Solar Cargo: A Scratch Build/Design
Here's a space cargo ship that features square body tubes and nose cone... only round items are the tube fins.
It'll be a 29mm Powered- Rear Eject rocket.
Should be a fun build..... simulation shown is for ref. only.
2026-08-18 Open Rocket Model... just for ***** and giggles
2026-08-21 Knocked out the CAD Model, then pulled some dimensions.
Looks like there is adequate room for the 24" Parachute, the Ballast Slug and the 29mm Motor.
I ran an Open Rocket Stability Simulation using round tubes, and it appears stable.
2026-08-22 Here's the drawing set, Rev 00.
Every scratch build / design Odd-Roc project starts out with making the Nose Cone (at least at Lakeroadster's Rocket Shop they do)...
Glued up some scrap 2x4's for this project.
2026-08-24 Nose Cone... Slice'n and Dice'n
And I noticed something this morning.... does kind of look like a bee, doesn't it?
2026-08-25 Nose Cone Ballast
Cut the 1" Dia x 2" Long Ballast and glued it into the Nose Cone.
2026-08-27 Basswood To The Rescue..
Glued some basswood "bits" to the shoulder to bring it back to dimensional compliance with the drawing.
2026-08-28 Lag Screw Eye Install
2026-08-29 The Shield
The upper section is the crew "bridge".
The Shield rotates forward and downward to protect the bridge from space
debris or ne'er-do-well's... at least I think that's what the artist
had in mind.
The
Bridge is made from pine and the Shield is made from 1/8"
Basswood. It appears a bit to bulky at this point. once I'm done
gluing it I may opt to sand it down to a thinner thickness.
2026-08-20 Finished Shield
2026-08-31 Forgot the Lower Light Pod...
Added the Lower Light Pod under the chin of the Nose Cone.
I
made it from (2) pieces of laminated 1/8" Plywood. Freehand beveled
that on the Table Belt Sander and glued it to the Nose Cone. Then once
the glue sat for a couple hours I sanded it with the Table Belt Sander
such that it is square with the rocket horizontal center line.
