Model Rocket Rail Launch Pad

thingiverse

I built a rocket out of a large Pringles tube (held 4 regular tubes in it) but this rocket was too large to use on any of my regular launch pads, so I made it a rail launcher. Since I had some 2525 and 2020 extrusion laying around, I designed it to work with that.The pad is designed to pivot down for easy loading of the rocket and can be made with either 2525 or 2020 extrusion for the rails. The stand portion uses 2020 extrusion, but really anything 20x20mm would work (square dowels, perhaps, or PVC of the correct size).This should be considered a rail pad for lighter rail guided rockets, probably under 10lbs, maybe even under five. The rocket I launched off it was closer to 2lbs.You WILL need at least 3 pieces of 2525 or 2020 extrusion for the rails (assuming 500mm lengths of extrusion), unless you can get a longer piece. There are couplers in the design to join shorter pieces to make a longer rail, but they probably should be kept to a minimum.When assembling your pad, make sure the rail couplers are on the side AWAY from the deflector. Won't help your rocket to be bumping into them. Also, when you tilt the rail down to load a rocket, make sure the end is supported. Set it on a lawn chair or something or have someone holding it. There's enough moment arm in the rail length to break the plastic if you're not careful.The stand portion has holes in the feet to put tent stakes through to help support the bottom.I used a section cut out of a thick cookie sheet to make my blast deflector. It was an old sheet and I wanted an excuse to buy a new one anyway.Video of the pad in use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEuaiwR-XgY