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Originally Posted by MarkB.
Comrades:
Any idea who sells a Launch Rail?
Maybe 48"?
On-Line Vendor?
And rail buttons?
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Mark,
For low power, I use the MakerBeam 10mm rail. Micro buttons fit this rail. It is available from Amazon in 900mm and 1500mm, in black or clear anodize. The 1500mm 2-pack is $29. I have the 900 in black, I just got the 1500 in clear.
MakerBeam 1500mm beam clear anodised (pack of 2)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZNCCB...i_rRxmCbMP494FX
For mid-sized, and some larger low power, like BT-60, I go with mini buttons and use the 80/20 20mm rail, also available from Amazon. I’m planning to get the 2440mm rail listed below. It’s $32 shipped. I currently have a 1220mm (4’) rail, but need longer. For comparison, a 1010 rail is 1”, or about 25mm, so a 20mm rail is just a little smaller. But for midsized rockets, I think it just looks better than 1010 rail buttons.
https://www.amazon.com/80-20-20-202...%2F20+20mm+2440
The rail buttons are available from rail-buttons.com. Here is a picture of both micro and mini buttons, next to my black MakerBeam, and clear 20mm rail. For comparison, a 1/8” lug is shown. Micro buttons are tiny! As a test I flew my BT-80 Estes V-2 using micros. Worked fine.
The other picture is my Super Orbital Transport at NSL-2017, on my JawStand pad, with a friend’s 80/20 20mm, 2440mm (8’) long rail.
Also, you can get trapezoidal shaped “T” nuts that slip into the rail slots for mounting accessories like ducts, standoff, or attaching rail to pad.
For my 900mm MakerBeam, I epoxied base of it into a piece of brass tubing, fitted a lathe-turned dowel plug in the bottom, and bored a hole in dowel for a short piece of 3/16” rod. Then I can plug it into any stand, useful at club launches if I do not take my JawStand.
Final note. The exhaust duct is from Lowe’s. Who knew they carried model rocketry accessories? I’ve heard Home Depot also has them.
