#11
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As it should be. I cannot imagine the pain of moulding ports and laser cut slots in the tubes - a model such as that should retain that sense of accomplishment upon completion. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Besides, plasic cones on those tubes would blow out in a heartbeat. Builder Snob
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Gravity is a harsh mistress SAM 002 NAR 91005 "The complexity of living is eminently favored to the simplicity of not." |
#12
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My sense of accomplishment came from repeated flights with no damage from my laser-cutter-assisted Semroc Trident. I still have the damaged first one, of which I was (and really still am) proud of. But it was more expedient to build another than it will be to try to repair the first one. Maybe after I burn through a bunch of my build queue I'll revisit....I can't bring myself to just scavenge the easily scavengeable parts from it and throw the rest away. I did a better job on finish on the second one anyway...and it flies sooooooooo nicely. It's not as pretty as Tony's though.
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#13
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Wait, wait, wait - Semroc laser cut the slots?
Hmmm...
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Gravity is a harsh mistress SAM 002 NAR 91005 "The complexity of living is eminently favored to the simplicity of not." |
#14
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"Wait, wait, wait - Semroc laser cut the slots?"
Not only does SEMROC laser cut the slots, they have a really nifty alignment fixture that makes assembly a pleasure. The only concession is that the BT-5 side tubes come in two sections glued together with a coupler. This allows them to keep the bag length down. Some have complained about the extra seams, but it does add some strength to the tubes as far as bending moment. I have one built, but haven't done the clean up to get it ready to prime. All those balsa nose cones... Chas
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Charles Russell, MSgt,USAF (ret.) NAR 9790, Lvl 1 SAM "Balls Three" |
#15
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Yes - laser cut the slots - and since they're so precise they can be bigger than the ones one would cut out by hand. This is a big deal with powerful ejection charges. The little fiber alignment tools hold everything while the glue dries, which also facilitates using the larger gas passages without leaks.
And I can say very very happily that it works extremely well.
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#16
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jharding58, I can clearly see that your tongue has been lodged firmly in your cheek from all the way over here, even if others seem to have missed it.
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Mark S. Kulka NAR #86134 L1,_ASTRE #471_Adirondack Mountains, NY
Opinions Unfettered by Logic • Advice Unsullied by Erudition • Rocketry Without Pity
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#17
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Yeah, I missed it......it wasn't the first time and is unlikely to be the last.....
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Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#18
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Rather than start a whole new thread, I decided to awaken this one to ask a question.
I just got my SemRoc Trident, and have a question. Is it preferable to use the two 9" tubes joined together or to just use some BT5 I have cut to 18"? If it's a matter of strength that the couplers provide, couldn't I just slide the ones supplied inside and glue them about half way down the tube? I hope I am craftsman enough to cut my own slots, so that shouldn't be a concern.
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Bernard J. Herman Ohio RLS Starport Sagitta Rockets email bherman@sagittarockets.com NAR # 97971 SR What's your idea on the best way to change Washington D.C.? Let us know at the Cantina Sagitta Cantina We're looking for a few good Catos, please tell us about any you may have had. Survey of Anecdotal Malfunctioning Engines or S.A.M.E. |
#19
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It won't matter either way - the original Trident came with three 18" BT-5 tubes that you had to slot at each end. It's just a matter of getting the slots lined up correctly, which is a bit easier with shorter tubes joined in the middle. I'd say that if you are going to use three 18" tubes, toss the couplers in your spare parts box along with the shorter BT-5 tubes. You won't need them with the longer tubes (and the three tubes together are surprisingly strong - I still have the Trident I built in 1974 and it is a bit banged up from my various moves, but the BT-5 tubes are still intact).
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Greg Poehlein Member of Launch Crue - http://launchcrue.org/ Hint #1: Do not use magician's flash paper for recovery wadding! Hint #2: Clean your shoes after flyin' in that cow pasture - that ain't no dirt clod on the sole! |
#20
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So how badly am I going to get chastise if I clone a Trident using plastic N/C's.
I plan to epoxy them on.
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If it flies, I can crash it! |
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