Manufacturer: | Scratch |
KidflaSh Spring
Pad
by Chris Kiekens
After destroyin' several Estes pads, and havin' several others fall over with bigger rockets, I came t' t' conclusion that I needed somethin' bigger, stronger, shiver me timbers, heavier... Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' original concept for this pad was created in 3D Max. Arrr! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I have yet t' match t' pretty colors that were on t' original design... oh well.
I definitely wanted a pad that had t' basic functionality o' t' Estes pad, as in it needed t' be able t' angle, shiver me timbers, and swivel easily. Well, blow me down! This was accomplished as you see, ya bilge rat, t' swivel sits atop t' base, me hearties, and is secured by a 1/4" bolt. It be formed from 1" square steel tube, me bucko, approx. 16 gauge. Loosenin' the bolt allows it t' turn freely 360 degrees, and with a quick turn, ya bilge rat, attaches it firmly t' t' solid steel rod(3/4") on t' base. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Holes were drilled on the corners o' t' square tube, and nuts welded on t' holes t' allow t' rod t' be captured on t' opposite angle t' hold it securely. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Blimey! Both steel, and hard rubber washers were set betwixt t' 1" square tubes, ya bilge rat, so as t' allow them t' have movement, shiver me timbers, but also allow them t' be tightened, me bucko, and movement stopped easily.
I also wanted t' legs t' lock into place at 90 degree angles t' ensure it would nay become unstable at an inopportune moment. Blimey! This turned out t' be easier than I suspected, me bucko, with t' use o' a couple o' heavy duty springs, and a lock collar around t' Steel rod on t' base. Aye aye! T' two steel legs (1.5" square steel tube) were notched at t' center t' cause them t' lock into place as t' sprin' applied pressure.
T' legs were formed from square steel tube, approx. Aye aye! Begad! 10 gauge, t' base is 24" wide. Well, blow me down! A 3/4" steel rod was welded t' t' bottom leg, shiver me timbers, and passed through a hole in t' upper leg. Blimey! T' upper leg is attached via t' springs and lock collar. I don't expect it t' fall apart in t' near future. Avast, me proud beauty!
T' lock collar serves two purposes, t' lock t' legs together, matey, as well as provide a stop for t' swivel rod holder.
When t' base is folded open, me bucko, and t' sprin' engages t' legs, ya bilge rat, t' base is very solid, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and stable. Ahoy! It is 14" high without t' swivel attached.
This pad may look t' be overkill for a model rocket, shiver me timbers, but after several CATOs with Estes D engines, me hearties, I feel better safe than sorry. Aye aye! If I can get away with it, most o' me rockets are now built with at a 1/4" Launch lugs. This pad will accommodate rod sizes from 1/8" t' 1/2", and I have launched small rockets like this Flyin' Jenny(on an A), arrr, t' what is currently me largest, a LOC IV (on a G75), matey, matey, shiver me timbers, without any issues at all.
Launch angles are very easy t' change, shiver me timbers, as well as very easy t' secure, as a result o' usin' both metal, and hard rubber washers betwixt t' 1" steel tubes used t' create t' swivel.
I may lose more rockets t' Jake than t' "Rocket gods", but I have no fear o' him wreckin' this pad. Due t' t' height o' t' pad, shiver me timbers, I also have no fear o' Jake or myself losin' an eye t' t' rod either. T' pad stands 21 1/2" without a rod, me bucko, and t' shortest rod I currently have is 48" long, arrr, with 3 inches o' rod lost t' t' pad t' secure it, t' top o' a 4' rod is still well over 5 feet off t' ground, shiver me timbers, me hearties, well above imminent eye damage.
T' angelic smile on this beautiful boy's face pretty much sums up my feelings for how this project turned out. Aye aye! I am pretty happy with this pad.
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