The Rocket Formerly Known as Black, aka RFKAB

[jleslie48]

The Rocket Formerly Known as Black, aka RFKAB has a long and funny
history in the world of the internet, modeling, and rocketry. From a
previous message thread here at the papermodelers.com forum, this rocket
is now being expanded into a full blown paper model, using 3d modeling cad
software, pepakura, and maybe a dash of sketchup. This is thread
represents the documentation of that effort.

For reference, it all started here:





Rocket Team Vatsaas TRFKAB Index

nearly 10 years ago. Actually the funny part actually started a few years
earlier with a company that felt it necessary to sue vatsaas for copyright
infringement, but that is another story. (you can click the link above to
read about it if you like.) The link will also explain the name of this project.


Anyway, I made a one-of it in paper a few years ago, but I didn't have the
expertise to properly color it, or make it as a 3d model so I never released
it:





so, without further ado, lets begin.

I started with my 3d cad software that I've had at least the modest bit of
success with, AC3D, ( www.inivis.com - AC3D - 3D Software ) and started
to make the series of conic sections to make up the fuselage of the
rocket. TBC...

[jleslie48]

So here is the WIP pics:

http://jleslie48.com/rfkab_rocket114/_acs.html


and all of the raw files are here also:

Index of /rfkab_rocket114

The raw 3d model is of type .ac, and the current version is:


http://jleslie48.com/rfkab_rocket114/rfkab10_riv.ac

I keep bumping the number (rfkab09, rfkab10, ...) as I improve the 3d
design. On notable versions, I also convert it to the more common .3ds
filetype that can be imported by SKETCHUP the freeware 3d software.
Feel free to take that and see what you can do with the model.

So I started with this:



taking careful measurements of the diameter of the fuselage every once
in a while coming up with 11 conic sections, measuring carefully the
2 diameters of the of the conic section, and the height of it.

Then I started with the 3d software making those conic sections in
exactly those proportions. I started with section 8:




At this point please look at the series of WIP pics at:



http://jleslie48.com/rfkab_rocket114/_acs.html


there are some 25 at this time showing step by step how I get to:




and even drill through the rocket for the launch tube (, not easy in 3d) and make the fins with the hole (again
not easy, drilling holes seems to be the hardest part of 3d modeling.

At this time I open the forum up to comments and questions before I continue. - Jon

[jleslie48]

Oh, on a side note, you'll notice in the pictures like the last one you'll see
multiple copies of the fins, and fusalage. These are various WIP saves of the
model and all of them are not part of the final model. What I do is when I
get to a point where I like something and then want to try more. I cut and
paste the entire model in a new area of the 3d space of the program, and
then make changes to the copy. this way when I make a total mess, I have
the original right there in the file with no mess. That is why you see 4
versions of the fuselage on that last pic. when I get finished, I'll make up a
final version where I delete all the copies and just have the final fuselage and
final set of fins in the 3d model.

[richkat]

Cool Jon, love seeing how you go about this design. I don't know anything about design and am all for seeing how you do it.....Rich

[juntopi]

This is great! Rocketry is another hobby of mine and the Vatsaas site is one of my favorites. Thanks for taking this to the paper medium.

[jleslie48]

Originally Posted by richkat

Cool Jon, love seeing how you go about this design. I don't know anything about design and am all for seeing how you do it.....Rich

Well, this is NOT how I usually design it I can tell you. this is my firs foray into using 3d modeling software to make a paper model. So we learn as I go...

My original design of this model (here as a white model:

Index of /rfkab_rocket114/rocket_black

)

is a straight excercise from microsoft word, excel, and paint shop pro. That's what generated the white model above. Alas those tools come up to a dead end when trying to paint conic sections. So that is were it stopped. so now I'm learning 3d modeling software to see if the painting issues can be resolved.

[cdavenport]

This looks like loads of fun! I'll keep up with this thread.

[jleslie48]

quick post,

been experimenting with texturing the model. this in non trivial. the curved surface in 2 dimensions adds a few wrinkles to simply pasting an image onto a flat surface.

[jleslie48]

ok, so here is the view release of the rocket:

and after I exported it to 3ds, I was able to import it into sketchup. all the graphics carried over. that's good. sketchup has this unfold feature, so I started to play with it:

<<other image>>>

hmmmm......looking very nice.

anybody know how this ridiculous rotate thing works in sketchup???

I"ve included the originals if you want to play.

[jleslie48]

ok, it was painful, but I was finally able to level my unfolded piece...