Useful material for rockets/salutes?

[Arkangel]

The more I play with this stuff, the more impressed I am. It seems to be clay, reinforced with fine nylon fibres. It's not cheap, but maybe forumites can come up with an alternative, after all, it's just using the same principle as reinforced concrete or fibreglass.

Anyway, I'm using it for pre"cast" rocket nozzles and end plugs. I'm sure it's got other useful applications for us. It's made by Humbrol and it's much stronger than I first realised. It's easy to drill and shape with a dremel, and it takes quite a bit of effort to break. You're really unlikely to have a nozzle failure with this and it's a whole load easier to use than any kind of epoxy based material

<img src="http://www.boomspeed.com/arkangel/AirClay.jpg" alt=" - " />

<small>[ March 02, 2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Arkangel ]</small>

[Tuatara]

Whats the shrinkage rate like?

[Arkangel]

I've been making 1" diameter, 1" long plugs, and there seems to be less than 1mm shrinkage on them. They are a snug fit, and epoxy would be perfect for fitting them securely in the rocket body.

[Cricket]

Hmmm, very interesting. Thats always been the biggest problem with me wanting to make rockets is the nozzel. I don't know shit about them or how to make them. I thought clay would be the best or something clay like. I know back when I went to school I used this polymer clay stuff (man made I think, not natural clay) that never dried out. You just make what you want and then bake it in the oven for like 10 minutes and then its rock hard. So is this stuff in the US or is it only available in Pangea <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . Thanks for posting this stuff.

<small>[ March 03, 2003, 08:56 AM: Message edited by: Cricket ]</small>

[Arkangel]

I'm sure if you can't find this then you have something similar over there, but I can't tell you where you can find it.....wal mart maybe?

In case you're not following the thread, there's a piccie of the "mould" I made for making 20 nozzle plugs at a time <a href="http://www.roguesci.org/cgi-bin/ewforum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000406;p=2" target="_blank">here.</a>

And with this stuff, you could easily make all sorts of useful things to fit down your tubes - spacers with delay fues in, thin end caps (cut this stuff with a hacksaw or bandsaw)

[Guerilla]

I've been forced to use that stuff couple of times at school, think it was the same brand too. It really turns rock hard (how long it took to harden with you?). As a rocket nozzle I prefer more bentonite but the good drilling properties of that stuff is an advantage, it's not always that easy to drill proper nozzles through bentonite with a hand drill. This would be also certainly a lot better choise than any hot melt glue in salutes. Good discovery.

<small>[ March 03, 2003, 11:34 AM: Message edited by: Guerilla ]</small>

[Sparky]

I think that the clay Guerilla and Cricket are talking about is Femo in case anyone is looking to find some. It's PVC based. There are probably no name brands available for cheaper than Femo - I seem to remember it being rather expensive.

[Crow]

I did a quick google search and air clay is used to make face masks for skin care, body molds and sculpting. I found that the shrinkage rate is actuallly 0-2%. It can freeze and thaw with no cracking making storage no problem, but, once this stuff is exposed to air it begins to harden so you would have to make all the nozzles possible with the entire package within the 1-6 days drying time. The clay (Air Fire Clay) is available in two sizes a five pound package, and a twenty five pound package. I have not used this before but I can bet its pretty high quality stuff.

[Arkangel]

When you open it, you just need to reseal the bag, or put it in another plaggy bag to keep it from drying out. I've used mine over a 3 week period, and I've had a lump sat in a food bag and still malleable after more than 2 weeks - it stores fine.

[Arkangel]

Just used the last bit, more than 5 weeks from opening it.

Bought 4 more packs too - gotta keep busy :)