Artemis Orion - A Scratch Build

Here's a flying model of the Artemis Orion Spacecraft.

It's powered by a 29mm and is a Mid-Eject rocket. The display stand makes it stable in flight, and a nice desk display model when not at the field.

 

                         2026-01-31 

Created the CAD model of the body section, and planed, cut and glued the wood to turn the body.

 

 

 

2026-02-01

Turned the body of the Artemis Orion today. It was quite challenging but I've got some good workable pieces. They'll need some glue repairs, but that shouldn't be much of a challenge.

Something happened during the cryo stir, and the side of the Propulsion Stage blew out... Go figure, right?

The "snout" on top of the capsule is for a "center" in the lathe, it'll be removed once everything is finish sanded.

2026-02-02 Started gluing the side back onto the Propulsion Stage

 

 

 Sounding One - Double Staged / Triple Clustered - 

                            A Scratch Build.....

 

Gary C. Rosenfield inspired this design / build:  

The rocket is a 2 stage design, and each stage has triple exposed BT-20 motor tubes.​

2026-01-27 Some progress on the CAD data

 

 2026-01-28 Here's the drawing package, rev 01

 

 

 

 

 

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.​