July 19-21, 2010

The A.C.M.E. Spitfire upscale project started in May 2010 with preliminary Rocksim designs and an email to Jim Flis requesting the ring templates. Work started in earnest on July 19, 2010 when a section of 7.5” LOC tube was cut into four pieces representing the four sections of the rocket. Cutting templates were made by scanning the original templates from the FlisKits kit and using Corel Paint Shop Pro to scale them to the proper dimensions. 

The Nose Cone was fashioned using a piece of posterboard and rolled following the template dimensions.

Expanding foam was then applied to give the cone strength and weight. Once the foam was fully cured, a piece of metal bar was inserted to provide a stable stand for the fiberglassing. A layer of 10 oz glass was used to cover the nose cone. 3M 77 Adhesive was used to tack the cloth to the cone prior to the application of the epoxy.

Epoxy was applied completing the initial fiberglassing of the cone.

November 10-11, 2010

After a long absence in the workshop (due to my day job requiring me to travel the country) I finally returned to continue work on the Spitfire. The full-size fin templates (4) were created and the nose cone bulkhead was tapered to fit snugly in the cone.

November 27, 2010

The nose cone bulkhead was measured for fit and the tube hole cut to accommodate the coupler. The coupler itself was reduced in diameter at one end and then fiberglassed with 3 oz glass to strengthen it. Airframe holes were also cut into Rings #1 and #2.

January 22, 2011

Construction of the ACME Spitfire has finally resumed now that the holidays are over. Section one of the body tube was measured for fin and shroud locations. Eight ribbing pieces were cut to support the shroud (two between each fin) and tested for fit.

Fin slots were cut and the fin templates were used to verify proper dimensions of each fin prior to cutting them from 1/4” plywood.

February 12, 2011

Fin templates has to be re-designed. Apparently Rocksim doesn’t handle fins mounted on transitions, so I had to add in a section to each fin to account for the rotation due to the transition/shroud.

February 18, 2011

Cut the remaining center holes in all the centering rings. Rocket was assembled to check fit of parts.

February 22, 2011

I determined that the 7/16” rings were too narrow to support the angled airframe sections. I decided to double-up the rings.

September 5, 2011

Ready to cut all fins only to find that I only had enough plywood stock to cut 2 fins. Since I am leaving for a business trip to Dallas next week I decided to order the new plywood and wait until I returned in October.

October 8-10, 2011

Cut all four fins and sanded rounded leading edge. Each fin cut from 1/4” baltic birch plywood.

Checked alignment of fins and rings. Epoxied all rings to form double-width rings.

Rechecked alignment once more before temporality mounting the rings together with carpet tape. Once in proper alignment the holes for the all-thread were drilled.