Cox Nike Zeus Model Rocket

thingiverse

This is a reproduction of the 1/24th scale Nike Zeus model rocket kit by Cox Model Rockets (aka Cox Manufacturing Company). This is two-stage rocket made completely of injection molded plastic. Both stages use 18mm motor mounts. The first stage should use 18mm D composite motors or 24mm D black powder motors while the second stage should use 18mm C or B motors. You can see this model in the1972 Cox Model Rockets catalog. http://www.ninfinger.org/rockets/catalogs/cox72/72cox4.html The Nike-Zeus was an anti-ballistic missile system that was developed by the U.S. Army during the late 1950s and early 1960s that was designed to destroy incoming Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile warheads before they could hit their targets. It was designed by Bell Labs' Nike team, and was initially based on the earlier Nike Hercules anti-aircraft missile. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_Zeus https://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/zeus.pdf The Spartan ABM evolved from the Nike Zeus designed to intercept ICBM warheads in space. http://www.astronautix.com/s/spartanabm.html I have designed it according to the actual dimensions of the kit. I have not copied the internals relating to the rocket motor retention system, but the original motor retainer pieces that are removable will be designed and added as files here for those who need those parts to replace the ones they have lost from their own kits. FIRST STAGE File 1: 1st stage original. File 2 and 3: 1st stage original with decals embossed inward or extruded outward on the airframe. Files 4-8: Fin can, fin can without fins, fin separate from fin can, fin flat, fin-making template. File 9: First stage launch lug. File 10-13: First stage motor mount rings designed for Estes BT-20 (18mm) tubing. Since there is gap staging going on with this model rocket some venting is required to keep the stages from separating prematurely before the second stage can ignite necessitating the need for 3/16" (4.76mm) holes. I have design a set without the holes if you want to use those. Be sure to make your motor mount tube long enough to get within about a 1/4" (6.35mm) of the second stage motor to ensure a higher success of ignition. SECOND STAGE File 14: 2nd stage original. Files 15-19: 2nd stage original with decals embossed inward or extruded out on the airframe. Files 20-21: 2nd stage motor mount rings that will fit Estes BT-20 (18mm) tubing. Files 22-23: 2nd stage fin and fin-making template. File 24: 2nd stage launch lug THIRD STAGE Files 25-28: 3rd stage with nose cone, 3rd stage with nose cone finless, 3rd stage only, 3rd stage only finless Files 29-30: Nose cone and nose cone without the shoulder. Files 30-33: Fin (flat, no shaping to it), Fin-making template, fin (shaped) with no tab, fin (shaped) with tab Files 34-35: 3rd Stage end cap with and without hole NOTE: The third stage airframes that are finless with slots and the third stage fins with tabs were designed separately in case you have difficulty printing both together. OTHER FILES File 36: 1st stage decal (for reference; there are eight of the large and eight of the smaller that go around the first stage.) Files 37-38: These are the first and second stage motor retainers from the original kit to replace those who have lost theirs. Files 39-42: Alternate first stage motor mount rings for use with 24mm rocket motors using Estes BT-50 tubing. Your choice of rings with holes (for help with gap staging) or with none. The files you'll need for printing. (All of the other files are for allowing you to scale up the design.) 1) 1st Stage Original 2) 1st Stage Launch Lug 3) 1 Stage Motor Mount Rings. Your choice of with the holes or not. 4) 2nd Stage Original 5) 2nd Stage Motor Mount Rings 6) 2nd Stage Launch Lug 7) Third Stage and Nose Cone 8) Third Stage End Cap In case you want to upscale this design below are the dimensions of the rocket kit. FIRST STAGE: 1) Fin can OD: 39.00mm 1a) Fin can wall thickness: 1.0mm 2) Fin can length including chamfered edge: 66.00mm 3) Airframe diameter: 37.00mm 4) Transition larger dimension: 37.00mm 5) Transition smaller diameter: 29mm 6) Transition length: 7.50mm 7) Fin dimensions A) Root length: 64.20mm B) Trailing edge length: 26.50mm C) Tip/outboard edge: 49.50mm D) Leading edge: 30.304mm E) Root thickness 2.50mm F) Tip thickness: 1.70mm SECOND STAGE: 1) Airframe diameter: 29.00mm 2) Airframe length (not including coupler): 145.50mm 3) Fin dimensions: A) Root edge length: 50.00mm B) Trailing edge length: 28.50mm C) Leading edge length: 57.552mm D) Thickness: 1.50mm THIRD STAGE: 1) Transition larger diameter: 29.00mm 2) Transition smaller diameter: 25.00mm 3) Transition length: 17.00mm 4) Airframe diameter: 25.00mm 5) Airframe length: 75.50mm 6) Fin dimensions A) Root length: 10.00mm B) Trailing edge length: 8.80mm C) Leading edge: 15.571mm D) Second root edge length: 3.956mm E) Fin point (X,Y distances) from top of main root edge 1.40mm, 3.70mm NOSE CONE: 1) Diameter: 25.00mm 2) Length: 75.00mm NOTES: 1) The bottom of the first stage motor sits about 24.00mm ahead of the bottom of the first stage airframe/fincan. 2) The bottom of the second stage motor sits about 5.2mm behind the second stage coupler or about 15.7mm below the bottom of the first stage airframe. 3) You'll also need to add your own recovery system which requires a 12 inch (304.8mm) diameter parachute. Boyce Aerospace sells a 3D printed 1/24th scale Nike Zeus. https://boyceaerospacehobbies.com/collections/all-plastic/products/nike-zeus-kit-1-24th-scale-24mm Thanks to mikeyd from The Rocketry Forum (TRF) for allowing me to reproduce his personally owned kit.