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View Full Version : ESTES TILT-A-PAD PLANS WANTED


rocket_science_rules
10-21-2008, 08:40 AM
Hi Folks, I am looking for ESTES TILT-A-PAD plans...you remember the wooden legs and support for the blast deflector? I want to make my own now. I am sure I saw a plan here someplace, it had the leg pattern and the leg mount on it. THANKS alot folks!

TXFergie
10-21-2008, 08:54 AM
Here is a set of plans posted a couple of years ago by our own Sandman. See if this is what you are looking for. I don't know if it includes the actual curved blast deflector or not.

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showpost.php?p=9934&postcount=1

barone
10-21-2008, 09:33 AM
Gordon was actually selling these....might want to check with him.....

Doug Sams
10-21-2008, 10:03 AM
Here is a set of plans posted a couple of years ago by our own Sandman. See if this is what you are looking for. I don't know if it includes the actual curved blast deflector or not.

http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/showpost.php?p=9934&postcount=1 One thing to keep in mind, if you're over 35, you may not like bending that low to get your rocket on the pad :) My first pad upon re-entering the hobby was patterned after the Tilt-a-pad. My next one is very pleasantly about 2 feet taller. Otherwise it's quite similar.

Even if you don't have a bad back or a bad knee, it's nice not getting your pants dirty kneeling down to hook up the ignitor leads.

With a 4' rod on it, I have to tilt it to load the rocket, but I'd rather tilt the rod/pad than have to kneel/squat. A buddy of mine calls it an "old man's pad", but I don't see him complaining when we use it :D

Doug...behaving much older than my 47 years...

http://home.flash.net/~samily/launchpad/launchpad.jpg (http://home.flash.net/~samily/launchpad/)


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Bob H
10-21-2008, 01:18 PM
Here you go!

http://www.rocketshoppe.com/decals/tilt-a-pad.pdf

Ltvscout
10-21-2008, 01:52 PM
Heh, I knew you guys would be able to find it for him. The OP originally emailed me asking if I knew where the file was. I couldn't find it. :o

TXFergie
10-21-2008, 03:39 PM
One thing to keep in mind, if you're over 35, you many not like bending that low to get your rocket on the pad :) My first pad upon re-entering the hobby was patterned after the Tilt-a-pad. My next one is very pleasantly about 2 feet taller. Otherwise it's quite similar.

Even if you don't have a bad back or a bad knee, it's nice not getting your pants dirty kneeling down to hook up the ignitor leads.

With a 4' rod on it, I have to tilt it to load the rocket, but I'd rather tilt the rod/pad than have to kneel/squat. A buddy of mine calls it an "old man's pad", but I don't see him complaining when we use it :D

Doug...behaving much older than my 47 years...


.

I like that idea much better than my little porta-pads I currently use. You could always take a folding stepstool to help you when you set your rocket on the pad. It's much easier to go up then down, than it is to bend down and get back up!!!!

sandman
10-21-2008, 04:30 PM
Gordon was actually selling these....might want to check with him.....


I was only selling them 'cause...well I found this old kid's picnic table and it was made of redwood and the old Tilt-a-Pads were made of redwood so....I made a bunch of them 'til I ran out of redwood. :D

I was only selling them 'cause...whaddaya gonna do with 12 Tilt-A-Pads? :confused:

If you want to make one here ya go.

Pretty simple really.

The hardest part is going to the hardware store and buying the bolts, washers and wing nuts.

Now what I did was make the round "disc" a little bigger 'cause I have a 4" hole saw...so I made 'em 3.75" instead of 3.5".

Mine were a little thicker too. The wood on the picnic table was 4/4 not 3/4 so I just sanded it smooth and left it thicker.

sandman
10-21-2008, 05:01 PM
BTW, let me know if you want me to make you one. I made plywood patterns so it'll be pretty easy to do. Just send me a PM.

I don't have any redwood left but I guess I can make it out of pine or oak or poplar or something else.

Oh, and if you aren't a purist I can make the legs as long as you want.

I'm getting too old to bend over all the time.