L3 Page 6


	What's New L3 page updated 2-22-04 Construction Begins BATFE at it again! The BATFE is reportedly working on a video to show model rockets shooting down an aircraft. John Wickman has created a compromise bill which is much closer to the original S.724 proposed by Sen. Enzi, John hopes that the Senators will approve of this version. S.724 on hold! NY & NJ Senator's vow to filibuster the bill Senator Enzi's Bill S724 makes it through committee, but not as originally written. Bill now exempts APCP based hobby motors up to .9 pounds. Storage requirements exempted for up to 25 pounds total. The hobby needs your support! Give to the NAR/TRA legal fund. Join ARSA and support the legislative effort. And most important of all, buy stuff, support the vendors at this difficult time.

L3 Page 6

Construction 3-15-04

Today's job is short and sweet. Finish filling the holes in the aft centering ring from the threaded inserts for the retaining ring. Clean off the excess wood filler and then brush a thin coat of epoxy over the surface. This is being done simply to seal it well enough that when the two part foam is eventually used that it wont leak into the threaded inserts.

The forward motor mount centering ring was removed from the wax paper now that the fiberglass reinforcements have cured. A quick sanding removed the excess glass. Next the u-bolts were installed onto the ring. You can see that the u-bolts have a bar that connects the two ends, which will distribute the recovery loads over a greater area. The added fiberglass reinforcements will aid to distribute this load to an even greater area. This may seem overkill, but I want to be certain that an abnormal chute deployment doesn't pull the bolts out and drop a heavy piece of airframe.

Last job for tonight was to attach the forward centering ring to the front of the motor mount. West Epoxy thickened with West404 High Density Filler was used. High density filler adds substantial strength to the epoxy joint. The Center ring was just slid onto the tube for now. When the fins are added it will be moved down to meet the front edge of the fin tabs.

Once this cures I will at last be able to slide the assembly into place and begin tacking the fins in place.

Aft Centering Ring

Here you can see the holes filled with wood filler. This picture was taken before a thin coat of epoxy was brushed over the ring to seal it.

Fiberglass Reinforcement

Here is the forward centering ring after the glass was trimmed and the holes cleaned up.

U-Bolt Back

The u-bolts installed and the nuts epoxied

U-Bolt Front

The two u-bots on either side of the motor tube. This will allow a Y-Bridle to be used to distribute the load to each bolt.

Side View

A side view showing the thickness of the 9-ply ring.

FWD Ring attached

The front ring epoxied into position on the motor-tube. Thin fillets have been applied. After the fins are tacked on all fillets will be "beefed up" and reinforced with glass tape where needed.

HiPower-Rocketry.com

HiPower-Rocketry.com