From lugs to rail guides, now to rail buttons, extreme rail buttons at that. 🙂 I know that as soon as the first one (providing you use two) leaves the rail, your rail guidance is gone. So, it's best to keep them as close as possible and low. However, there's the support that a third provides near the top. Bottom two for guidance until the fins take over, the top one for initial support. This is a 12' 5" diameter L3 (after an L shot maiden voyage) rocket. Weighs 30-40 lbs. 1/16" G10 FB body tube. Ideally, I'd like to epoxy blind nuts on the inside, but I can't on the lower one(s) because the bulkplates on the motor mount won't pass them. Granted I could cut slots, but on the aft bulkpate I'll have Aero Pack 98mm motor retention, and I don't want to weaken that G10 plate. Is it okay to just thread them and epoxy them in place after the painting is done (leaving tape circles, so the rail button isn't higher than the other one(s) after laying up the fins to the body tube) and you're SURE they're aligned? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated before I commit myself. 🙂 Oh, there's a joke there...
😳 Uh, nevermind... the ones I bought collapse and secure themselves from the inside... all you have to do is drill a 3/8" hole, push it in, then screw them down... not the first or last time I will publicly humiliate myself... 🙂
Actually Bruce I have a great recomendation and I know that I am not the only one using these (even though I may have introduced several to the Idea when it was PHITS) I use what is called a Nut-sert. Its like a rivet. BUT its a small threaded aluminum unit that pops into a frilled hole in the airframe and then with the correct tool (looks alot like a rivet gun) you cinch them up tight and you now have completely useable threads. This can all be done even if the rocket is all assembled and painted. They are very strong in fact it has been proven that the screw that goes in them will break before the nut-sert will. They come in sizes from 6-32,8-32,10-32,10-24,1/4 and larger. If you need to Bruce give me a shout I have all of them and the tool. Or if you wish I can post a pic or 2 for you.
Conway, I'll take you up on that. 🙂 I'll have the rocket to a point where I'll want to align and attach the buttons by the cleaning party or Oktoberfest. I want to use the club's extreme rail (after I clean it) to make sure everything is straight. I can't imagine anything worse than finishing it up, taking it out to the rail, and having it bind. I'll bring some cash and my drill and a set of good bits. The buttons have a 10-32'nd screw. What size hole do those nuts take? I'm so excited about this project, as I know you have been with yours, that I have to keep pulling myself back, so I don't make any mistakes I can't fix. 🙁 So far, so good! Thank you for the help!
Anytime I can help I am glad to. Thats what the hobby is about. Keep your money none will be needed. I have one of the largest pletheria's of fasteners I think anyone should have and dont mind sharing. I have a set of bits just for it. No worries there. Just a corless drill and your rail button spots lined up and picked out. It will take about 5 min or less to get it done.
I've paid forward before, and I'm grateful to have it come back. I still owe ya though. 🙂 I'll bring the cordless drill and have the spots all marked out. Thanks again!
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