Avatar
JumpJet JumpJet is offline
Master Modeler
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Pueblo Colorado
Posts: 1,307
Default

I REALLY LIKE your Starship Avalon. I may have to borrow those curved type fins you have on a future Estes Design.



John Boren
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-16-2017, 07:21 PM
neil_w's Avatar
neil_w neil_w is offline
Mr. Cut-by-hand
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 439
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewalt
Niel - I really like the design of the APRO Lander II !


Thanks. It's pretty closely derived from Gary Byrum's original, which I pretty much fell in love with the moment I first saw it. I did muck with the fin design just to personalize it a bit.

Quote:
And the finish on the Starship Avalon is outstanding.


Thanks, that one has been an adventure, and the design has evolved quite a bit from original conception. I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

Long meandering build threads for both are on TRF.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-17-2017, 10:02 AM
tbzep's Avatar
tbzep tbzep is offline
Dazed and Confused
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by neil_w
APRO Lander II (based on a Gary Byrum design)

Build thread on that other forum

Love the APRO paint scheme. It needs a Centuri Laser-X sitting next to it for a family photo!
__________________
I love sanding.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-17-2017, 10:54 AM
neil_w's Avatar
neil_w neil_w is offline
Mr. Cut-by-hand
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 439
Default

Thank you all for the positive feedback. It helps keep me motivated through these very long builds (which are long mainly because I work slowly).

I've added links to the TRF build threads in the top two posts in case anyone wants to see some of the wacky stuff that went into them (there really are some highly unusual bits in there). Warning: the threads are long and meandering, just like the builds.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
Love the APRO paint scheme.

A joint effort. I used Gary's original as a starting point, then Mark Hayes suggested a bunch of Mars Lander-inspired graphics, then I generated the final artwork for Mark to print, following his suggestions pretty closely. Gary cut the window wrap vinyl for me; generating the art for that was a complex endeavor. I do quite like the way it came out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by stefanj
Would buy both.

Well, I can provide you with OR files, decal artwork and everything else you'd need if you really wanted to build either one. They were both challenging and a lot of fun. Both would be difficult to actually kit due to some large pieces.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JumpJet
I REALLY LIKE your Starship Avalon. I may have to borrow those curved type fins you have on a future Estes Design.

You'll have to pardon me for saying this comment made my day, or maybe my whole year.

I always ponder the kit-ability of my designs, purely because it's fun to fantasize about. The curved pieces on the Avalon seem like they'd be a tough nut to crack. I formed them on 4" PVC couplers (the genuinely interesting fabrication process is documented here and here ). The only way I can imagine doing something like this in a kit is to come up with a form that is strong enough but also small and light enough to get into standard package. Seems difficult, but there are a lot of fun design possibilities using pieces like that. I doubt it would be practical to include prefabricated pieces in the package, although I guess if they were molded plastic it is possible (but no fun. )
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-17-2017, 12:57 PM
JumpJet's Avatar
JumpJet JumpJet is offline
Master Modeler
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Pueblo Colorado
Posts: 1,307
Default

For a Kit I would make those large curved fins out of a large dia. standard body tube. Most likely a tube from a 3" dia. Leviathan kit. I would slit one tube down it's length. Apply glue to the inside of the entire tube and place it over another tube of the same diameter. Most likely tape it in place until dry. Next I would apply a printed template to the laminated tube. The template would also have the locations for the fins to be bonded to, for which I would cut the tube for through the wall fin gluing. You can simply sand the fin flush for any part that stick past the outer tube. Most likely two sets of laminated tubes would be needed to cut out three sets of parts with a spar left over. These parts would be a lot heavier than your balsa ones but much easier to make.

I may have to try and make just the curve tube fin parts to see how it comes out.

By the way I am always looking at Movie and TV Sci Fi ships to get inspiration from for New Estes Kits, just like you have for your design. Most Times I take just one design element of the model to create a kit from.


John Boren
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:41 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe © 1998-2024