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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.

2026-08-23 Nose Cone

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.

2026-09-04 Fuselage Build

Ventured down to the local hobby shop and bought 6 sheets of 1/8" x 4" x 24" Basswood. So it's time to build the fuselage for the Solar Cargo.

Used my table saw, scroll saw and belt sander to whittle out the components. Then started gluing the parts to form the fuselage.

2026-09-05 Fuselage Day 02

2026-09-06 Fuselage Day 03

Using 1/8" Pine Dowels split in half lengthwise to reinforce the inner corners.

Installed the external side braces

Mock-up

2026-09-07 Wings

Cut the Inner Wing Assemblies using my table saw, router and belt sander.

Glued the Inner Wings into the Fuselage

Adding the Intermediate Wings

Tube Fins

Cut the BT-60's and the C-60's. Cut the opening in the BT-60 using a sharp hobby knife. Then glued the C-60 into the BT-60 using Elmer's White Glue.

2026-09-08 Launch Lugs and Tube Fins

Added 3/16" Dowels under the wing joints

2026-09-09 Fins and Centering Rings

Cut the Fins from 1/8" Basswood and the Centering Rings from 3/16" Plywood

Prepped the Tube Fin for the Fin gluing.

Vert Stabilizers to the Tube Fins

2026-09-10 Spool

Rear Eject Motor / Parachute Spool -and- Gluing The Nose Cone To The Fuselage

Passed (2) Swing Tests

Video Of Swing Tests

2026-09-11 Space Hoist

Think Space Shuttle Canada Arm

2026-09-12 Spool Front Spacer Ring and Space Hoist Day 02

After the the swing test was performed the rear spool was pulled from the rocket. It came out cleanly and left the chute still in the body. To help prevent that a Front Spacer Ring was added to the Spool Tube. The Kevlar harness would likely have pulled it out... but why take the chance.

Added a couple of mounts for the Space Hoist. The front mount (Space Hoist Pivot) is a square piece of 1/16" Th. Basswood. The rear mount (Space Hoist Magnetic Stowing Device) is a Hole Punched piece of card stock. A small piece of tape will be placed over these, then I can paint the Space Hoist off the rocket, and then glue it in place after everything is painted.