View Full Version : RC Car w/ Rocket. Need help
Just for fun, I want to take a regular RC car and mod it so I can stick a model rocket engine up to it and launch it remotely. I want to have a button on the remote control that when pressed causes a current to be sent through the rocket.
How should I go about doing this? I know I can use an infrared emitter and detector, but what kind of range would I get out of it and would ambient light cause it to not detect? I'd also need some chip to switch the voltage. The only chip I've ever used is a voltage comparator, and I know that could do the job. Is there a way I can use the radio signals of the remote control?
Thanks in advance!
damarble
12-04-05, 09:54 PM
I actually did this once. It didnt really work because I didnt attach the rocket very well. But the RC car I used was called the "Crashback" When it hit somthing it crunched up, then you hit a button to pop it back out. By the time I di this it was highly modified anyway, and the restore feature was long gone. But the circutry was still there so I got the power feed from that.
Lets see, a model rocket engine, so why not a model rocket engine igniter?
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAMZ3&P=FR
Get a 3 channel transmitter and have the 3rd servo sitting in a position to flip the switch.
(If you know what I'm talking about...? :shrug: )
The igniter is basically a fancy voltage source with a switch. I could just use the battery pack of the car. I don't quite understand what you're talking about with the transmitter..
how remotely are we talking here?
btw, i fully expect pictures/videos of this thing in action :D
I think he ment the actual ignitor, not the battery pack that puts power to the ignitor. You could use the cars battery and have some kind of elctronic switch to start it.
Kill_A._Byte
12-05-05, 12:41 AM
btw, i fully expect pictures/videos of this thing in action :D
:D :D
DerekDRP
12-05-05, 11:01 AM
Lets see, a model rocket engine, so why not a model rocket engine igniter?
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAMZ3&P=FR
Get a 3 channel transmitter and have the 3rd servo sitting in a position to flip the switch.
(If you know what I'm talking about...? :shrug: )
YuP good fun.
NeoSpawn
12-05-05, 04:01 PM
Remember everyone, duct tape will hold down anything. Its the handyman's main tool for anything.
Jeff Moser
12-05-05, 04:09 PM
You're gonna put your eye out with that thing.
I remember when I was about 8 we lit one of those in a freinds basement ... what a hoot but almost got killed by it about 12 times as it bounced off of everything. The delayed back charge (the part that is designed into the engine to burn a delay then blast out the other end to push the chute out of the rocket) is very cool when the whole house is full of smoke and you have no idea where the thing is resting at.
Dan0512
12-05-05, 04:28 PM
I could link you up to a video of a guy that did it... u need a real hobby RC truck preferably...it'd be reaalllyy hard to do with a toysareus toy model...
Rocket Rusty (http://www.fdc.arizona.edu/drennen/stampede/download4.cfm?filename=RocketRusty&bitrate=384)
You'd need a 3 channel TX and RX (radio).... like it was mentioned before.
I have that model myself.. but I haven't used it in a looooooooong time... damn weather lol
RC models are pretty fun.... fastest RC car was clocked @ 120 mph I believe..
dan
Jeff Moser
12-05-05, 04:53 PM
Too Cool!
flamerail
12-05-05, 07:33 PM
Lets see, a model rocket engine, so why not a model rocket engine igniter?
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAMZ3&P=FR
Get a 3 channel transmitter and have the 3rd servo sitting in a position to flip the switch.
(If you know what I'm talking about...? :shrug: )
you dont need that. the engines come with ingniters. Just hook like 3 or more volts to each of the 2 leads and a decent amount of ma and it ingnites it.
<< use to fly rockets :)
Can anyone give me details for the radio part? What's tx and rx? Why 3 channels?
Kill_A._Byte
12-05-05, 09:22 PM
You need 1 channel for the stearing servo, 1 for the throttle servo, and one for the ignitor servo. It was pretty cool how the guy set it up in the video :cool:
WingsofGOD
12-05-05, 09:38 PM
It would appear from your lack of knowledge of any of the components from a RC vehical, that you do not currently have one. Why not just buy a $5 toy and do it.
