professional water rocket

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Professional-water-rocket-guide/

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Professional water rocket guideby oscarthompson on June 17, 2009

Table of Contents

Professional water rocket guide ...................................................................................................

Intro: Professional water rocket guide ...........................................................................................

Step 1: Lets get Started ......................................................................................................

Step 2: How to build a fins and nose cones .......................................................................................

Step 3: Step 2: Nose cone ....................................................................................................

Step 4: Step 3: Nosecone ....................................................................................................

Step 5: Fins ..............................................................................................................

File Downloads ...........................................................................................................

Step 6: Attach the fins .......................................................................................................

Step 7: Now for the professional water rockets .....................................................................................

Step 8: Splicing ............................................................................................................

Step 9: Launchers ..........................................................................................................

File Downloads ...........................................................................................................

Step 10: Launcher parts .....................................................................................................

Step 11: How to make the launcher and nozzles. ................................................................................... 1

File Downloads ........................................................................................................... 1

Step 12: Two Stage rockets ................................................................................................... 1

Step 13: Stager ............................................................................................................ 1

Step 14: Drop away boosters! ................................................................................................. 1

Step 15: Advanced fins ...................................................................................................... 1

File Downloads ........................................................................................................... 1

Step 16: Payloads and parachutes ............................................................................................. 1

Step 17: Step 1,2,3,4 of parachutes ............................................................................................. 1

Step 18: Payloads steps 1,2,3 ................................................................................................. 1

Step 19: Rocket designs ..................................................................................................... 1

Step 20: Thank you for Reading ............................................................................................... 1

Related Instructables ........................................................................................................ 2

Comments ................................................................................................................ 2
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Author:oscarthompson

I like to make instructables which are fun to build or make. I'm instrested in rockets, rc planes, science and fishing. send me a message if you have anyquestions.

Intro: Professional water rocket guideThis Instructable will show you the how to build and fly water rockets. Featuringtwo stage rockets and drop away boosters, and also some basics.This instructable is based on my knowledge of water rockets, that I have learn in the past few years.

I am not responsible for any damage you infict on your self or others from launching or building water rockets

Have fun building and flying!

Image Notes1. Tri-launcher2. Water rocket (polaron I) Thanks air command!3. tommy timmer release mechanism

Step 1:Lets get StartedA water rocket is propelled by pressurised air forcing water down though a nozzle. This creates thrust.

If you took a standard two litre fizzy soft drink bottle and pressurised it to120 psi the rocket would reach about 100 or so feet.

But then if you took 2, two litres bottles and pressurised it to 120 psi again the rocket would go about 150 feet or so because the rocket has more air in it thereforecreating more thrust. The rocket will only go 50 feet more because of the added mass. You can stop this by making a two stage rocket. A two stage rocket will work bebecause it would not have to carry the full payload on all of its flight.
http://member/oscarthompson/http://member/oscarthompson/


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Step 2:How to build a fins and nose conesIn the next few steps you will be shown how to build the basic needs of a bottle rocket.This step is to get to grips on what a rocket needs.

Step 1: nose cone

cut the top and bottom off a 1.25 litre bottle. Then cut the neck off the top.

Step 3:Step 2: Nose coneStep 2:

Cut a ping pong ball in half with a craft knife,Then glue half of the ping pong ball into the top of the 1.25 litre bottle 'top'.

Use a Plastic adhesive glue, Or i f apperance doesn't matter you could just tape it on!

Step 4:Step 3: NoseconeGlue or tape the nose cone to the top of the rocket.

Adding wieght to the nose cone may help, It will move the centre of gravity higher, thus being more stable.


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Step 7:Now for the professional water rocketsProfessional water rockets can vary from big one stage rockets to 2 stage rockets with drop away boosters.

This stage of the instructable will show you how to make a big one stager and how to couple or splice bottles together.

step 1 : coupling and splicing

How to couple bottles

first drill a hole about 7-8mm in width in the bottom of one of your bottles.

Next screw the male end of a plumbing coupling which is about 8mm in width into the bottom of the bottle, then seal it with a sealent glue. Next drill an 8mm hole in thother bottle cap and then insert the male end in to it. Whist the bottle cap is off the bottle, screw the female end into the other side of the bottle cap (side facing the insIf you want you can seal it with glue as well.


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Image Notes1. 8mm coupler


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Step 8:SplicingHow to splice

To join two bottles together like in the picture to create an air tight seal you need three bottles

first cut the bottom ends off two of the same sized bottlles

Then cut both ends of the same sized third bottle and place that in the two exposed ends of the bottle

Next glue the third bottle in the 2 exposed ends.

