Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?

Nov 07, 2006 15:28

I thought this might be of interest - it's a copy of selected pages from Artis Magne Artilleriae by the 17th century Polish inventor Kazimir Siemenowic.

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rosenkavalier November 14 2006, 16:26:27 UTC
I'm just in the process of working out what I'll need in terms of engines, engine mounts, etc., to have a go at building some Hindu or Polish rocketry. Hopefully I should get them put together over the winter. I particularly liked these devices:


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woodlandwildman November 14 2006, 16:58:30 UTC
are you going for the real thing or card/plastic replica?

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rosenkavalier November 14 2006, 17:07:35 UTC
I was going to start off making them out of heavy card/balsa and see how successfully they work - if they seem to go OK, I might try building them out of something a bit more authentic.

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woodlandwildman November 15 2006, 09:34:53 UTC
this might help you then

tinsmithing guide
http://www.northwestjournal.ca/XIV122.htm

replica fire arrow construction for model rocketry
http://tiki-lounge.com/~ben/rocketry/firearrow.html

what sort of range are you thinking, I'm itching to try some live fire arrows on dartmoor.

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rosenkavalier November 15 2006, 12:09:24 UTC
They look very useful - thanks. I hadn't really got round to thinking about ranges yet - fairly modest to start with, I imagine, but if it all goes to plan then something rather more impressive after that.

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woodlandwildman November 15 2006, 14:43:00 UTC
I don't know who else would be interested, but do you fancy a bit of a friendly competition range wise?

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rosenkavalier November 16 2006, 09:36:52 UTC
Yes, why not - a bottle of port on the outcome? We would have to sort out something about weights, engine sizes and the like, but that sounds like a very good idea.

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woodlandwildman November 16 2006, 10:00:05 UTC
a bottle of port it is then. How about a maximum of an estes d12 (could require a bit of a big field 300yards, up to 1000 with a fire arrow), or c6/7 which should be restricted to about 100 yards.
What do you reckon weight wise and do you think we ought to have a payload? (possibly a small smoke cannister)

by the way, did you notice that the polish rockets look very much like the cannister is made from a fabric or at least wrapped in it? (have a look at the tops and bases)

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rosenkavalier November 16 2006, 10:05:02 UTC
Maybe if we start with the 'c' size, and then try something more ambitious if that goes to plan (i.e., we don't end up in A&E)?

Yes, I was wondering if it was stiff paper/parchment/tarred cloth - it certainly looks to have been twisted together and tied. I was trying to work out how to make something in a similar way that would be sufficiently rigid. I think a few experiments might be called for...

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rosenkavalier November 16 2006, 10:36:18 UTC


possibly a fabric/pasteboard combination. Would potassium alum stop the flame sufficiently to prevent burn though ?

check out the visco fuse rockets here, they appear to have a similar construction.
http://www.skylighter.com/skylighter_info_pages/article.asp?Item=63

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rosenkavalier November 17 2006, 10:08:31 UTC
I've used sodium borate as a fire retardant in the past, and it seems to be quite successful. The 'fuse' rockets do look the part, don't they? I think some playing around with ideas might be in order...

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