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Apogee Rocketry Workshop #356:

Joining Tubes Together with a Coupler

Advanced Construction VideoDid you ever experience the problem of getting a tube coupler stuck half-way into a tube while you were gluing it in place? If you've build more than a dozen models, I'm sure this fiasco has happened to you. Basically, you've probably ruined the appearance of the rocket because the two tubes don't come together properly.

What causes this issue, and what can you do to prevent it?

In this video, I'll go through one of the most basic techniques you'll need to master as a model rocket builder. I'll also show you how to make a cheap tool that will help you complete this step properly. Check it out by clicking on the link below. 

 

View this week's Rocketry Workshop Videos (Duration 7 min, 19 sec)

Previous videos are found on our archive page.

Sledge Hammer Rocket Plan

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Newest Products From Apogee Components

Check out the latest products to hit Apogee's shelves!

Estes Baby Bertha

Estes Baby Bertha

The Estes Baby Bertha is a half-pint version of one of Estes' most popular rockets, the Big Bertha. The short and stout Baby Bertha stands just 13 inches making it an ideal beginner level, building experience. If you've been in rocketry for a while, you'll find that the size and shape will take your mind back to the old Estes Gooney Bird rockets. It is a bit of nostalgia for a modern rocket.

Estes Vesta Intruder

Estes Vesta Intruder

The Estes Vesta Intruder rocket is more than two feet in length. It is large and intimidating. Claw-like fins, buldging mid-body strakes, and an immense bolow molded nose cone come together to make one truly alien-looking rocket. This Skill Level 3 kit will test your modeling skills, but the results are worth it, especially when you watch it lift-off under the power of those mid-power 24mm diameter rocket motors. On the web page, you can test fly this rocket in the Launch Visualizer to see how it looks and flies from your launch site. Check it out now!

Estes Vapor

Estes Vapor

This Estes Vapor flies like a hypersonic missile. It is screaming fast thanks to its low weight and versatility in using a variety of rocket engines. If you like a speedy rocket that vaporizes into thin air when launched, you'll love this rocket.

But don't blink when they push the launch button that sends the rocket skyward - or you may only see the smoke trail that was left behind. Make sure you have a whole bunch of friends with you to help you spot the rocket in the sky, or you may never see the rocket again. Get one today, as they are vaporizing off our shelves too.

 

Make Carbon Fiber Tubes

Make Carbon-Fiber Tubes

Here is an extensive and detailed video course on how to make Ultra-Lightweight Carbon-Fiber Rocket Tubes. They're so light, they give you an unfair advantage in competition. These are the ones that my daughters, Allison and Ashley used in Romania last September at the 2021 World SpaceModeling Championships. Allison was part of the senior Silver Medal winning USA team, and Ashley took home the Bronze Medal in the Jr. Division. The girls were taught how to make their own tubes, so if they can do it, so can you.

The training course consists of 5 hours and 42 minutes of video instruction, covering everything I know about how to make a successful tube with a glass-finish using a 2-piece mold. It even includes all the secret techniques and materials, and where to buy them, including where to get the 2-part mold.  

This course is on the Udemy website, not at Apogee Components.

 

RockSim Live Training - Every Friday

 

Launch of the Week

First Launch of the Day 

Sometimes, when you are unsure of the winds aloft, you need to throw up a model and see which way the wind is carrying it. That is what this week's sim is about. It isn't anything fancy, just a Baby Bertha kit on a C6-5 to check conditions.

What do you think? Will it be a good day at the rocket range?

 

Customer Comments

“The videos! Oh my gosh the videos! There is so much information put out by Apogee that I once fell asleep watching a video, and woke up in the morning with YouTube still playing Apogee videos. It's obvious how much work and attention goes into them, and at the risk of sounding greedy... I want even more! The build series videos are great, and full of tips. Thanks for all you do, and keep up the great work!”

-- Jared Embree

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We're looking for someone to write a definitive guide to selecting igniters, controllers and batteries for rockets. We'd love to have a newsletter article on that topic, because we get lots of inquiries about it. Is that you? Do you know how many e-matches can be set off in a cluster by a 3.7v 400 mAh battery? See our Newsletter Guidelines on how to submit an article on this topic and get paid up to $350 for your time. 

 

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