Destroyer HVY-PD

Here's a design that stretches the aerodynamics of odd-roc building... at least in my mind. It's loosely based on artwork by Pablo Dominguez, titled "Desert Run".

I've moved the motor downward to align with the CG, and for stability it has horizontal fins, as well as tube fins.

The actual as built rocket will have a nose made from a sculpted pair of glued up 2 x 6's, while the body will be a mix of C-204 tubing and BT-52HMF tubing. The main fins are 1 piece, and fabricated from 1/4" plywood, while the upper fin is made from 1/8" basswood.

Parachute is 30" Nylon and deploys from the rear of the rocket.

I'll knock out some preliminary CAD study drawings. Looks like a fun build.

2025-08-03

Here's the preliminary CAD Drawing... needs some refinement.... and lots of greebles and panelizing.

2025-08-05

Did a bit more work on the cad model and created a drawing of the nose cone. I figure that'll be the 1st thing to build, then go from there.

I cut some 2 x 6's into 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" blocks for the Nose Cone and glued them together. They'll serve as the basis to start building it from.

Check out how tight the wood grain is, I picked some scrap boards left over from our pole barn build. They're really good.

2025-08-06 Nose Cone Day 02

Took the Glued Up Block and cut it to size on my table saw. Then turned the (2) Shoulders on my wood lathe from a pine 4x4.

Used Gorilla Wood Glue to glue the Shoulders to the Nose Cone.

Updated the Open Rocket Simulation.

2025-08-08 Nose Cone Day 03

Drilled the holes using a 1" dia. Forstner bit, then used my Table Saw and Chop Saw to finish up the cuts.

I'm thinking of leaving it as is and not sanding the radi... kind of looks sinister.

And the angles on the shoulders... plus a screw up miter for good measure..

2025-08-09 Drawing Set, Rev 02

2025-08-10 Sanded the nose cone.

Cut the Body Tubes, the Main Structural Fin and the Ballast.

Installed and glued the Ballast

2025-08-11 Lags Screw Install

This was kind of cool. I cut a 1" dia. dowel at 2-1/2" long and then bored a hole on my wood lathe in the center of the dowel. The Lag Screw has a 3" long shank, that means it'll penetrate into the nose cone 1/2".

Placed glue into the lower 1" hole in the nose cone, injected it into the hole in the center of the dowle and then applied glue to the o.d. of the dowel and slid it into place. I then screwed the Lag into the Dowel.

I let that sit for half an hour and then screwed the Lag Screw the last 1/2" into the Nose Cone. You can see where the Lag actually is pushing the wood glue out between the grains of the wood.