If you try to make it just like the Russian version, will you need the below ground pit also? I do not think Mr. Ranger Sir will allow us to dig a pit for it , Yogi. Otherwise seems to be pretty cool, but I doubt I can help much since I am at Exit 278 on I-25, north of Fort Collins. But I would love to drop in and observe.

Smash,

Very nice looking project! I still mark the Delta II as one of the best rocketry experiences I've had. Life has gotten busy on me and I don't do as much as I'd like anymore in rocketry. Need any chutes for this thing, I'd be happy to fire up the sewing machine.

Edward

I'm with Ed on this - good to see you back Steve. The Delta II was one of the coolest projects I ever had a chance to participate in. I'm up near Estes Park these days. No Shop space to speak of really.

Smash,

Very nice looking project! I still mark the Delta II as one of the best rocketry experiences I've had. Life has gotten busy on me and I don't do as much as I'd like anymore in rocketry. Need any chutes for this thing, I'd be happy to fire up the sewing machine.
Edward

Thanks Edward .. the Delta was my favorite too. The group build aspect and camaraderie were amazing. I hope to repeat that with the Proton. It's a great way for 'newer' rocketeers to participate and learn about 'big' projects. I wish I would have had this group when I did the Titan .. I'm sure more ideas and input would have netted a better result. I'll let you know on the 'chutes .. thanks!

I'm with Ed on this - good to see you back Steve. The Delta II was one of the coolest projects I ever had a chance to participate in. I'm up near Estes Park these days. No Shop space to speak of really.

Thanks .. I tried to re-capture that feeling with the Titan and the DragonShip .. but there was really no interest in the Atlanta area. That was very disappointing. This time I'm hoping to find a build site to the north since most folks seem to be up that way .. Longmont would be a nice 'central' location. I would rent a small space for storage/workshop if I could find something cheap enough .. < $200/mo. I found a few in Denver but really want to go north. Keep an eye out if you would.

See you the meeting today ..

Let me poke around - I know some folks in Longmont area who may well have space. Might also recommend you talk to Ed Dawson - he and Joe Hinton did the huge Saturn V at Ed's barn.

I'll be gathering the parts I already have over the next week to see where we stand and what we still need.

I do know we'll need more fiberglass cloth and resin, a fair amount too, so if you know of any good sources for that please let me know.

Thanks, Steve

This looks like an amazingly complex project!

http://www.ilslaunch.com/launch-services/proton-mission-planners-guide

All items below available from the link above:

Proton Launch System Mission Planner's Guide

1. Introduction
2. LV Performance
3. Spacecraft Environments
4. Spacecraft Interfaces
5. Mission Integration and Management
6. Spacecraft and Launch Facilities
7. Launch Campaign
A. Proton Launch System Description and History
B. Quality Management System
C. Requirements for Customer-Supplied Data
D. Adapter Systems
E. Proton Launch System Options and Enhancements
F. Proton Launch System Options and Enhancements

This looks like an amazingly complex project!

http://www.ilslaunch.com/launch-services/proton-mission-planners-guide

Thanks .. that's a great site. Some real inspiration there. I like the details of the staging .. it shows a 4 cluster motor in the 2nd stage .. it would be cool to 2-stage this. 🙂

Steve,
What do you need besides a place to build it and lots of fibreglass cloth and resin? What are you going to need in the way of help? I am sorry if my question seems niave. I have never built a rocket of that size, so I can imagine, fastening, gluing, measuring, fabrication of parts, sanding, glassing, electronics, wiring, switches, cabling, recovery, and on and on. So any teams working any specifics to coordinate all of this so it comes together at the right time? Somebody designing checklists and test lists, etc. I am looking to help, so where do you need me? Any special engineering, fabrication, etc. that can be done before you find the hanger, or vertical assemby building, or barn?

Steve,
What do you need besides a place to build it and lots of fiberglass cloth and resin? What are you going to need in the way of help? I am sorry if my question seems naive. I have never built a rocket of that size, so I can imagine, fastening, gluing, measuring, fabrication of parts, sanding, glassing, electronics, wiring, switches, cabling, recovery, and on and on. So any teams working any specifics to coordinate all of this so it comes together at the right time? Somebody designing checklists and test lists, etc. I am looking to help, so where do you need me? Any special engineering, fabrication, etc. that can be done before you find the hanger, or vertical assembly building, or barn?

Hey Bear! Thanks again for your help .. note I didn't say 'offer' to help .. you're in it now buddy!! 🙂

I found on the Delta that having a good 'plan' in advance was important .. but often once you got parts in hand things changed. I plan to build the motor/fin assembly booster section first as everything else builds on that. I am also -seriously- considering making it a 2-stage project. The hardest engineering task will be the the stage connection and seperation, booster chute chamber and deployment. At 200 lbs, lifting on a "O", and 12" diameter .. this will be key to a successful flight.

We will have to consider booster attachment, and deployment if we choose that option, during this initial stage as well.

I do have the centering rings, bulkheads, 12" tube, boosters, booster motor tubes, rings, etc .. already so we can start laying it out. Initially we need very little room to get started. I'll go to storage this week/weekend and dig out the rest of the parts I 'believe' I have, and see how my epoxy has help up being in storage for years. I also need to find my copy of RockSim to layout and test as we go.

Thanks again!

i've got an adept stager that you could use.

Edward

i've got an adept stager that you could use.

Edward

Thanks .. those are nice. I would love to chat with someone who's built/flown a large 2-stage (12" diameter) and see how there connected the stages. I've yet to find any good references/examples on the web. Let me know if you, or anyone, comes across something like that.

Thanks!

This one detects liftoff by using a novel g-switch. Then when that turns off it starts a timer then lights the motor after that. I'd set it for maybe 1-2 seconds after burnout, that way it lights them fast. I'd also mount it the 2nd stage.

Edward