A Quick Start Guide to each of the events can be found HERE.
Construction Techniques
Building for FAI Spacemodeling competition requires learning some design and construction methods that may be new to many U.S. model rocket competitors. The learning process takes an investment of time, effort, and money, but the skills are well within the reach of a good U.S. competition modeler. These construction methods may also be useful for NAR competition events.
The links below provide information on a variety of construction methods, technical data, competition techniques, and vendors. Some of the links below do not specifically address spacemodeling, but the materials, techniques and information are quite applicable to one or more spacemodeling events.
Overview
Construction Methods
NOTE: If you wish to print individual pages or templates from any of the following PDF presentations, first download the PDF to your computer, then select which pages you wish to print. Many of the templates and diagrams include 1" Square markings so you can adjust your printer to print the items precisely.
Drawings
Technical Information and Computer Programs
- XFOIL - design and analysis of subsonic isolated airfoils, including low Reynolds numbers
- XFLR5 - analysis tool for airfoils, wings and planes operating at low Reynolds Numbers
- Airfoil Tools - Tools to search, compare and plot airfoils
- MH-Aerotools - aerodynamics of model aircraft
Electronics
Thermal Detection
Materials and Supplies
- Aerospace Composite Products (ACP) - fiberglass, epoxy, carbon fiber, vacuum bagging, carbon & fiberglass tubes & sheet
- Aerospace Specialty Products - competition kits, parachutes, streamers, parts, more
- Apogee Components - vacuum-formed FAI nose cones, rocket components, FAI competition kits, and more
- Blick Art Materials - source for plastic shipping/transportation tubes and ink for coloring S3A plastic parachutes
- Composite Structures Technology (CST) - fiberglass, epoxy, carbon fiber, vacuum bagging, carbon & fiberglass tubes
- eRockets - general rocket supplies including a number of competition items
- Fibre Glast - carbon fiber, kevlar, fiberglass, resin, gel coat & much more. Excellent "learning center". Yes, it's spelled correctly.
- Goodwinds - carbon tubes for S8 models and tower launchers
- Galactic Manufacturing - lightweight kits for FAI competition
- Into the Wind - fiberglass tubes for tower launchers, extendable poles for thermal streamer
- J & H Aerospace - rocket gliders and much much more
- McMaster-Carr - industrial supplies, tools, materials - everything but the kitchen sink...well, actually, they have sinks too
- Micro Fasteners - small screws and fasteners
- Micro-Mark - miniature tools, hard-to-find items and materials
- North Coast Rocketry - 10 mm tubes (48" for pistons), 10 mm coupler stock, Adrel altimeters and batteries, building accessories
- Specialized Balsa Wood - Contest-grade balsa wood (also see balsawoodinc.com)
3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping
- Craftcloud - 3D printing at low cost. Many options for materials and accuracy/resolution.
- Hubs - 3D printing at low cost. Many options for materials and accuracy/resolution.
- Shapeways - 3D printing at low cost. Many options for materials and accuracy/resolution.
- Galactic Manufacturing - Custom 3D-printed and laser cut parts for scale models or other applications.
- Ponoko - Online laser cutting and engraving
- eMachineShop - Custom CNC machined parts