Centuri X-24 "Bug"
 

HEY! Interestingly enough, this can also go under CARDSTOCK ROCKETRY... But I digress.

I have built a few cones that have kind of glided (glid?). One was just a cone with no fins or triangular bulkhead, the other was a Quest HL-20. Now I have 4 Noses for the X-24 (Mui-Arigatto SEMROC), and the body and fin patterns (Danke Jim Z). I also have a boiler plate model I use for Toss-n-glide testing.

My question is - do any of you'se guys have any real experience with this rocket? Any tricks, tips, or warnings?

My plan is to build one [almost] to the plans and try to get it to glide. Experience tells me to expect a rather steep glide-path, but my flying field is small, so that's a good thing. Then I'll start tinkering to get the best hang-time.

By "Almost" to plan, I mean that I will put the motor in an internal pop-pod with a streamer (NAR friendly), and I'll change to an internal launch lug.

Thanks for any advice (or warnings).

So... Any suggestions/comments/claims that I may be insane?

Use fairly stout cardstock, because there have been instances of the rear edges of the shroud bending back into the exhaust stream and igniting the shroud. Glue the nose cone on securely because Estes shotgun ejection charges can really pack a punch.

Yeah, like this:



FWIW, the C5-3 was the culprit. A C6-3 mighta not done this.

BTW, you'll want to read TIR-24, attached.

Doug

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It is a fun little bird to fly, but does not glide super far. No real tricks to trimming; just add clay weight to the inside bottom until you can get some kind of a decent glide. May need to do some final trimming after the first flight.

I trimmed my vintage one back in '76 by tossing out of an upstairs window into the front yard.

With a C6-3 it leaves a decent smoke trail as it heads off the pad.


Earl

Ah... I left something out.

I build my cones from 110 lb card stock, and add several "Longerons" lengthwise aft of the bulkhead.

I fly simple cones based on my glider cones sometimes. I have had one collapse due to wind-force and Krushnik effect. Once I added the longerons, I had no more troubles - even when launching on "D" motors.

The longerons themselves are strips of 110lb card stock folded to look like this when seen from the end "_/\_". They add rigidity and move the CG aft (a TWO-FER!).

I built one pretty much stock a few years ago - printed it on 110# cardstock and I never had any trouble with the rear end bowing into the exhaust. I used the Yankee nose cone (which is a pretty close approximation of the original) and 1/4" foam core for the fibre board bulkhead. It flew fine until the cardstock started warping from age and gravity (time is not kind to cardstock models). If you use the plastic nose cone, you'll want to get some self adhesive label stock and stick that around the shoulder, then glue that to the body tube. Mine held up fine to the ejection charges.

Greg

:chuckle: I was going to name-check you, but I figured you'd chime in eventually. This was the image that I had in mind when I commented. :D

I wondered as much :)

Doug

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My Take on the X-24 Bug
 

This was the first clone I did this year and worked on a few different looks for it. Enjoy!

WOW! Good info!

And "Rosko_Racer": SWEET patterns! I'm gonna need more nose-cones...

Something occurred to me this morning; the FINS may be causing the cone to warp into the exhaust stream. The "corners" should be pretty stiff, but the sides have the fins are a less stiff, and carry the aero loads of the fins. I'll look into adding a bit of beefage in that area. None of my cones ever had fins, so they didn't have these loads.

Thanks, Guys!