Step 9:LaunchersThe laucher that my water rockets are made for was designed by Nasa.The launcher lets you vary the nozzle size so you can get better performance from your rocket.

The next few steps will show you how to make it.

Update:PDF from NASA below


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File Downloads

bottle_rocket_launcher.pdf((612x792) 87 KB)[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'bottle_rocket_launcher.pdf']

Step 10:Launcher partsBelow are the materials you will need for the launcher

qty part1 1/2 inch wood (any type)2 10mm bolts1 10mm metal drillbit1 10mm wood drillbit6 10mm nuts and washers1 presta bike valve (you can get this from an old inner tube)1 rubber bung1 bike pump2 tent pegs4 L (shaped)brackets

2 nails
http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FAN/B5OB/G6MPLDCC/FANB5OBG6MPLDCC.pdf?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FAN/B5OB/G6MPLDCC/FANB5OBG6MPLDCC.pdf?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FAN/B5OB/G6MPLDCC/FANB5OBG6MPLDCC.pdf?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FAN/B5OB/G6MPLDCC/FANB5OBG6MPLDCC.pdf?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=files


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Step 11:How to make the launcher and nozzles.below is the link for the pdf for making the launcher.

The launcher can hold any type of pressure depending on the rubber bung.If you have a different nozzle size then you can adjust the nuts on the bolts so the pins can line up with the hole in the 90 degree mending plate and the neck of thebottle.

File Downloads

bottle_rocket_launcher.pdf((612x792) 87 KB)[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'bottle_rocket_launcher.pdf']

Step 12:Two Stage rocketsThe mechanisim I use to stage my rocket is different to Air Commands or any other two stage water rocket.

I have tried to make the stager compact. The stager can link to a servo or a pressure switch.

The instructions for it are on the next few steps.
http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FHP/B2VY/FWEGK2O9/FHPB2VYFWEGK2O9.pdf?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FHP/B2VY/FWEGK2O9/FHPB2VYFWEGK2O9.pdf?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FHP/B2VY/FWEGK2O9/FHPB2VYFWEGK2O9.pdf?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FHP/B2VY/FWEGK2O9/FHPB2VYFWEGK2O9.pdf?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=files


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Image Notes1. half a ring goes on the clip here

Step 13:StagerMaterials

QTY Material1 22mm pipe any lenth over 15cm1 plywood or you can use plastic. (to hold the bottle in place)1 inline non return valve..... One from a ballon pump will do1 a 1st stage of a bottle rocket and a 2nd

instructions

1. insert 2cm of the 22mm pipe in to the 1st stage. ( pic1)2. use epoxy or pvc sement to seal it. (pic 1)3. insert a non return valve into the pipe and glue it.3.work out the dimensions of how long and wide the plywood or plastic needs to be, to hold the bottle in place. Then cut it out using image 2 to help you. The hinge ismounted on the pipe clamp.4.when you slide the bottle on (use vaseline to seal it) make sure the pipe clamp is right next to the neck on the first stage. This will have your hinge on, next clip yourhinge onto the bottle neck so it is tight and won't fall off.


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Image Notes1. half a ring goes on the clip here


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Image Notes1. Plastic or plywood

Step 14:Drop away boosters!These boosters are so easy to make because they are only held on by the upthrust of the bottles.These drop away boosters are differernt to Air Commands.

For the drop away boosters you will have to make three of the launchers.

Instructions(drop away boosters)

1.measure your drop away booster bottles against your main rocket. Make a mark (dot or line) where the top of the booster meets on your rocket.2.use pic 1 to help you, where you marked a dot on the booster glue the advanced fins together and stick the bottom of the fins on the marked dot with duck tape or glThe Advanced fin template is on step 15.3. test the rocket!

Image Notes


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Image Notes1. 2 fins glued together2. The bottles push up against the fins giving the rocket a "boost"3. bottom of bottle goes into bung

1. NPL water rocket challange

Step 15:Advanced finsThese advanced fins are for bigger rockets and are very good for two stage rockets and rockets with drop away boosters.

for fins print off the template below

File Downloads

fin diagram 3.doc (24 KB)
http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/F16/EV25/FWBNG0Y6/F16EV25FWBNG0Y6.doc?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/F16/EV25/FWBNG0Y6/F16EV25FWBNG0Y6.doc?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/F16/EV25/FWBNG0Y6/F16EV25FWBNG0Y6.doc?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=files


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[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'fin diagram 3.doc']

Step 16:Payloads and parachutesThe next few steps will show you how to make a parachute system followed on by a payload bay

Parachutes:

The parachute system used by me 'OscarThompson' is a simple gravitational deployment.

