My last PML Pterodactyl met a terrible fate, but not
after over a dozen successful launches. I wanted to build another
one, but just had to make a few changes. I wanted to launch it with
something more than a mere K-700. My solution? Modify and beef up
the kit to handle a 98mm M1419!! Here's how the construction went.
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I built the fins and motor tube as a single unit and added
2 3/4" centering rings.
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I then filleted and glassed the fins to the motor tube with
6oz. glass.
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Ready for insertion.
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I slotted the body tube all the way down. This was a little
tricky because of the tips of the fins.
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Got lucky, a perfect fit. I then filleted the fins on the
outside.
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Next step, 6oz. fiberglass from tip to tip on the fins and
around the body tube. I chose to fiberglass after the fins
were in because of the odd shape and the fact that the fins
also needed re-inforcing.
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My electronics go into a 4" coupler that fits into the
top of the plugged motor tube.
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This is the other side of the electronics bay holding an
ALT-S25.
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Because this beasty is only 84" long, to get the CG
in front of the CP I had to weight the Nose cone with a 12lb
lead weight. I used a coffee can and some fishing weights,
heated it up on my camp stove and then used some tin snips
to get it out. I filled the cone with expanding foam, epoxied
in a 3/4" bulkhead, layed in the weight and then added
another 3/4" bulkhead and 16oz. of epoxy.
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Fiberglassed, sanded and ready for the glazing and paint.
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Paint job finished!
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My little modification of the PML decal :=)
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The finished product. (I have to admit, this was taken after
two flights, hence the dings in the paint, forgot to take
one when I finished)
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