Sir. BOBSONATOR
12-05-05, 10:07 PM
im with him, get some cheapo thing.
Kill_A._Byte
12-05-05, 10:28 PM
Remember everyone, duct tape will hold down anything. Its the handyman's main tool for anything.
:cool:
I plan on getting a cheap rc car, but I want to have an idea of what I'm doing before I start.
I just about crapped when I saw this thread, I did it when I was 12 so like 9 years ago.
I did this except instead of making it launch a rocket, I had 3 D12-5 engines IIRC in the back and when I pushed a button on the remote control they'd fire. They were permanently attached to the car and made it pick up some steam... Unfortunately I ended up burning out the batterys or motor (not sure, and I didnt have the engineering background at the time to figure out which).
The easiest way to ignite engines on a car, is to find a car that has a squirt gun or some other firing mechanism already. I had a car that when you'd hit a button the snakes head would pop up and squirt out water (I can't remember what it was called). To fire the squirt gun a little motor would spin up, just disconnect the leads to this, connect them to the ignitors, and rig the launch mechanism.. voila. I stripped down the plastic chassis and cut all the weight I could. Just don't throw the car in reverse while driving it forward with the rockets. Too bad I don't have video of it (I am going home for christmas and might see what i can ressurect.
It was a 9v signal for the squirt gun and was perfect for <= 3 ignitors. I'm farely certain the car could go close to 60 m.p.h maybe faster. I jumped curbs and it would get several feet in the air. Other thing to remember, the burning hot clay ejections scorched my cardboard aerodynamic frame. So you have to figure out what to do with the motors.
i LOVED that car! my first and only rc car, i think it was the python or something...
chase my sister and spray her with water...mm...memories!!
pik4chu
12-06-05, 03:21 PM
I just about crapped when I saw this thread, I did it when I was 12 so like 9 years ago.
I did this except instead of making it launch a rocket, I had 3 D12-5 engines IIRC in the back and when I pushed a button on the remote control they'd fire. They were permanently attached to the car and made it pick up some steam... Unfortunately I ended up burning out the batterys or motor (not sure, and I didnt have the engineering background at the time to figure out which).
The easiest way to ignite engines on a car, is to find a car that has a squirt gun or some other firing mechanism already. I had a car that when you'd hit a button the snakes head would pop up and squirt out water (I can't remember what it was called). To fire the squirt gun a little motor would spin up, just disconnect the leads to this, connect them to the ignitors, and rig the launch mechanism.. voila. I stripped down the plastic chassis and cut all the weight I could. Just don't throw the car in reverse while driving it forward with the rockets. Too bad I don't have video of it (I am going home for christmas and might see what i can ressurect.
It was a 9v signal for the squirt gun and was perfect for <= 3 ignitors. I'm farely certain the car could go close to 60 m.p.h maybe faster. I jumped curbs and it would get several feet in the air. Other thing to remember, the burning hot clay ejections scorched my cardboard aerodynamic frame. So you have to figure out what to do with the motors.
:welcome: :)
just want to say, doesnt need to be 60mph to jump curbs like that =D
That video was cool but it was almost more about how he mounted a camera to a car rather than the rocket engine (only what? 3 different fires really?)
I wonder if I could find my F,G and H engines around here :) The ones only a little smaller than a bottle of hairspray lol.
I agree with wings of god since you appear to lack the general knowledge of RC I would also recommend a cheapo remote car from like Toys'R'Us before you try to do it to a higher quality remote control object. The nice thing about the more pricier ones is its easy to add what we are talking about, new reciever, battery pack adn what have you. but the cost goes up. Especially with the risk of destroying the car might not be the best idea ;)
deathman20
12-06-05, 03:55 PM
I got a RC Car over in the classifieds :) I'm sure that will go good since its suppose to do about 70 or more out of the box :)
-maddog-
12-06-05, 05:34 PM
I have some rocketing expeirince, get a standard rocket launcher and engine, estes is pretty good. You may have a problem if your engine has a parachute charge (or you can use it to fire a parachute the slow down the car). Remove the motor from the car or disengage it from the wheels so higher speeds. Mount the engine securely.
