The rocket pack collective thread

[Maets]

Welcome to the Collective. 

[Dr cornelius quack]

Oh, I've been here since 'early doors'.
Just not had room to get the thing finished.

Back in the mists of time I sort of laid claim to the 'Double Zero'  race number, so I'll stick with it, if that's OK?

Also, I ran up some nice blue string fuses which will be lying around just waiting to get put on. They are in my cunning vertical filing system somewhere between  'Today' and 'Floor'.

[Banfili]

Very good, Dr. Sir!
And very colourful as well - perhaps your next piece of work could be braces for your trousers!

[Maets]

Your not truly a member until you get that number from maduncle. 

Nice work, by the way.

[maduncle]

What membership?

This is a collective for enthusiasts isn't it?

And sorry - I didn't get a 00 cut in the number set, next one to go out from the official Maduncle Rocket Pack Racers numbers 1 to 25 set is 14 to whoever lays claim to it with a photo of the pack they wish to put it on.

'nuff said.

[Dr cornelius quack]

What membership?

This is a collective for enthusiasts isn't it?

And sorry - I didn't get a 00 cut in the number set, next one to go out from the official Maduncle Rocket Pack Racers numbers 1 to 25 set is 14 to whoever lays claim to it with a photo of the pack they wish to put it on.

'nuff said.

Thank heavens for that!!

For a moment there, I thought I was going to have to have some sort of 'chip' implanted.

Don't worry, I think I can manage to cobble together a suitable '00' thingy.

[Whistle Pippen]

Greetings all!
Please peruse some images of very early stages of rocket pack development. The deadline for the first flight test is end of october in Whitby, perhaps I should call it my Rocketry Endeavour.


This is progress thus far.



I've got short lengths of copper pipe inside each of the joints, so its ready to have these pipes JB Weld'd into the copper fittings. Luckily, all the alignment-critical joints are compression brass joints so if the alignment is off, its just a matter of adjusting the nuts. This wasn't planned, but is a side result of liking the idea of alternating colours between copper and brass sections...


The left hand side section (with the red gate valve) will be positioned above the other section, such that the 2 copper spheres are vertically aligned. Inspiration obviously from one of Maets's excellent packs
The idea is that each sphere is a tank, one is fuel and one is oxidiser, so from the lower tank will be several small microbore copper tubes feeding into the wide 'combustion chamber' bits on the trumpety bits. not shown on the 3D model as I couldn't draw compound curved pipes easily


Still to do:
-Attach the trumpety bits on the bottom, and the copper spheres to the tops. hopefully can find the right size bolts & washers to fit actually inside the brass compression fittings and pull against the internal lips they have
-Figure out structural details, how am I going to fasten it to the 4 bolts on the wings, how is it going to be supported without a frame or support box?
-Lots (!) of detailing and decoration


I did a 3D model in sketchup as I was wanting to learn how to use it anyway, and it let me decide what parts I wanted to buy before committing.
(2 pics)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

google sketchup is really useful, i was surprised how quick and easy it is to knock up basic geometric shapes. 3D curves and fine detail are tricky, but I just wanted an idea of shapes and sizes i was going to end up with.

The rocketpack is intended to bolt to this set of WINGS:
(2 pics)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Early stage cardboard mockup of ROCKET BOOTS
(1 pic)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Album of full size images here: http://imgur.com/a/9P5p2
Cheers

[von Corax]

I like it. The wings have rather a da Vinci-esque air about them, while the engine is delightfully suggestive of some of Mr. Goddard's earlier prototypes.

[Maets]

Welcome to the Collective.  Great start.  Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

[Professor J. Cogsworthy]

I love the idea of the rocket boots.... And the rest looks great too.

[Maets]

I love the idea of the rocket boots.... And the rest looks great too.

There had been earlier talk about rocket boots on this thread, but as yet no makers.  Do the race rules allow wearing both a rocket pack and rocket boots in a RPC sanctioned race?   

[Whistle Pippen]

"A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes"

Thanks all, you're good folk

Rocket Boots! - More Speed! What Could Go Wrong!

to make them i need to make the financial commitment to buying a load of 3/4" belt leather + buckles, rivets, rivet setter and also finding some leather bag from a charity shop to chop up for the main wide straps. I've already got the little brass vase thing £1 each from a junk shop, and i ebay'd some 2" by 1" brass cannister things which are used as fuel-gauge 'sending unit' floats in fuel tanks in certain Ford types of 'colonial muscle motorcarriages' ... they're on their way by airship express. the cardboard rolled tube on the front of the boot represents their dimensions, and there'll be a copper pipe that feeds from the cannister into the back of the trumpety bit

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

But what about.....

ROCKET PANTS!!!

[Aleister Crow]

What Could Go Wrong!

Famous last words. 

If you're open to suggestions, have you considered using Swiss leather gaiters for the base of your boots? They look almost like what you have there in cardboard, and are pretty easy to find on eBay or military surplus sites.

[maduncle]

Love the rocket boots - 'the more rockets one can strap on, the merrier'  I say.

And your use of copper float valves is excellent, they are getting harder to find too.

[bmgillies]

So, after sitting on my floor for 4 months, the rocket pack has been scrapped. I'll be starting again from scratch, hopefully soon!

[Mercury Wells]

But what about.....

ROCKET PANTS!!!

That's easy...just eat a ton of sprouts, baked beans, savoy cabbage. Wait a while, but you'll have to supply your own lighter. 

[michaelbeeman]

Rocket packs!
Took a while to read the whole thread, but well worth it! Sweet Jesuit Elvis, those are coated in Awesome Sauce! Well done all!

Far too early to toss my hat in the ring, but, oh, how the old gears are turning!

[Kathy_Davidson]

Work so far:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/16353971/Jet_pack.JPG

Still have to attach the wings and the boosters. I also have some shiny tubes that can be added

[Maets]

Good start and perfect outfit.  Looks like plenty of room for fuel for those long races.

[Kathy_Davidson]

Ah, many thanks Maets. 

[maduncle]

Work so far:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/16353971/Jet_pack.JPG

Still have to attach the wings and the boosters. I also have some shiny tubes that can be added

Excellent start - looks quite comfortable too.

[Jedediah Solomon]

I'm so sorry - I stand corrected. Please forgive my momentary lack of patriotism. It won't happen again!

Really no need.... Miss Amelia was simply trying to make it home, was she not?

[Capt. Dirigible]

I realise it's not steampunk but I thought you jet-packers might be interested in this

[Maets]

I realise it's not steampunk but I thought you jet-packers might be interested in this

Thanks for the link. Interesting.