Things to come RBG

[U812]

I think for my next model I'll do a RBG. Since I work in CGI I spent some time tonight, and trying not to look at what has been done before, free handed my own design.

She is BT-60 based. 24.5 inches long. And should fly on a D motor.

My plan is a tail cone and nose cone from Alumilite. Vacuum formed glider body and the rest balsa. This will take some trial and error no doubt but I'm trying to keep it simple. It's a bit bigger than the Orbital Transport. But with a BT-60 body tube it can run a bigger motor.

Well lets see what happens. I will detail this CGI model bit more and wasting no time get to the build this weekend. With any luck I can test this two when I get out to the sight in late October.

Here we go again. Keep in mind this is a real quickie wire frame I did tonight but it gets the idea across. Feel free to pick it apart. That's what the forum is for.

Steve

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/U-812/Rocket%20boosted%20Glider/RBG_rough2.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/U-812/Rocket%20boosted%20Glider/RBG_rough.jpg

[shrox]

What program do you use? I've been using Lightwave for over 10 years, but I use 3DMax and Maya too.

The design looks like one of our Quest models, since that one flies, yours should too.

[U812]

I use Lightwave. Have since the late 90s. I've been in visual effects making real models and creatures before the dark ages came and I had to switch over to CGI to stay alive. Now that too is vanishing to Baliwood. I really don't think CGI is a good practical replacement for good models and creatures. When it's good it's good but it is so often not.

But there it is. These days every young film maker thinks CGI can do everything.

So getting back to models thanks for your insight. I hope you're right.

If you want to see some of my movie work since you're in it too go here:

www.sneillfx.com

And my insanity project:

www.foofightersmovie.com I'm doing all the CGI. editing, practical effects and directing this one. That's why I call it insanity!

Steve

[pantherjon]

Pretty cool movie project..At first I thought maybe it pertained to the band of that name :confused:

Oh, and the RBG looks pretty cool too! :)

[GregGleason]

Steve,

I remember reading somewhere that canards are somewhat of an aerodynamic "no-no" for hobby rockets. Tim Van Milligan of Apogee Components produces a newsletter which has some pretty good information for those in the hobby (perhaps one of the best in current production). In one of the newsletters a while back, he built a rocket that did use canards and made it work (I think it was an Israeli Python, somewhat similar to the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile). He put a rod through the canards so that were able to freely rotate in the airstream, which removed the instability problem.

You can go to the Apogee website and see these newsletters online. They are in .pdf format.

As an aside, I recall reading a book about aircraft design. One of the engineers, an opponent of canards, said that the optimum placement of canards is on someone else's aircraft.

You might try building a "boiler plate" rocket to see if it flies well, then work on the "Hollywood" one, the kind that Bruce Willis would fly in. :D

Greg

[shrox]

Canards are OK, so long as they are straight and not too big. The Jayhawk has canards, as does the SHX Star Shuttle. The Icarus had half a canard...

[U812]

Thanks guys for your input. Well taken.

Also about Foo Fighters. As it says in the opening text on the trailer it was a term used by pilots in WW2 to describe strange aerial phenomenon. The band took this from there.

The movie is nearly an hour long now and will be a full length movie when done. Not a little short. But I ran out of money for now and employment so I hoping to finish the beginning of next year should things improve. ;)

Thanks again guys,

Steve

[Gus]

Steve,

Fantastic website! What incredible work.

Really a treat to look through the site and the movie looks great.

The movie trailer got me, I'd go stand in line to see the film.

Thanks again for sharing your site.

[U812]

Gus thanks a lot. I glad you enjoyed it.

When the film is done it will be released direct to DVD. Right now I'm in a holding pattern to do our last live action shoot. An hour of the film is all there. I have more editing and CGI to do. But the real hold up now is funds to rent costume, a jeep and a bunch of other stuff.

Part of the reason I'm trying to make a few kits to sell since I'm unemployed at present.

This is just a concept. I may run several past the folks here before I settle on a design I and you guys here might have the right stuff. The German Rocket plane sure has so far. It's going to kit as we speak.

Thanks again Gus,

Steve

[Intruder]

Steve,

I remember reading somewhere that canards are somewhat of an aerodynamic "no-no" for hobby rockets.

With the VERY large fin area in the back, it should be ok. I would, however, suggest that U812 add some ventral fins. He can add them on to the wing tips or something.

[shrox]

Gus thanks a lot. I glad you enjoyed it.

When the film is done it will be released direct to DVD. Right now I'm in a holding pattern to do our last live action shoot. An hour of the film is all there. I have more editing and CGI to do. But the real hold up now is funds to rent costume, a jeep and a bunch of other stuff....

I have several half finished videos on my hard drive, my problem is completing them!

[U812]

Thank you. It's great to get all this input.

Steve

[U812]

I have several half finished videos on my hard drive, my problem is completing them!

Yes indeed. I'm back to it in Nov. to completion. 90 minutes.

BTW I enjoyed your web site and your work. ;)

Steve

[U812]

I may not kit this. If I do I'll offer the booster by itself. And the booster and Glider. Both will have NASA style wraps and markings. You can just see the paper roughs I'm laying in now on the glider. Once I'm happy they will get removed flatten and scan into Photoshop where I'll detail and color them. Same for the booster.

I've been doing this while working on the V-2. There's lots of waiting for filler and primer to dry on the boat tail. So I do a bit here and there.

More to come.

Steve

[GregGleason]

Wow! A very believable Shuttle variant. With the wraps and paint I'm sure it will be a real gem.

Greg

[U812]

Wow thanks Greg. I am looking forward to it for sure. Fun build. I'm templating and making molds as I go. ;)

Steve

[georgegassaway]

I'm templating and making molds as I go. ;)

You have more guts than I do at trusting it will work exactly right.

I'd boilerplate it first, to make sure it'll fly right. So if things go wrong, a lot of time/effort will not have gone into it for naught. And if there was a problem, things can be learned from it to figure out how to solve it.

BTW - Even with big wings in the back, canards can still be a problem up front. you have to be sure the canards are at dead zero degrees relative to the main wing, or to "simply" have the rear wing and canard parallel to each other. If there is a fraction of a degree difference, the model will pitch up or pitch down (depending on the angle error direction). If anyone ever saw the old Estes Phoenix missile "wander around the sky", instead of flying straight, it was because one or more of its 4 rear fins and 4 "strake-wings" were not all parallel. I know, the Phoenix is not a canard, but that SHOULD have been less prone to wandering around on boost due to tiny misalignments than a canard model like this can tend to be.

- George Gassaway

[U812]

George thanks very much for most correct input. I hear you on all counts. And do plan to fly the booster first of course.

The booster doesn't have canards. Either does the glider.

Are you referring to them both being configured together approximating a canard ship on take off? Or could it be that my German rocket bomber in the BKG is giving that illusion.

Either way thanks so much.

Steve

P.S. this might be also as per my CGI design I realize now George. I have dropped the canards for you very reasons. ;)