WarriorII
12-06-05, 05:42 PM
You're gonna put your eye out with that thing.
I remember when I was about 8 we lit one of those in a freinds basement ... what a hoot but almost got killed by it about 12 times as it bounced off of everything. The delayed back charge (the part that is designed into the engine to burn a delay then blast out the other end to push the chute out of the rocket) is very cool when the whole house is full of smoke and you have no idea where the thing is resting at.
ROTFLMAO......
I did mine outside. :) flys in figure 8's
or mount an 08 cox prop engine on a plastic car & "Let it fly"
Good Luck with this.
:attn:
I'm not doing it on an expensive RC car ever. It would be a waste of money especially since I don't think the car would last too long. I just want to buy a cheapo toys r us rc car and strap a rocket to the back. I figured out how to do it with infrared, but that will give me like 20ft range max, so I want to see if I can use radio to have longer range.
Not directly related to the rocket, but an awesome idea IMO. Get some potassium nitrate and sugar and mix them together(can find a site online to give exact measurements). Then stick a fuse in the mixture, let it harden, and tape it to the car. Light the fuse and let the car go. The mixture will leave a trail of thick white smoke behind the car and it will make it look like it's burning rubber!!!
Where can you get potassium nitrate?
Albaholic
12-07-05, 11:57 PM
I think for that stuff, you would need a chemist license or something like it. You can always ask a friendly chemistry teacher lol.
My chemistry teacher would probably give me some if he had it. I should ask.
threeme2189
12-09-05, 05:27 AM
i think it comes in several kinds of fertilizer. KNO3 right? yep. you can find fertilizers with a high enough concentration of that stuff in them.
mix with sugar over the stove and let it harden.
Kill_A._Byte
12-09-05, 09:29 AM
The teacher is gonna think he's trying to make pipe bombs :eek:
Maybe you could explain your "project" to the teacher and he will help...Perhaps provide some extra credit ;)
deathman20
12-09-05, 09:41 AM
The teacher is gonna think he's trying to make pipe bombs :eek:
Maybe you could explain your "project" to the teacher and he will help...Perhaps provide some extra credit ;)
If he wanted to know how to make pipe bombs, do a search lol. There all over the place.
>HyperlogiK<
12-09-05, 10:13 AM
yeah it's sold a fertilizer over here, sometimes called nitrate of potash. sodium or potassium chlorate (or sodium nitrate) would also work, but the chlorates are more likely to explode and hurt somebody so be very careful if you try.
years ago my freind tried putting estes rocket engines on his skateboard. not surprisingly he fell off almost immediately, it bounced and turned over into some bushes (making lots of smoke). he was probably lucky to have fallen off.
{ace of spades}
12-10-05, 07:29 AM
I attached 12 rockets to a skateboard, put my friend on it and used a timedelay circuit on the skateboard to ignite the rockets 10 seconds after he started going down the hill. It was a massive sucess with a definate boost in speed, plus it was just about the funniest thing to see peoples reactions.
I have the video on my phone, although i need the damn cable to put in on the computer. If i find it, ill post the vid here.
It looks like this project is gonna get started next week. There's a chance I might not be in town, but otherwise I'll have some videos or something :D
I don't think you need any kind of licence to buy Potassium Nitrate. I found some ebay deals for you as well. Ebay craps (http://search.ebay.com/potassium-nitrate_W0QQfrppZ50QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ3QQfstypeZ1QQmax recordsreturnedZ300QQsbrsrtZl)
penquissciguy
12-10-05, 02:12 PM
Not directly related to the rocket, but an awesome idea IMO. Get some potassium nitrate and sugar and mix them together(can find a site online to give exact measurements). Then stick a fuse in the mixture, let it harden, and tape it to the car. Light the fuse and let the car go. The mixture will leave a trail of thick white smoke behind the car and it will make it look like it's burning rubber!!!
