2008-9 Hokie High Project - Construction Status

Materials:

Performance Rocketry 5:1 Conical Nosecone. 

Notice the "Curtis Special" threaded, aluminum tip.  This entire unit is really a precision piece of work.

Performance Rocketry 6" Concept 150 Fincan

This was custom modified by Curtis to fill all voids with medium density foam.  This fin can also acts as an outside coupler to join two lengths of the minimum diameter tubing.  The extended airframe maximizes drogue compartment volume and optimizes CP minimizing required nose weight.

Performance Rocketry 6.02" ID Fiberglass Airframe:

3/4" 13 Layer Baltic Birch Plywood Bulkhead Construction:

Complete Rocket components ready for assembly.

Assembly of booster section:

The booster section uses one long section of 6.02" diameter Performance Rocketry tubing (49.5") plus another 18" length of tubing.  They combine using the fin can as an outside coupler to form a 68.5" long booster.  This accommodates the 51" Loki 6" 40,000 N-s motor and the e-bay coupler with just enough room left for a 50-60' length of nylon webbing.  Motor retention is accomplished by a 11-layer 3/4" plywood bulkhead located immediately forward of the fully inserted Loki motor case.  The bulkhead is glued to the inside of the sanded fiberglass tubing with fiberglass reinforced epoxy.  It is further held in place laterally around the exterior of the airframe by 6, 10-32 screws with threaded inserts J-B welded to the bulkhead.  A 3/8" all-thread or eye will be attached to the forward bulkhead of the motor to form the lower anchor point of the drogue-less booster-to-payload webbing.

Final Assembly: