I just had a desire to make a model of the RP-3 3" AP rocket. The model is based on the illustration by Rikyu Watanabe, in AGGRESSORS Volume 4, PATROL AIRCRAFT VS. SUBMARINE, text by Dr. Alfred Price. I measured the illustration, which is 1/2 inch across in the printing, very convenient for scaling. I put the measurements in to a very old AutoCAD 10 (DOS!), and created the outline drawings there.
I had some one-inch aluminium tubing one hand, so used that for the initial large model. I made a mistake by transposing the overall length onto the body, so I had to take the tubing cutter to the model after painting, and trim the core as well; that's why the paint is scratched up. I'm putting in the internal details, except the threaded fitting which I can't do; they can only be seen by dis-assembly. I also overlooked the venturi, so I have to make one of those, probably of yellow poplar like the AP head. I did get the nose too round, but I'm going to leave it at that. I added a stern pylon to balance out the visual display, as the main pylon was on center before re-working.
Here's a view through the stern; I made the core projections too narrow, but that was the stock I had to work with!
And finally, the 1:12 scale "mini." That's 4.1 inches long, on top of a 1-1/2 inch barrel.
1/4 inch birch dowel, craft tin for the fins; I consistently make mistakes, so I got the fins too short on this one! I have not yet worked out which aircraft I will build to go with this 1:12 rocket (obviously, once I make the aircraft, I will have to make sufficient rockets). At this scale, it won't be my favorite aircraft, which is the PBY, aka the Catalina; it will have to be a single-seat fighter (carrier-based).
Regards, Johnpipe108
I had some one-inch aluminium tubing one hand, so used that for the initial large model. I made a mistake by transposing the overall length onto the body, so I had to take the tubing cutter to the model after painting, and trim the core as well; that's why the paint is scratched up. I'm putting in the internal details, except the threaded fitting which I can't do; they can only be seen by dis-assembly. I also overlooked the venturi, so I have to make one of those, probably of yellow poplar like the AP head. I did get the nose too round, but I'm going to leave it at that. I added a stern pylon to balance out the visual display, as the main pylon was on center before re-working.
Here's a view through the stern; I made the core projections too narrow, but that was the stock I had to work with!
And finally, the 1:12 scale "mini." That's 4.1 inches long, on top of a 1-1/2 inch barrel.
1/4 inch birch dowel, craft tin for the fins; I consistently make mistakes, so I got the fins too short on this one! I have not yet worked out which aircraft I will build to go with this 1:12 rocket (obviously, once I make the aircraft, I will have to make sufficient rockets). At this scale, it won't be my favorite aircraft, which is the PBY, aka the Catalina; it will have to be a single-seat fighter (carrier-based).
Regards, Johnpipe108
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