PLEASE don't play w/ potassium nitrate - sugar mixtures without having the chemistry knowledge to understand what you're doing. The motors you can buy off the shelf will perform better for the time and money involved. I'm a high school chemistry teacher, and I would think twice before mixing my own rocket propellant.
If you want to play with "rocket cars", Estes makes a line of cars designed to be propelled by rocket motors.
Ken
The mixture isn't explosive. It just makes a non-toxic smoke bomb. Sorry if there was any confusion with my post.
zebkoolindc
12-10-05, 11:18 PM
I sugest find the cheapes RC car you can find. Take out the gears and motor to make it free wheel. Take the wires that ran to the motor and hook them up to the igniter. Hit the forward button and light em up.
Taking out the motor will remove a lot of the drag, just try to steer it straight.
Dan0512
12-13-05, 01:27 PM
The problem if you get a cheapo RC car is the ignition for the engines or whatnot.
You'd have to ignite them via delay fuse before you start to drive the car.... It''d be impossible to add another channel to a cheap RC.
Stick like 3 engines on it... and a good ignition should make of a cheapo RC car a fast thing.
dan
zebkoolindc
12-13-05, 02:07 PM
Just have it start from a stand still. Like a rocket RC dragster.
If I put 3 rockets launching simultaneously, will the acceleration be 3x? Or should I launch them one after another...
deathman20
12-13-05, 06:28 PM
If I put 3 rockets launching simultaneously, will the acceleration be 3x? Or should I launch them one after another...
I'd say 1 after anohter. Gives it a more controlled boost then all shooting off at 1 time. Making sure its center, and has some slight downward angle just to keep it on the ground :)
zebkoolindc
12-13-05, 09:33 PM
how did you plan on delaying them? I do agree that 3 at once would be too much to control
Dan0512
12-14-05, 03:54 AM
how did you plan on delaying them? I do agree that 3 at once would be too much to control
Lol that's the problem were trying to solve right now.... me thinks he could probably wire the motor wires to the igniters like it was mentioned before, only con is that you would have to ignite the motors from a still stand, which could cause problems,, and that would fire all of them at once, which is of course not what we are shootin for...
dan
RoadWarrior
12-14-05, 11:25 AM
If the vehicle had a servo operated speed controller, rather than an electronic one, then one could arrange the linkage so that full speed was selected before the servo reached the end of it's throw, and put a microswitch at the limit of the throw to trigger the rocket. Then the driver would have to remember that 3/4 throttle stick was actually full speed and the rocket switched on at full stick. However, with a Transmitter that has trims on it, you could mechanically trim the car to give normal operation on the minimum trim setting, and put the switch out of range of that, so full stick doesn't turn it on accidentally. But it could be activated by pushing up the trim control to max and then giving full stick.
Back in the days when multi channel radio control was very expensive and complex, RC plane modellers used to use systems like this for kicking up and down the engine throttle on 2 or 3 channel systems, by using full up elevator+trim or full down elevator+trim.
Dan0512
12-14-05, 03:56 PM
If the vehicle had a servo operated speed controller, rather than an electronic one, then one could arrange the linkage so that full speed was selected before the servo reached the end of it's throw, and put a microswitch at the limit of the throw to trigger the rocket. Then the driver would have to remember that 3/4 throttle stick was actually full speed and the rocket switched on at full stick. However, with a Transmitter that has trims on it, you could mechanically trim the car to give normal operation on the minimum trim setting, and put the switch out of range of that, so full stick doesn't turn it on accidentally. But it could be activated by pushing up the trim control to max and then giving full stick.
Back in the days when multi channel radio control was very expensive and complex, RC plane modellers used to use systems like this for kicking up and down the engine throttle on 2 or 3 channel systems, by using full up elevator+trim or full down elevator+trim.
But I don't remember any cheapo RCs having proportional servos (its usually all-or-nothing strange stuff)... or even channel trims... Though the idea of the mech. speed control sure seems doable, depending on it's design.
