Overview

I wanted t' make somethin' smaller, lighter, ya bilge rat, and more flexible. In particular, I wanted t' make t' tower easily reconfigurable for a number of standard sized rocket diameters. Aye aye! T' first trick is t' lay out t' tower rods in a pattern that accommodates different rocket diameters. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' second trick was to do this without creatin' multiple tower bases or a thicket o' rods. Blimey! The third trick be t' enable easy adjustment, preferably without tools. Aye aye!

As shown here, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' solution was t' create rods which fit into a variety o' sockets, which are themselves rigidly aligned in a base and arranged in a pattern t' accommodate rockets o' standard sizes. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! These rods are adjustable in that twistin' them slightly varies t' diameter o' t' circle that they define, thus accommodatin' slight variations in rocket diameter without t' need for a halo.

Note that rockets o' larger diameters can be accommodated merely by adding rods in increasingly larger triangles. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Since t' sockets are cast into a base usin' layers o' epoxy separated by polystyrene filler, rigidity is achieved in a relatively lightweight package (at least when compared t' buckets of concrete!).

Construction

Parts List

Launch Pad

I've used this tower for two years simply by addin' a 4" aluminum disk as a blast deflector and clampin' various launch rods into place usin' t' gate valve. Well, blow me down! It is extremely rigid, and has easily supported rockets up t' 4" in diameter and 3.3 pounds gross weight. Well, blow me down! Avast! If necessary , t' legs can be staked t' further increase stability. Blimey! Avast!

For this project, shiver me timbers, I added a tilt mechanism usin' plans for the plumber's pad on sunsite. Arrr! I modified t' plan only by usin' an aluminum ferrule as a bushin' within t' eyebolts instead o' washers. Begad! Arrr! T' ferrule is normally used on 1/4" wire cable as a stop, look for it in t' cable section o' a hardware store. Begad!

1. Modify t' roof tripod by drillin' one rivet on each leg brace and lengthenin' t' brace with a short piece o' lightweight chain. Replace one bolt in each rin' with a thumbscrew (the left aft one in t' picture below).
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3. Add center pipe (1/2" galvanized water pipe) and gate valve quick mount.
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5. Construct a tilt mechanism usin' t' plans for t' plumber's pad in Sunsite archives. This is simply three eyebolts and aluminum bushin' with rubber washers betwixt bolts and metal washers outside them.

Tower Head

1. Create rods by epoxyin' 6" o' 18" o' plated 1/4" rods into channels o' 1/4" aluminum extrusions. Avast, me proud beauty! (Photo A). Blimey! T' extrusions are widely available and are typically used t' line t' edges o' plywood. Blimey! T' 1/4" rods are a perfect fit into t' channels.
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3. Create a set o' sockets by cuttin' 1/4" I.D. Avast, me proud beauty! brass tubin' t' size. Carefully deburr t' ends o' t' brass tubes. T' O.D. should be 5/16" and the 1/4" rods should fit perfectly. Begad! Begad! You may wish t' lightly wax t' rods for ease o' insertion.
4. 
   Insert three [optionally four] rod assemblies into their sockets. Arrr! Prepare an 18 mm body tube by markin' three equally spaced lines along its length. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' tube should be stiffened by insertin' expended motors, and you may wish t' add an additional width o' maskin' tape or cardboard around t' tube t' provide a bit of free play. Aye aye! Use hose clamps or wire ties t' secure three rod/socket assemblies t' this body tube, shiver me timbers, me bucko, usin' t' lines as guides. Arrr! Fashion two cups from a short length o' PVC tubin' and maskin' tape, and position at t' base (leave just enough room t' allow t' epoxy t' stealth bottom o' t' sockets) and near the top o' t' sockets. Begad! Add some spare galvanized screws or other hardware to cups t' facilitate later bondin' t' additional socket assemblies. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Hang vertically, and fill with 30 minute epoxy (Photo B). Begad!
5. Remove mold (Photo C). Avast, me proud beauty! Lookin' at this assembly from t' top, let's number the sockets from 1 t' 3 clockwise. Blimey! Number two will be t' center o' the finished tower, and t' only socket that is always used. Well, blow me down! Prepare a 24 mm body tube as in previous step. Remove t' rod from socket number three in the assembly created in t' previous step, shiver me timbers, and insert it into a new socket. Ya scallywag! Using nylon ties or hose clamps, shiver me timbers, matey, secure this new socket and rod assembly and rods 1 and 2 from t' assembly built in t' previous step t' t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Fashion molds as before, I found it easiest t' offset them a bit from t' previous pourings. Aye aye! Now pour a new layer o' epoxy. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Remove mold.
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7. Prepare t' next largest body tube as before. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Remove rod number 1 from the assembly created in t' previous steps, matey, and insert it into a new socket. Avast! Begad! Using nylon ties or hose clamps, matey, secure t' new socket and rod assembly and rods 2 and 3 from t' assembly built in t' previous step t' t' body tube.
8. 
   Create a casin' for t' tower base usin' 3" PVC pipe fittings. Begad! Ya scallywag! Build a swivel usin' t' plumber stand plans from sunsite (see below). Insert t' two outside eyebolts o' t' swivel into t' bottom o' t' casin' and epoxy into place. Aye aye! Lower t' prepared rod and socket assembly into t' casin' and suspend it vertically just short o' t' bottom (Photo D). At this time I also added a smaller diameter socket t' accommodate 3/16" launch rods. Avast, me proud beauty!

   Add enough epoxy t' bottom o' t' casin' t' stabilize t' assembly and t' plug t' bottom of t' last new socket. Now fill t' casin' with polystyrene beads (widely available in craft stores t' fill small stuffed animals) and add thickened epoxy in small batches. T' first batch o' epoxy will coat t' beads as it drains through them. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! When it dries, shiver me timbers, it will stabilize t' beads into a matrix. T' second batch o' epoxy should form a 1/2" layer over t' first (thicken as necessary t' prevent it from drainin' t' t' bottom o' t' beads). Well, blow me down! Allow to cure. Ya scallywag! Arrr!

   Be very careful in this process nay t' permit to much uncured epoxy t' accumulate in t' casing! Blimey! High temperatures and even fire may result!

9. Test fit rails; identify best orientation for each size o' rocket (Photo E). Ya scallywag! Drill a 4" aluminum blast deflector disk t' accommodate all o' the sockets. Note that after insertin' t' rods into t' sockets you may have to hold them thar briefly t' allow trapped air t' escape. Arrr! Arrr! Use short 1/4" carriage bolts t' plug these holes when nay bein' used.