Mercury Capsule for Polecat 5.5" Redstone

thingiverse

<h1>Polecat 5.5" Kit for Mercury Capsule and Escape Tower</h1> <i>Note: I will be offering a 6" version of this kit later on.</i> <b>Update:</b> After field testing, it was demonstrated that the base of the struts were not strong enough and needed reinforcements. Two changes were added to beef up this area. - The hole/channel down the strut for music wire now extends about .4mm into the lower section of the tower - past the typical breaking point. - Strut Clamps (that are printed flat) strengthen the base of the struts. You can either epoxy or CA glue them in place. <img src="https://cdn.thingiverse.com/renders/f9/2c/19/3a/5c/b06d96caf1b9bc979be2af33f0dd291a_preview_featured.jpg"> Flight testing will still need to be done, but this should reduce the risk of failure at this point in the tower. - New two-part tower cylinder. This allows you easy access to the chamber below the camera if you want to put extra electronics in there. You would use small screws to attach the cylinder to the base. <i>Note</i> the small hole in the base - this allows you to easily attach a shroud line for recovery purposes. <img src="https://cdn.thingiverse.com/renders/7e/47/4f/97/9c/1fb31216efdb7f6e18e6eef4c772e893_preview_featured.JPG"> --- <b>Update:</b> Using Fusion 360, I designed an improved and more 'rugged' 808 Camera sled. <i>Camera_Sled_v2.stl.</i> Naturally, if you've already downloaded the full build, you only need to download [this one part](https://www.thingiverse.com/download:6441271) --- I found this beautiful model of a Mercury Capsule done by Scott Mills and used that for the foundation of this model. If you decide you want to tip me, please instead tip Scott for his brilliant detail work on the capsule. I designed the tower for a friend who had the Polecat Redstone - typically flown without the tower because there was a concern it would be damaged during recovery. I also wanted to give him the option of a camera to record the flight, so I designed the Video Tower. Like other payloads I've designed the tower uses a stripped-down MateCAM 808 camera. If you don't want the video option, there is a 'basic tower' you can print and fly. The version he flew sat atop the original Polecat capsule (very plane) and the chute was tucked into the main airframe. In the collection of parts above you'll find the tower base that is designed to fit the original Polecat capsule If your printer can support the Z volume of the full tower - you can print it as one piece without supports. Printing the capsule shell is probably the most challenging part of this build. It's a complex model with many overhanging features, so you'll need to use supports or a raft to prevent warping. Here are some things you should know before printing: * The full tower actually does use supports however only in the horizontal struts so I built a custom support that helps with the print. * When printing the camera sled, supports are mandatory. [Here is video from the first launch of the Redstone with the video tower](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YLyKrqcb9E) <b>NOTE:</b> <i>This model is not scale, it has been designed to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye and to be functional in flight.</i> Here are the parts you'll need to buy: * [5 - 1¼” long ¼” bolts with matching wing nuts](http://a.co/d/dC432Im) * [4 – Servo Mounting Screws – I like the Spektrum black socket head ones](http://a.co/d/diMUVST) * [5 ¾” section of 54mm motor mount tubing](https://locprecision.com/product/motor-mount-tubing/) * [MateCam 808 camera](http://a.co/d/i5KKbRc) The total cost should be around $200-$300, depending on the retailer and any sales tax.