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A 1/48 scale model of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

bps.space

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Re: A 1/48 scale model of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

#41

Post by dTal »

cushychicken wrote: post #35
spuz wrote: post #6

This is all the more impressive when you realise all the design, build, programming, filming, editing and even the music is done by one guy. I highly recommend subscribing to his YouTube channel to keep up with his current project: https://youtu.be/eh8ic1-5wFo

There's another guy who's been blowing up the /r/electronics subreddit for making his own pick'n'place machine. It makes me wonder if their endgame is productizing their projects, or trying to "make it" as YouTubers, or they are just having fun and documenting the process of their fun-having.

He's already productized it, mainly the flight computer: https://bps.space/shop

Re: A 1/48 scale model of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

#42

Post by dTal »

SupriseAnxiety wrote: post #9

I remember my first play around with the small rocket kits. 1 small motor and you press “Fire” annnnd it’s gone. You can’t see it anymore and it’s lost lol.

That just means you put too big a motor in it! Each motor letter designation is double the total impulse of the previous one - it's a log scale. If you stick a C motor into a small, well-built, lightweight rocket, it's going to go over a thousand feet. Unless you painted it a very bright color, you're probably going to struggle... so stick to the A motors for your maiden flight!

(Also: launch from the upwind edge of the field!)

Re: A 1/48 scale model of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

#43

Post by esmi »

NikolaeVarius wrote: post #30
albntomat0 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What he's done is super impressive and cool, but has he acquired the necessary base knowledge to work on an avionics, propulsion, etc team at SpaceX? I'm not in any of those fields, but I'd have to imagine there's a large amount of background knowledge that someone with an aero or mechanical engineering degree has, that he hasn't picked up with model rockets.

Majority of engineers with a degree are useless right after graduation. Its a ton of random math that (most) of which you don't use again since you use modeling software. Source: Did Aero Someone doing this as a Amateur can damn well pick up whatever they need to.

> Its a ton of random math that (most) of which you don't use again since you use modeling software.

You absolutely need that math because you need to know when the modeling software is giving the wrong answer. You’re supposed to do quick and dirty calc by hand (ok fine I use mathematica) in a simplified system, then you refine with numerical software and compare the two. It’s shockingly easy to get the wrong answer with numerical CAD.

Re: A 1/48 scale model of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

#44

Post by ViViDboarder »

baggy_trough wrote: post #36
qzw wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a just world, he would have 1/48th of Elon’s fame/fortune too.

Unfortunately, sending 1/48 of an astronaut into orbit is not as valuable.

1/24th* since it was two astronauts, no?

Re: A 1/48 scale model of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

#46

Post by JulianMorrison »

throwawaysea wrote: post #19

I was just watching this channel yesterday after the SpaceX launch. Anyone know what he uses for the actual rocket engine bit? They don’t seem like something that can be throttled. And yes he definitely looks like Elon!

If nothing has changed from my childhood, probably Estes model rocket engines, that are solid fuel.

Re: A 1/48 scale model of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

#47

Post by epaulson »

rrss wrote: post #37
jcims wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's been a few clues that we won't forever be without throttle. IIRC it looked like he was tinkering with a hybrid propellant system. Could also create a flame diverter if he's stuck with solid propellant.

I just watched a couple of his videos, and it sounds like he got pretty close to landing with solid propellant ('echo'), but ultimately decided that it was too finicky and ended that project to move onto a liquid biprop rocket.

Are liquid engines still in the realm of hobbyists? The estes engines he's using are pretty widely used and understood to be fairly safe, is there something equivalent for liquid rockets?

Re: A 1/48 scale model of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

#48

Post by rfrey »

hn_check wrote: post #40
Ericson2314 wrote: post #5

The guy even looks a bit like Elon. 1/48 scale net worth too?

Shouldn't it be 1 / 110,592 scale net worth though? Saying 1/48th model is a bit misleading as it's 1/48th in 3 dimensions, whereas worth is one dimensional.

Not really, since we're really talking about the size of swimming pool you need to hold the coins you dive into.

Re: A 1/48 scale model of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

#50

Post by rootusrootus »

qzw wrote: post #14
throwablePie wrote: post #12

SpaceX has a huge potential opportunity for raising funding / earning profits via toy licensing and sales: https://www.barrons.com/articles/spacex-overwhelmed-by-deman... Wouldn't it be interesting if Elon could achieve his Mars objectives faster not by selling LEO satellite services or space launch capacity but by selling and/or licensing toys (and sparking dreams) here on Earth? Despite the current pandemic, this i…

Absolutely. I would buy the heck out of a 4000-piece Falcon Heavy LEGO set, and I suspect I’m not alone.

Yep, it can go right next to my 1969 piece Saturn V.
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