Space Shuttle America... A New Slant On The COX Original
 

Here's a dual shuttle design, carried aloft via a 29mm composite motor.

It uses (2) 1/4" dia. dowels glued to the nose cone. These dowels slide into the gliders. At ejection the nose cone releases the glider.

SSA: Cutting The Nose Cones
 

1st step was cutting the nose cones on my JET 1236 lathe.

I used a scrap 4x4 pine for the 3" and the Ramjet nozzles.

For the glider cones I used a piece of hard 2 x 6 SYP.

SSA: Cutting The Body Tubes & Centering Rings
 

I cut the body tubes on my chop saw.

The centering rings were cut using a fly cutter and a scroll saw.

The ramjet nozzles were cut using the jigsaw, and then sanded to fit the 3" tube.

SSA: Cutting The Fins
 

Fins were cut from 1/4" plywood on my jigsaw, then sanded to shape.

I used my router to round over the edges.

SSA: Glider Assembly Day 01
 

The glider fins are a TTW affair where the wings and the vertical stabilizer all glue together and then the body tube is slotted and slid into place.

This makes the gliders hell-for-stout.

SSA: Glider Assebly Day 02
 

Slotting the glider tubes and gluing them to the fins.

I'll fill in the voids in the body tubes.... details, details. :rolleyes:

SSA: Stuffer Tube
 

The main body of the rocket is 3" with a C-60 stuffer tube.

The scalloped centering rings are slid onto the C-60 and the slots correspond to slots cut into the BT/C-300 for the gliders.

SSA: Slotting the BT/C-300
 

I used a small aluminum angle as a guide and cut the BT/C-300.

The slot is a bit undersized and will be trimmed to fit the gliders after it has been glued to the rings.

I did another test fit, then glued the BT/C-300 into place.

Wow! Really interesting, and a complex build. Like, Skill Level 8, maybe? I see a challenge ahead..........trimming those gliders for a good glide.

SSA: Ramjets
 

Yep, trimming should be a challenge!

Cut the Ramjet Body Tubes and glued them to the BT/C-300. Then assembled everything for a test fit.