Modification Saturn V Modification

Modification - Saturn V

Contributed by Glenn Roth

Manufacturer: Modification

Glenn with SaturnBrief:
After me Saturn crashed, me bucko, me bucko, I've made what I call critical changes which may be helpful in other models.

1) baffle ejection

2) wider, heavier "parachute tube"

3) created a separation in middle o' that tube for faster chute deployment

4) 1-2% increase in "clear auxilary fins," made from any plastic retail case, ya bilge rat, glued t' original fins w/epoxy. Begad! (shows original fins, arrr, and gives better stability)

5) additional 12" chute for upper body

6) uses E30-4 *** in little t' NO WIND***

Modifications:
1) Sealed end o' engine tube, with peice o' spent engine and card board and drilled horizontal holes thru engine tube. Ya scallywag! Used paper punch t' cut holes in second "centerin' ring." (got this idea for ejection baffle here). Arrr! Ya scallywag! Blimey! (make sure u seal tube first , matey, or integrity o' tube reduced).

Sealed Engine

2) Parachute tube is a much larger "mail tube," about 2 1/8" in dia., cut in half. Blimey! Mounted second shroud in "front half" o' mailin' tube, me bucko, w/transition t' t' BT 50.

3) Peice o' Keelhaul®©™ strin' gets tied t' t' "eye screw" on nose cone, matey, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and passes down through t' parachute tube t' end, where 12" chute tied and packed first.

4) Then a 24" chute packed next, and finally th 36" chute in top section o' bt. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Tape nose cone for a tight fit.** With any luck, me hearties, 12" chute will pull out 24"chute, matey, and main body will pull out 36" chute.

Construction:
Parts are from t' standard kit w/one from an 2 1/8" mail tube, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, cut in half; BT 80 (not shown); BT50; 8 clear plastic fins; 6+ centerin' rings; made from cardboard shippin' envelopes (example: proiority mail).

Mid Separation

RepaintedFinishing:
I salvaged what I could from old damaged parts, ya bilge rat, and repainted new peices.

Flight:
Rebuild complete and flew today on an E30-4. Perfect flight, matey, ya bilge rat, straight up.

No chute opened but, ya bilge rat, deployed ok and sustain no damage. Have t' try a single large chute made from nylon. Begad! Aye aye! Landed about 15' away.

Recovery:
Two peices o' long elastic for shock cord; takes a little patience t' load. Avast! No chute opened so will try a single large chute.

SaturnSummary:
Original auxilary fins too small and should be attached. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! At least two large chutes, and one small one for upper body. Ahoy! Difficult chute deployment due t' undersized chute tube.

Love t' detail and challenge o' build. Ya scallywag! Had one good flight out o' first three. Avast! However, that flight was awesome!! Want t' recreate again and again. Arrr! Blimey! (wish I had originally built for an F motor. Arrr! Very heavy, right at max weight. Begad! Large aux fins attached t' originals a must.

New "rebuild" flew fine except chutes didn't open, deployed ok. Ahoy! Aye aye! Flew nice and straight, shiver me timbers, me bucko, about 350'.

Other:
Take your time; use largest motor u can afford!

Comments:

avatar
Ralph M Bohm (April 22, 2021)

Thank you, Glenn for the comprehensive review.


I have a few of these kits and just received the newer Skylab version all of them 1/100th scale.


At this moment, I'm thinking about reinforcing the body tube inside and/or out with fiberglass and go with a H motor.

I have not yet "simmed" the prospective build in OpenRocket or RocketSim so need to do that before going any further and hope to remember to update this posting.


(The reason for considering an H motor is I'd like to play with this towards my Level 1 certification).


Ralph

avatar
Terry perrott (August 20, 2023)

Hello Ralph,

By any chance would you happen to have one of the ASTV ( Apollo Saturn V) kits? If so would you be interested in selling one? I built this as a kid back in the early 80 's and loved how it looked on the launch pad.


Terry

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