Fleet Status

PML Pterodactyl Junior
The Bel Aero
PML Intruder
PML D Region Tomahawk
PML Tiny Pterodactyl
3x Upscale Quest Intruder
Estes Big Daddy
1.36 Upscale Quest Intruder
Quest Intruder
Estes EchoStar
Aerotech Sumo
PML Ariel
PML Io
PML Quasar
PML Eclipse
PML Explorer
PML Phobos
PML Patriot
PML Tethys
Aerotech Arreaux
Aerotech Warthog
PML Small Endeavor
Estes Maniac

March 19, 2002
Launch lugs and internal fillets
Applied the ACME conformal launch lugs using the enclosed adhesive. Working around the launch lugs, I applied four of the eight internal fillets for the main fins using West System epoxy and their 403 microfiber filler.

The internal fillets were more challenging than a typical project. With a work space about a half inch wide and a depth of around eighteen inches, getting enough epoxy dispersed evenly, quickly and where it needed to be was going to be a challenge. My initial effort was to tape a plastic spoon to the end of a dowel with electrical tape. I would mask off the back end of the rocket with paper. Then I would mix up a batch of epoxy and pour it into the spoon. With the rocket roughly upside-down from where I needed to apply the fillet, I would slide the plastic spoon, face up, well inside the rocket. Then I would turn the whole rocket and spoon right side up and let the epoxy pour into place. This worked, but was fairly tedious and very messy.

Eventually, I went back to the technique used on the PML Quasar. With this method, I drilled holes through the body tube and injected the epoxy into place. This was a lot easier, faster and cleaner.

I also tested my concept for aligning the strakes to the main fins. Looks like it's going to work well. Kind of looked like a rocket in traction.

March 20, 2002
Tacked the tail fins
I tacked the tail fins and applied two of the eight internal fillets for them.