The nose cone is fitted on the rocket loosely and when the rocket reaches its maximum altitude the rocket will fall back to earth nose first and as the nose has a weighit, it falls off deploying the parachute inside.

Image Notes1. parchute is loosely fitted inside the nose cone2. payload section

Step 17:Step 1,2,3,4 of parachutesStep one:Find a payload bay for your rocket. any size to fit a parachute

step two:Build a nose code like as shown in steps 2 and 3. Your nose cone either needs to fit loosely on top of the payload bay or loosely in it.

step Three:

cut a hole in the payload bay and the nose cone so a string can fit though it and be knotted.

step four:tie the parachute string to the string you have tied to the nose cone and the payload bay.
http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/F16/EV25/FWBNG0Y6/F16EV25FWBNG0Y6.doc?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=files


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Step 18:Payloads steps 1,2,3Payloads

payloads are used to carry equipment such as altitude meters, accellerometers or even a slug (wierd, but the g-forces can kill it!)

Step one:

cut the bottom off any size bottle.

step two

cut two disks the same width as the bottle out of corregated plastic

step threecut a strip out of plastic the same width as the bottle but a little bit smaller in length than the bottle

Step four:

Glue them together and when dry put your payload into the payload section of the rocket.

Image Notes1. Step two disks


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Step 19:Rocket designsYou are free to look at these pictures if you need help for a design.

Image Notes1. NPL water rocket challange


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Image Notes1. eight litre (four two litre bottles)

Step 20:Thank you for ReadingIf you have any problems please leave a comment


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Comments

50 comments Add Comment view all 76 commen

famos_amos says: Jan 18, 2011. 5:16 PM REPwhat with the picture?

rocketman20 says: Jan 16, 2011. 4:15 PM REPhow long will the pressure hold

Matrix-technician says: Dec 15, 2010. 7:50 PM REPWow, this is amazing! Keep up the good work!

Kryptonite says: Aug 13, 2010. 4:26 AM REPWow, nice build!

popscott3 says: Jun 29, 2010. 2:25 PM REPCool!

needfortoast says: May 27, 2010. 3:35 PM REP

What kind of glue should I use

oscarthompson says: Jun 1, 2010. 1:10 AM REPI used bostik soft plastics glue and it works fine for me. Although you can use PL premuim, but this is a bit more expensive and harder to get hold of inthe UK, but it may give you better results.

Oscar.

jason.buckmann says: Apr 26, 2010. 5:35 PM REPwho cares if he has a copyright?!?!? this is a great instructable that i used to spend a few hours with my daughter ANDan instructional speech for myspeech class. but the instructions you put on here were clear and easy to read. and i researched the launcher online for several hours and i believe this to the best one.

i used the 2 bottle design and i used gorilla glue (which is stronger than hot glue). the thing reached 15 to 20 feet in the air and the reason for this failure wmy choice of glue. the glue expanded like it is designed to BUTthis glue is not a good adhesive for the plastic in the bottles.

i can see the potential if i just follow instructions (this was a problem for me growing up). i always think i can improve the process, but once again i am wronbut my daughter had an awesome time, i had a great time, and we got the whole family together for the launch so the project was still an overall success. iwill be building bigger and better in the near future.

thanks for the great instructable oscarthompson!

chbue070780 says: May 16, 2010. 9:52 PM REPI used to make make water rockets when I was a kid. All I everused wasa 2 liter bottle, duct tape,and the valve stem from a tire. Drill a hole justslightly smaller than the valve stem in the plastic lid and jam the sucker through it as far as you can, wrap the bottle with duct tape (just one layer is finethis is a "better safe than sorry kinda thing" - never had one blow up. Fill the bottle about 1/5 of the way with water, use a hand pump or air compressoto add about 45 psi, turn upside down and unscrew the lid. Mine usually went above 100 feet easy, of course I used a bit more pressure. ;)
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oscarthompson says: Apr 27, 2010. 9:18 AM REPThanks, you made my day !

TSC says: Apr 16, 2010. 5:25 PM REPI'm gus this does not go high it looks to big to go high!!! But any way sweet!!! 5stars!!!!!!!!

Lowney says: Apr 7, 2010. 10:32 AM REPCan we see a video of your big rocket?

firezone says: Dec 20, 2009. 11:54 AM REPdo you actually own the copyright to these diagrams, i highly doubt you have gone through what is needed to have the copyright for them and putting thatlittle "copyright OscarThompson" in your pictures doesn't actually do anything

Ian01 says: Mar 5, 2010. 8:49 PM REPI'm pretty sure you get copyright automatically, even if you don't claim it.

oscarthompson says: Dec 20, 2009. 12:35 PM REPI have only put it in so people can't use my pictures, unless they want my name on it. The my pictures as i drew them on paint, it really doesn't matter tomuch that i havn't copyrighted them.

