Making a rocket

[jussi]

I'm helping my nephew carve a rocket from a kit for his boyscouts. My brother asked if I could do the carving part of it because he doesn't have very many tools. It's 2 retangular pieces of balsa wood with a groove in the middle for internals. I'll need to make a cylindrical body and a cone head. A rounded cone, with no point. I currently don't have a bandsaw. I was thinking of just ripping 45 degree cuts and sanding it to make the cylindrical part but how about the cone?

[Knottscott]

Do you have a block plane?

[crokett]

For the cone you could cut a taper on the TS. I am thinking the pieces are small though, so maybe a handsaw to do the rough taper, then a lot of sanding to make it the cone shape?

[shoottx]

Center drill the block, glue a 3/8" dowel. Let dry! Chuck the dowel into the dril press, set the drill press for the slowest speed and sand away!

[shoottx]

If this is any thing like the Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts, there will be a ton of ideas on the net. Both for design and construction of the ships.

Not sure which event you are talking about but here is a good article http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0611/a-redy.html

[pelligrini]

I'd teach the kid how to use a spokeshave. (as soon as I practice with one first )

[just started]

You did say balsa, didn't you? You should be able to cut and rough out the shape with any sorta-sharp pocket knife and then sand to exact contour.

[bthere]

Is this a Space Derby rocket? We used to have the boys who weren't old enough to be careful with knives use regular potato peelers to get the balsa's initial shape right. Very little blood letting using those. Afterwards, they just sand and decorate. You'll need to guide them on the mechanics of it since the instructions with the space derby kit are a little sketchy.

[jussi]

I'm not really if it's the spaceship derby or not. I didn't see the instructions but I doubt this will have an engine (at least not a traditional one set off with an ignitor). It's much smaller than the ones seen on the link shootxx provided. He's only 6 six so I seriously doubt his dad will be letting him do the carving. What I thought I'd do was get it down to the general shape and let him sand it down himself. Then his dad can paint, show him the mechanics, etc. I think I'll make a real rough cut with a coping saw and use the knife as suggested to get closer. Thanks for all the advice guys.

[pelligrini]

OK 6yrs old, probably Cub scouts. I remember a space derby we had then; but the short rockets were propellered, driven by a rubber band, and slid down a wire track, horizontally.

[Black wallnut]

Is this the kit?

[jussi]

Is this the kit?

I don't have the box right in front of me but I believe that's it.

[shoottx]

Google Space Derby and you will find all sorts of help.

[eezlock]

making a rocket

How about using a disc/drum sander? chuck one in a drill press or hand held drill in a bench vice and sand away! eezlock

[cabinetman]

The good news is that Balsa wood is very soft and sands very easy and very fast. You could rough shape with any hand saw and block sand. It will dent and damage very easy too.
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