posted August 08, 1999 10:51 PM            

For the body of the missile I have found the perfect source: One inch diameter Knitting Needles. They are hollow aluminum shafts and taper at the top to form a nose cone. They come in a variety of sizes and can be bought from sewing and knitting suppliers.

Impact detonation can be accomplished by placing the needle in a vice and boring a 1/8th inch hole in the tip. A rifle or shotgun primer is inserted and glued in place. A BB is glued on top of the primer.

The shaft of the rocket is filled with black powder or even better, flash powder. The last 3 or 4 inches of the tube in the rear are left for the engine. The black powder is sealed in place with liquid aluminum. When the tip of the missile hits the target the BB fires the primer which in turn detonates the powder charge.

Of course, fins are attached to the missile for stabilization. Preliminary tests must be conducted to determine the aerodynamics and ballistics.