Thanks

Oscar

max0506 says: Feb 7, 2010. 1:19 AM REPwhat do you mean with rubber bung in the part list of step 10

oscarthompson says: Feb 7, 2010. 2:13 AM REPrubber bungs like the ones in wine bottle's but rubber. Type it in to google images

ThanksOscar

max0506 says: Mar 5, 2010. 2:03 PM REPI see thanx

juanpedro132 says: Feb 23, 2010. 9:45 AM REPi like the idea but i don't konw anything.How can i do for fill the boosters?do i have to put their a valvle each?and are the boosters gonig to fall down?if yeah how will i do it ?thanks for the ideas.

oscarthompson says: Feb 24, 2010. 10:08 AM REPYou can fill the boosters by putting the water in the top of the bottle. The bicycle valave will help prevent leakage.The boosters will fall down when the thrust of the booster can no longer beat the air resistance thus gravity pulling the booster down.

This can be achieved by makingthree of the launch mechanism's just on one Pad (two for boosters one for main)

Oscar

raynman217 says: Dec 4, 2009. 12:13 PM REPgood so far, but the diagram for this step cannot be viewed properly at the current size, and even when viewed at the right size, it is very hard to understan

m_debator says: Nov 25, 2009. 9:30 PM REPThis is AWESOME! Its the John Holmes of water bottle rockets.
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gingerlad95 says: Nov 17, 2009. 11:55 AM REPwhat is the materials list for this project

oscarthompson says: Nov 18, 2009. 9:47 AM REPWhich part of the project?

gingerlad95 says: Nov 19, 2009. 11:33 AM REPall of itwe need to know the materials list for everything SO WECANDOTHEPROJECT...

ANDPASSOURCLASS

oscarthompson says: Nov 19, 2009. 1:55 PM REPFirst your going to need about 10+, two l bottles to start

For the launcher you will need;

qty part1 1/2 inch wood (any type)2 10mm bolts1 10mm metal drillbit1 10mm wood drillbit6 10mm nuts and washers1 presta bike valve (you can get this from an old inner tube)1 rubber bung1 bike pump2 tent pegs

4L brackets1 mending plate2 nails

For rockets you will need;

corex (corregated plastic)ducktapepl premuim or another pressure rated strong adhesiveping pong balls1.25 l bottles

For parachute mechanism;

You can use my nose cone drop of deployment or a tomy timer releasemechansim avible with the link.

For the tomy timer release mec you will need;

Tomy timer (wind up toy)plastic or synthetic fabricstringgluerubber band(s)

For the staging (which would be advised to be not for biggerners)

22mm pipehingesbasla or ply woodm4 boltsstringtomy timer or servo

Thats about it, But how long do you have to do this?And if your just biggeningwater rocketsI would advise you to not do multi stage or drop away booster rockets.

Thanks

Oscar


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23/24


Bartboy says: Oct 24, 2009. 1:06 PM REPI was wondering what you meant by "professional" when I clicked on this.I don't anymore....

Some of those rockets look really awesome!How big is the biggest water rocket you've ever made?

oscarthompson says: Oct 25, 2009. 1:03 AM REPThe picture (on the intro) is the biggest oneI have ever mad. Its the polaron I from air command.

Thanks

Oscar

Bartboy says: Oct 25, 2009. 6:57 AM REPIt looks really awesome!I'd like to see the biggest one ever made, but with a quick google search Icouldn't find a name.What is the biggest water rocket ever made?

Kinnishian says: Nov 15, 2009. 8:30 AM REPIf you count hydrogen oxygen rockets whose exhaust is H20... :)

Bartboy says: Nov 15, 2009. 8:35 AM REPRight... :P

milo0is0hot0 says: Oct 31, 2009. 3:32 AM REPGREAT INSTRUCTABLE!!!! I WAS GOING TO USE THIS TO TAKE PART IN THE NPL COMMPETION....AND I WAS HOPING TO WIN!!! BUT AS YOURTAKING PART :( I HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES AND ITS GREAT THERE LOADS OF FREEBIES AND STUFF...BUT ALL MY ATTEMPTS AT WATERROCKETS NAMELY THE RELEASE MECHANISM HAVE FAILED...[UNTIL NOW] I THINK YOUR RELEASE MECHANISM LOOKS GREAT EXCEPT IWILL TRY TO DO IT IN COPPER SO ITS NOT [EXPLOSIVE] WHEN TOO MUCH PREASURE IS APLLIED!!!!

oscarthompson says: Nov 10, 2009. 10:19 AM REPThanks for your comment,I hope to here more about your rockets.....what's your team name in the compition (if you don't mind me asking) because thresults are on the website so I can look you up. I can't belive,I found some one who goes to it now, and i only started going to it this year.