Anyhow, you'd have to purchase the car/truck first to see how it's built before you can even think of any way of doing the mods...
Buy a cheap RC car, and the mods would be veeeryy easy to do...
dan
peterrastall
12-15-05, 02:27 PM
You're gonna put your eye out with that thing.
I remember when I was about 8 we lit one of those in a freinds basement ... what a hoot but almost got killed by it about 12 times as it bounced off of everything. The delayed back charge (the part that is designed into the engine to burn a delay then blast out the other end to push the chute out of the rocket) is very cool when the whole house is full of smoke and you have no idea where the thing is resting at.
Holy cr*p
Update!
Turns out that my friend has an RC car. Fortunately it has a mechanical speed controller, so I can make a simple mechanical switch to fire off the rocket. The mod will begin this Thursday when I'm done with finals. I'll be sure to take plenty of pics and I'll get a video or two!
Awesome idea. If I have time I'll make a ramp.
sir_pyro
01-01-06, 03:56 AM
I did this when I was about 12... Show what a messed up kid I was.
Any way, I used this tyco RC car that had this nurf rocket launching thing on it. I managed to break the nurf launcer, so I ended up removing it. Seeing as I was big into rockets at the time, it gave me ideas. Why not RC rocket launcer?
Well, seeing as I had a 3 channel controler, all it took was to attach a relay to the connecter for that extra motor. The relay connected a big 6v battery to the rocket when activated. Then I took an old launchpad, and ductaped it and the bettery ionto the "truck bed" where the nurf launcehr was. Mout the rocket, drive it around the porch, aim, then push the button to fire.
That video is giving me ideas on my car I have now... Hum. I wonder what two E motors would do.
Mr.DLucey
01-01-06, 11:46 AM
Where can you get potassium nitrate?
http://www.skylighter.com/mall/chemicals.asp?Sort=P
Out of stock till the 15th but it's cheep!
princeofdarknes
01-02-06, 12:56 AM
Potassium Nitrate is in, i believe, Stump remover, you can get it at any hardware store or a store like Wal Mart.
I know this because Potassium Nitrate + Sugar + Energy(lots of it) -> Pretty purple light show and alot of smoke, "Oh, i'm sorry, but the whole city block you cannot see :D" Just remember to try and disperse the heat evenly.
Fun times, fun times... homeade napalm-like substances are fun too ;)
Have fun!
Just got the car today. I'll post some pics as soon as I get started.
I could link you up to a video of a guy that did it... u need a real hobby RC truck preferably...it'd be reaalllyy hard to do with a toysareus toy model...
Rocket Rusty (http://www.fdc.arizona.edu/drennen/stampede/download4.cfm?filename=RocketRusty&bitrate=384)
You'd need a 3 channel TX and RX (radio).... like it was mentioned before.
I have that model myself.. but I haven't used it in a looooooooong time... damn weather lol
RC models are pretty fun.... fastest RC car was clocked @ 120 mph I believe..
dan
200mph :)
If I put 3 rockets launching simultaneously, will the acceleration be 3x? Or should I launch them one after another...
more like 2-2.5x
just dont mix it wit diesel im not going to tell u what it does but dont do lol :)
youll make the front headlines roflmao
Captain Slug
01-06-06, 01:39 AM
I've always wanted to put a rocket engine into a cheap RC sailplane.
4 Months Later BUMP!
So my friend and I did this as a math project. We did it slightly differently than I had originally intended, but it worked well nonetheless. Here's a link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBhpv_rgNWs
deathman20
05-22-06, 07:28 PM
Nice
Quailane
05-22-06, 08:21 PM
That's pretty cool. So how did you set up the motor ignition?
Sleepy_Steve
05-23-06, 01:12 AM
Grats on finaly getting it done. Looks nice.
For the ignition, we actually bought a second rc car and took the guts out. We glued everything onto the chassis of the first car. Then we kept the steering servo, glued that on, and glued a small momentary switch next to it. When the servo turns, it depresses the switch, connecting the rocket to a 9v battery.
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