Being a child of the 1960's & a rocketry fella... ya almost gotta build a Saturn V, right?

I've never built one, mostly because I find all the kits pale in comparison to the real thing.

So this one is a scratch build, scratch design that has the same number of stages... and the same number of motors... as the full scale version.

I've been working on this since December of 2022.

The outline drawing I created that shows all the pieces parts is shown below.

Notice that the 3rd stage on my version has the reducer... this helps stabilize the stage.

The launch lugs are all internal.

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__________________
John Simmons a.k.a. "Lakeroadster"
NAR 113985
My Fleet with Build Data: Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop

The first stage has (2) D12-0 motors and (3) C11-3 motors.

There's a header that funnels the D12-0 booster charge to light a Visco quick burn fuse that is used to ignite the 2nd stage C6 motors.

The 1st stage fins are canted 15 degrees. This get's the rocket spinning. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th stages get their stabilization from base drag and spin.

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__________________
John Simmons a.k.a. "Lakeroadster"
NAR 113985
My Fleet with Build Data: Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop

I did a bench test of the Visco quick burn fuse. I used an e-match to ignite the D12-0 with my Pratt Go-Box. The D12-0 lit the fuse, and the fuse lit the B6 motor.

Here's a link to a video of that test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzJIWCBfpJY

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__________________
John Simmons a.k.a. "Lakeroadster"
NAR 113985
My Fleet with Build Data: Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop

The visco fuse is contained within a 3/8" aluminum tube, and that tube is contained inside the 1st stage recovery spool. There are vents through the fuselage to prevent premature stage separation when those D12 boosters fire.

So the fuse lights the 2nd stage motors and off it goes. Then a few seconds later the C11-3's eject the 1st stage spool.

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__________________
John Simmons a.k.a. "Lakeroadster"
NAR 113985
My Fleet with Build Data: Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop

It will certainly scoot off the pad with that first stage cluster.

Earl

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

42 mph off the rod speed... per the Open Rocket Simulation. Lots of weight to lift.

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__________________
John Simmons a.k.a. "Lakeroadster"
NAR 113985
My Fleet with Build Data: Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop

The 2nd Stage has (1) center 18mm booster motor, and (4) 18mm regular ejection motors.

Like the 1st stage, this stage also features a recovery spool that slides up the staging tube.

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__________________
John Simmons a.k.a. "Lakeroadster"
NAR 113985
My Fleet with Build Data: Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop

Nose cones and transitions were made from redwood on my wood lathe.

Why redwood? A few years back we removed a series of fence posts that were redwood 4 x 4's. I kept them and they are great raw material for rocket parts.

I used a 3/8" Forstener bit to drill the hole in the transition for the launch lug. I was surprised at how well the bit worked.

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__________________
John Simmons a.k.a. "Lakeroadster"
NAR 113985
My Fleet with Build Data: Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop

The 3rd and 4th stages are pretty basic. The 4th stage motor is a 1/2A3-3 and the streamer actually z-folds around the motor.

A fella on TRF by the name of GlenP suggested the z-fold technique.

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__________________
John Simmons a.k.a. "Lakeroadster"
NAR 113985
My Fleet with Build Data: Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop

The fin ferrules I turned on the wood lathe from pine and then used a skill saw to slice and dice them.

Fins are 1/8" basswood, papered on both sides (using wood glue) with 11 mil printer paper.

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__________________
John Simmons a.k.a. "Lakeroadster"
NAR 113985
My Fleet with Build Data: Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop