.: 2025

Dart - A Scratch Design / Build Odd-Roc

The Dart is an exercise in design: spurred on by the Estes Banshee, a rocket with wedge shaped fins as viewed from the nose cone.

I wanted to see if this fin type could be designed using OpenRocket pods. What I found was it is possible to visually model the rocket, but it's stability as shown in Open Rocket will be off since there is no airflow over both surfaces of (6) fins. So I duplicated the design and simply used (3) fins that were twice the thickness.

OpenRocket shows its stability closer to 8%. I'll build the rocket and swing test it with the Nose Cone loose, in the event it needs more nose weight.

An Altimeter Two is concealed in one fin, the launch lug in another and a faux cannon in the third. It's a Hell-For-Stout design utilizing basswood fins and a custom redwood turned nose cone. Powered by a 24mm composite motor it's a rear eject design utilizing a spool.

And a stock Banshee fin can design

2025-09-12 Preliminary CAD Drawings Rev 00

Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper

The Canadair CL-415 is designed specifically for aerial firefighting.

My wife and I saw a couple of these planes in action last week at Stagecoach Reservoir in Oak Creek , CO. They were "gathering water" for the Elk Creek Fire, which they and the ground crews obtained 100% containment on. Quite spectacular flying... here's a video:

Canadair 415 Fire Fighting Plane - Stagecoach Reservoir - Elk Fire - Oak Creek , CO August 2025

So my mind got to thinking about a scale version of the plane, but as a rocket. The upper wing would be removed for flight... or perhaps the plane could be made as a glider.

2025-08-22 CAD Drawing Of Fuselage

2025-08-23 Fuselage Blank

Glued up the fuselage blanks... I mean... after all... what else wood I use... it is a Boat / Plane / Rocket.

2025-08-24 Fuselage Fabrication

Used my wood lathe and a 2" diameter Forstner bit to bore the hole. Then cut the bevels on the table saw, and sanded the final profile.

Came out pretty nice... and the weight was even less than the CAD model. All in all a pretty good end result.

2025-08-29 CAD Model... In-Process

2025-08-30 Drawing Set, Rev 01

2025-09-13 Spool Tube and Plywood / Dowel Items

Tuba-Paloosa... Cut the (6) tubes for the Spool Tube, as well as cutting the Fuselage to length.

The BT-52H Motor Tube is sleeved with a C-55, the C-50 is sleeved with a BT-50H, both secured with Elmer's White Glue.

The (2) C-55's were cut longitudinally and are used as spacers between the BT-52H and the BT-50H, all secured with Gorilla Wood Glue.

Also cut the items from 1/4" Plywood and 3/4" Dia Dowels

2025-09-14 Centering Rings and Bulkhead

The Centering Rings were cut from 1/4" Plywood. A 1" Forstener bit was used to cut the holes for the BT-50H tube and the elliptical holes were cut using a 3/4" Forstener bit and a Dremel. This will be the Altimeter Bay opening.

The Rear Centering Ring was then attached to the Rear Bulkhead using Gorilla Wood Glue. Once the glue set-up, the altimeter opening was then drilled thru the Rear Centering Ring.

The rings were then placed over the BT-50H and Gorilla Wood Glued into place.

2025-09-15 Upper Rear Body Panel

Cut the Rear Upper Body Panel from 1/8" Basswood and began gluing it into place with Gorilla Wood Glue.

It was clearanced / sanded on the bottom center in order to give some clearance for the C-55