Oscar

oscarthompson says: Oct 29, 2009. 11:52 AM REPNasa Don't produce the PDF anymore but i have this link to it -> http://quest.nasa.gov/space/teachers/rockets/act10.html.I do have the PDF saved on my computer but its broken down so in the slightist hope i may get the PDF to you tonight but if not, in the next week or so. If

you dont get it by then i dont have it.

Sorry

Oscar

thefutureisnow says: Oct 29, 2009. 8:54 PM REPHere's a page by a science teacher on bottle rockets. www.lnhs.org/hayhurst/rockets/ He has a lot of step by step instructions and pictures. I followed his instructions and it worked everytime. I have a lot of info on bottle rocketry I can e-mail you if you want.

thefutureisnow says: Oct 29, 2009. 8:47 PM REPAwesome instructable! I used to be into water bottle rockets for awhile. I launched 2liter bottles, 1 liter bottles, and even the little 6 oz bottles. I stopped aftmy launcher broke down. I had to make several mods to keep it functioning and finally the seals blew and it couldn't handle more than 70 psi.

TheMoonMaster says: Oct 29, 2009. 7:36 PM REPI want to take a bunch of 250 ml small bottles and do this but put the launcher in a PVCpipe and cap the back so the added pressure will compensate for tsmaller bottle. Do you think this would work?

If it does, Bazooka/Mortar!

morgano says: Oct 29, 2009. 9:47 AM REPThis is great! I'd like to see more info on building the launcher, though. That's kind of the crucial part, isn't it? I'm getting ready to do this with my scienceclass next week. We've done it before with a different launcher, and this one looks more stable.
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24/24

oscarthompson says: Oct 29, 2009. 11:38 AM REPSure,I will get you the info...

Its a PDF from the NASA website

sturmey says: Oct 29, 2009. 8:20 AM REPI like the idea for a second stage, but the picture is hard to read. Could you write that information into the text, or use a larger font on the picture?

I do like the instructable, but figuring out the second stage is tricky.

oscarthompson says: Oct 29, 2009. 11:37 AM REPi'll try to get the font bigger but it may take a week or so as im waiting to get the files back on to my computer (im working off a laptop with none off my

files on because my computer broke down)

Sorry.

Oscar

haclil says: Oct 25, 2009. 2:04 AM REPOscar, thanks very much for your reply on PL Premium and other glues, very informative!

oscarthompson says: Oct 25, 2009. 1:09 AM REPSorry everyone-

My computer has crashed and its dead....Im still waiting to get my files offthe hard drive, soImay not reply for a week or so and i can't post images orvideos unlessI take them from my camera. I am working from a laptop which has one of my files on. It won't connect to my wireless router so i have

connected it via ethernet cable which is so! slow!

haclil says: Oct 24, 2009. 2:39 PM REPAbout glues: You say in one of your replies that you use "pl premium" glue. I am not at all familiar with that glue. In fact, I don't know of any glues for thePET plastic of these bottles.

Could you please expand on the subject of glues?

oscarthompson says: Oct 25, 2009. 1:01 AM REPThe glue that should be used for PET Plastic bottles are glues that are recommended for plastic and are also pressure rated. PL Premium is plyurathanglue which makes a strong seal which is excellent for water rockets. although this isn't widely available so I use bostik soft plastic glue, you can get it inany hardware store and on the side it should say; its sutible for plastics and it's water proof, it should also come with some pvc plastic. This glue actualdissolves the two bottles together to create a strong seal.

Thanks

Oscar

lemonie says: Oct 23, 2009. 2:10 PM REPPost the video again - it shows these thing work (rather well) and rotate the landscape images.

L

red9er says: Oct 4, 2009. 11:52 AM REPi'm not quite getting how this lock releases. also could you explain the purple item on step 13 and how it latches to the 2nd stage?

oscarthompson says: Oct 5, 2009. 12:12 AM REPThe lock, that latches on to the 2nd stage is pulled by a servo or a tommy timer. A string is tied to the top of it (above the hinge, marked in black) andwhen it is pulled it releases. You will need a strong servo to do this though. The purple item, (clip around the bottle neck) pushes on to the lip of thebottle. If you took a ring a sliced it in half, you could fit i t round the bottle neck securly, attached to the clip. I have marked it on thee picture now.

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