Space X Dragon Capsule... A Scratch Build

The Space X Dragon Capsule is such a cool design...

This one is powered by (4) 18MM motors in a tractor motor arrangement. They fit nicely in the Draco Engine pods. There's also another 18mm motor in the spool for extra thrust and to eject the spool out the rear of the rocket.​

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It's based on a 4" nominal body diameter and end up as a pretty straight forward design, should look impressive when completed.​

 

 

 

 2026-01-18 With Graphics

 

I spent a little time this afternoon formulating a plan to turn the capsule and drill the (4) canted motor holes. For me this is a huge part of the challenge of model rocketry, figuring out how to make the parts by myself, using the tools I have available in the barn.

We'll see how this "turns" out (shameless pun) and if successful, I'll knock out the rest of the drawings.

 

 

2026-01-19 Crew Capsule, Rev 02

 

Wooden Buck, Gluing

2026-01-20 Cut the Wooden Buck to size on the Table Saw.

 

 

 

 

 

RGM-84L Anti-Ship Missile... A Scratch Build

The RGM-84L anti-ship and land-attack missile, which is designed to eliminate enemy coastal defenses, surface-to-air missile launch sites, aircraft, ports, and docked ships.

Based on a photo posted by @jqavins here.

This is a 2 stage rocket. The booster features dual 24MM BP Motors, and the sustainer is a single 24mm motor. The booster is tumble recovery, and the sustainer is a rear eject spool. 

 

 

 

Xarconian Bruiser HVY... A Scratch Build

With the re-release of the Estes Xarconian Cruiser, a truly magnificent design, this is a scratch built version, built Hell-For-Stout.

It features 1/4" Plywood Fins, Body Tubes with Full Length Internal Couplers, Lower RamJet Altimeter Pod, Rear Eject Spool and 29mm Motors.​

 

 

 XSSM-N-6A Rigel Cruise Missile

Rigel was begun by the US Navy in 1946. The aim was to produce a solid-rocket boosted, twin-ramjet powered, ship-launched supersonic cruise missile to attack shore targets at a range of 930 km (500 nm).

Production missiles would have been equipped with two wingtip-mounted Marquardt 71 cm (28 in) ramjets and four solid rocket boosters.

This model represents a Rigel concept missile that was sketched up but never built.​

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It has (4) 24mm motors located in the booster pods. At burnout a fuse lights the 24mm sustainer and the booster self ejects. At sustainer ejection, the motor pops from its mount and deploy (2) 18" parachutes, stored in the Ramjet pods.​

 

 

 

 

2026-01-11 Spent a little time in CAD on this rocket. Got the Model of the Sustainer about done.

 

 2026-01-12 Preliminary Models and Drawings, Rev 00

Lots of "Junk in the Trunk"... such a cool looking rocket.​

 

 

 Honest John - A BT-80H Scratch Build

 Here's an Honest John that's powered by a 29mm motor.

It's a rear eject... so you always have that awesome profile, be it going up or coming down.​

 

 2026-01-03 Drawing Set Rev 00

 

 

 Axe... A Scratch Build

Another build based on Internet artwork... 29mm Rear Eject 

 

2025-12-19 Knocked out the CAD Model and the drawings. Looks like a fun project.

 2025-12-20 Nose Cone Day 1

Started on the Nose Cone. Cut the (3) pieces from some scrap pine boards. The center portion I cut the angles at the front, and the upper and lower pieces were sanded to shape. Next up is routering the chamfers.​

 

 2025-12-22 Nose Cone Day 2

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I purchased a 45 degree router bit and installed it into my router.... it was defect and nearly shook my router apart! Took it back and got a replacement... and it was flawless. I routed all the parts.​

 

Gluing the three Nose Cone pieces.​

 

 

2025-12-23 

Revised the Body Tube from a C-204 to a BT-80H.  More room for parachute, went from a 30" to a 36" and it even looks better.... well IMHO.

 

 

 

2025-12-24 Revised Drawing Set Rev 02

 

 

2025-12-25 Nose Cone Shoulder Fabrication and Install

Cut a donut from some scrap stair steps using a 3" hole saw. Used a Forstner bit to drill a 3/4" center hole. Press fit in a 3/4" Dowel and chucked it into the lathe, turned the o.d. of the Shoulder for a slip fit into the BT-80H. Then, glued it all together.​

 

 

2025-12-26 Wing Fabrication

Cut, sanded and routed the wings.​

 

 

2025-12-27 Wings to Fuselage

This should take a couple days...​

 

2025-12-28 Wings to Fuselage, Day 02 

 

 

2025-12-29 Wings to Fuselage, Day 03

 

 

... and a mock-up

 

2025-12-30 Wing Tips and Nose Cone to Fuselage

Glued the Upper and Lower Wings together at the wingtips, then later glued the Nose Cone to the Fuselage.​

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Next up: Basswood Body Panels.

 

​2025-12-31 Fuselage and Ring Fin

Cut and fit the Upper Basswood Fuselage Panels.​

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Cut and glued the BT-80 & C-80 Tubes.​

 

Cut, Glued and Clamped the Half Ring Fin Segments into the Fixture.​

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BT/C-80 Side Pod Tubes

 

2026-01-01 Basswood Side Pods

This has been a fun experience. I kind of imagined what I want these to look like, and am just cutting, fitting and gluing 1/8" Basswood into place.

 

​​The "design" of the spacecraft is just like most of the Star Trek spacecraft. The crew in the front of the ship can eject from the main body of the craft, using the side pod thrusters. So the side pods and thrusters attach to the forward crew "Iron*".

 

​​*Iron: Forward compartment, so named "Iron" by Engineering Commander @BABAR.​

 

 

2026-01-02 Ring Fin Half

Removed the Ring Fin from the fixture and cut it to size. Glued it to the Wings of the rocket.​

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I'm going to spin test it with just the Half Ring Fin. If it flies stable, we'll be go for throttle up. If not, I'll build the other Half Ring Fin.​

2026-01-06 Launch Lugs

 

 

2026-01-21 Launch Lugs

 

This would have been so much easier had I installed it before gluing the Nose Cone to the BT-80.... Oh well, made an installation tool out of a 3/8" Breaker Bar / Hemostat Pliers.​